When people need surgery, anesthesia is an important component to ensure the procedure is comfortable and successful. But for those with asthma, there may be concerns about the potential risks of anesthesia.

In this article, we’ll examine whether anesthesia is safe for people with asthma and the best practices for managing asthma during surgery.

What is Asthma?

Asthma is a chronic respiratory condition that causes inflammation and narrowing of the airways. This can lead to difficulty breathing, chest tightness, coughing, and wheezing. Asthma is a common condition and affects approximately 25 million Americans.

It can be triggered by a variety of factors, including pollen, dust mites, exercise, stress, and cold air.

Types of Anesthesia

There are three main types of anesthesia: general, regional, and local. General anesthesia is used for surgeries that require the patient to be completely unconscious, while regional anesthesia numbs only a specific area of the body.

Local anesthesia is used to numb a small area and is generally considered the safest type of anesthesia.

Is Anesthesia Safe for People with Asthma?

The short answer is that anesthesia is generally safe for people with asthma.

However, there are several factors that can increase the risk of complications, including the severity of the asthma, the type of surgery being performed, and the type of anesthesia being used.

One of the potential risks of anesthesia for people with asthma is that the medications used can cause respiratory depression, which can lead to breathing difficulties.

Patients with asthma are also at a higher risk of developing bronchospasms during a surgery, which can cause the airways to become constricted and make breathing more difficult.

That being said, asthma is a common condition, and many people with asthma undergo surgeries without incident. The key to a safe surgery is careful monitoring and management of the asthma before, during, and after the procedure.

Pre-operative Management

The pre-operative phase is the time leading up to the surgery. During this time, it is important for patients with asthma to work with their doctors to manage their asthma symptoms and optimize their lung function.

Some steps that may be taken during the pre-operative phase include:.

Adjusting medications: The doctor may need to adjust the patient’s asthma medications to ensure they have optimal control over their symptoms leading up to the surgery. This may include adding inhaled steroids or increasing the dosage of existing medications.
Testing lung function: The doctor may perform lung function tests, such as spirometry, to assess how well the patient’s lungs are functioning and identify any potential issues.
Avoiding triggers: The patient may be advised to avoid triggers that can exacerbate their asthma symptoms, such as cigarette smoke, air pollution, and certain foods.
Improving overall health: The patient may be advised to make lifestyle changes to improve their overall health, such as losing weight, increasing physical activity, and eating a healthy diet.

Intra-operative Management

The intra-operative phase is the time during the surgery itself. During this time, the anesthesiologist will closely monitor the patient’s vital signs and administer medications as needed to keep them comfortable and stable.

For patients with asthma, some additional steps that may be taken during the intra-operative phase include:.

Administering bronchodilators: Bronchodilators are medications that help to open up the airways and improve breathing. The anesthesiologist may administer these medications during the surgery to help prevent bronchospasms and other respiratory complications.
Monitoring closely: Patients with asthma will be closely monitored during the surgery to ensure that their breathing remains stable and they do not experience any complications.
Choosing the right anesthesia: Depending on the type of surgery being performed, the anesthesiologist may choose a specific type of anesthesia that is less likely to cause respiratory depression or other complications in patients with asthma.

Post-operative Management

The post-operative phase is the time after the surgery, when the patient is in the recovery room. During this time, the care team will monitor the patient’s vital signs and help them manage any pain or discomfort.

For patients with asthma, some additional steps that may be taken during the post-operative phase include:.

Administering medications: The doctor may administer medications, such as steroids or bronchodilators, to help prevent or manage any asthma symptoms that may arise after the surgery.
Monitoring closely: Patients with asthma will continue to be closely monitored after the surgery to ensure their breathing remains stable and they do not experience any complications.