Adverse reaction; patent blue turning patient blue

Case report: Atypical anaphylactic reaction to Patent Blue V dye during breast cancer surgery

The most common causes of perioperative hypersensitive reactions are neuromuscular blocking drugs, latex, and antibiotics, although there are other more emerging causative agents. Allergic reactions to Patent Blue V (PBV) dye have been reported. Most of them are mild and presented with blue coloration of cutaneous plaque. The PBV dye is widely used in the identification of sentinel lymph nodes in patients with breast cancer and other malignancies. Here, we present a case of 33-year-old patient with carcinoma of the breast proposed for sentinel lymph node and skin-sparing mastectomy with severe, life-threatening anaphylaxis which occurred immediately after PBV dye was injected, with cardiopulmonal resuscitation and prolonged refractory hypotension. The patient was without previous exposure to PBV and signs of skin rash, erythema, or bronchospasm, making the diagnosis and management of such cases challenging. Skin tests were performed on all drugs used in premedication and induction of anesthesia and PBV showed positive at IDT of 1:10. Physicians must always think of possible adverse reaction to PBV and for the potential risk of anaphylactic reaction immediately after the dye is injected, during anesthesia and other procedures.

Patent Blue dye allergy and the deep inferior epigastric perforator free flap: a unique interaction

Patent Blue dye for sentinel lymph node biopsy is associated with systemic allergic response and generalized blue hue. We report a unique case of successful free flap transfer in this setting. Despite inotropic support and abnormal blue hue, allergic response does not preclude safe flap transfer and monitoring.

Can methylene blue dye be used as an alternative to patent blue dye to find the sentinel lymph node in breast cancer surgery?

BACKGROUND

Sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) is standard care to evaluate axillary involvement in early breast cancer. It has fewer complications than complete lymph node dissection; however, using blue dye in SLNB is controversial. We have evaluated the detection rate and local complications associated with methylene blue dye (MBD) used in SLNB in early breast cancer patients and compared these results to patent blue dye (PBD).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

In a cohort prospective study, 312 patients with early breast cancer without axillary lymph node involvement were divided into two groups according to dye type. All of the patients received radiotracer and one type of blue dye. We filled out a checklist for the patients that contained demographic data, size of tumor, stage, detection of sentinel lymph node, and complications and then analyzed the data.

RESULTS

Demographic and histopathologic characteristics were not significantly different in both groups. Mean (standard deviation [SD]) tumor size in all patients was 2.4 (0.8) cm. Detection rate in the MBD group was 77.5% with dye alone and 94.2% with dye and radioisotope; and in the PBD group it was 80.1% and 92.9% respectively (P > 0.05). We had blue discoloration of the skin in 23.7% in the PBD and 14.1% in the MBD group (P < 0.05) local inflammation was detected in one patient in the PBD and five in the MBD group (P < 0.05). Skin necrosis and systemic complications were not observed.

CONCLUSION

Methylene blue has an acceptable detection rate, which may be a good alternative in SLNB. Complication such as blue discoloration of the skin was also lower with MBD.