Can You Have General Anesthesia If You Have Asthma

Take Action If Your Asthma Symptoms Get Worse During Pregnancy

The sooner you get help the quicker you can cut the risks to you and your baby. So talk to your GP, asthma nurse, midwife, or pharmacist if you notice any of the following:

• Youre coughing or wheezing more especially at night.
• Your chest feels tight
• Youre taking your reliever inhaler more often. If youre taking your reliever inhaler three or more times a week, you may be at risk of an asthma attack and should get an urgent GP appointment.
• Your nose feels stuffy This is a common pregnancy symptom. But it could also affect your asthma. If your nose is stuffy youre more likely to breathe through your mouth instead. This means the air doesnt get warmed up before it hits your airways. And allergens cant be filtered out as well.
• You feel more breathless. Getting a bit breathless more than usual is another common pregnancy symptom. But dont ignore it. Its also a sign your asthma is getting worse.
• Your hay fever gets worse. Hay fever or pollen allergy can make your asthma symptoms worse so its important to treat it. Ask your GP or pharmacist about which hay fever treatments are safe for you to use during your pregnancy. Its likely that youll be recommended eye drops or nasal sprays first. You can also try other ways to relieve hay fever symptoms.
• You have acid reflux this is common in pregnancy and can make your asthma worse.

What to do if youre having an asthma attack

Preoperative Preparations If You Have Asthma

If you have mild asthma, you will likely be instructed to use your “as-needed” inhaler on the morning of surgery. You may also be asked to bring this inhaler to the hospital or surgery center with you.

If your asthma is more severe, you will be instructed to use your inhalers as usual. If you take any oral medications, you will most likely take those on schedule, too. If you take steroids on a chronic basis for asthma, you may need more workup and optimization before elective surgery. Severe asthmatics require pulmonary function tests and/or a note from your pulmonologist regarding the ideal management of your obstructive airway disease.

What Is Anesthesia What Does It Do

Anesthesia is a drug or gas administered via injection, through an IV, or by inhalation that causes insensitivity to pain.

It can either be general, which puts the patient into a deep sleep, or local, which eliminates pain in a specific area of the body while the cat is at least somewhat conscious. Whether the vet uses general or local anesthesia depends on the procedure.

Local anesthetics work by blocking pathways that lead to the brain from an area of the body. The local anesthetics commonly used in cats are lidocaine and bupivicaine. Vets usually administer these via injection or, for superficial wounds, topically.

A cat who needs local anesthesia will likely receive a mild sedative first. Local anesthesia can be used for specific areas like the mouth or a paw, or it can be used for broader areas like the abdomen via an epidural injection.

With general anesthesia, all pathways in the nervous system that transmit pain to the brain are active, but the patient feels no pain because the brain is asleep. A sedative precedes this type of anesthesia.

While the cat remains unconscious, the vet puts a tube into the trachea to make sure the path to the lungs stays open, and the cat gets a supply of oxygen.

General anesthesia is usually delivered via inhalation of gas such as Isoflurane or Sevoflurane.

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Contraindications To The Procedure

Contraindications to gastroscopy under anesthesia include such conditions as:

• gestation period;
• postinfarction or post-stroke status of the patient;
• mental disorders;
• intolerance of drugs that are used for anesthesia.

It is worth noting that most of these contraindications can be leveled if the patient is in a state where a lethal outcome is possible. For the sake of preserving a person’s life, the procedure can be performed with some contraindications.

Why Do You Say True Anesthesia Awareness

There are many, many cases when people think they have been awake during general anesthesia, but in fact, they are mistaken. The most common scenario involves a surgery where they had sedation anesthesia or sedation in combo with a spinal, epidural, or regional anesthetic. Those types of anesthesia do not and are not supposed to induce unconsciousness. It is absolutely normal to have memories and be at least partially awake with these types, but memories may be fuzzy due to the drugs used.

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The Risks Of Undergoing Surgery If You Have Asthma

• A Word From Verywell

There are several things to consider when you’re planning surgery. If you have asthma, an increased risk of certain surgical complications because of your condition is one of them. Having severe asthma or experiencing asthma-associated issues in the weeks or months before surgery further increases the likelihood of developing an adverse event, such as an infection, after your procedure.

To reduce your chances of complications, your pre-operative evaluation will include an assessment of your asthma control and lung function. Your surgery and surgical anesthesia will need to be planned with your asthma status in mind.

Verywell / Ellen Lindner

What Studies Have Been Carried Out On The Effect Of General Anaesthetics

There have been several studies looking at how general anaesthetics affect brain cells.

Some studies have found that certain types of general anaesthetics seem to lead to increased levels of the Alzheimers hallmark toxic clumps of amyloid and tau proteins in brain cells. These proteins are thought to cause damage to brain cells in Alzheimers disease.

Some researchers suggest that some types of general anaesthetics could prevent brain cells from properly repairing damage. In the brain, damaged cells signal to nearby repair cells, which trigger the immune system to protect and heal the damage. This signalling process is thought to be altered in the brains of older people, leading to too much inflammation and causing further damage to brain cells.

Researchers also think that other factors play a role in how general anaesthetics affect the brain. For example, low levels of oxygen in the blood and lower body temperatures caused by anaesthesia may contribute towards damage to brain cells. Some studies also suggest that anaesthesia may make existing underlying dementia mechanisms worse, particularly in people at an increased genetic risk the condition.

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Subjects And Randomization Procedure

The protocol was approved by the Committee on Clinical Investigation at the Johns Hopkins University and Hadassah University Hospitals, and written informed consent was obtained from all patients. Fifty-nine patients with a history of active or inactive asthma, scheduled for elective surgery, and requiring general anesthesia and an endotracheal tube were enrolled in the study. Patients were defined as having active asthma if they presented with a history of recurrent attacks of wheezing provoked by exogenous factors such as allergens, irritants, exercise, or viral infections and/or were taking chronic medications for their disease within the 2 yr before the scheduled surgery. Patients were defined as having inactive asthma if they presented with a history of recurrent attacks of wheezing provoked by exogenous factors in the past but not in the 2 yr before this scheduled surgery and had taken no medication for wheezing within the past 2 yr. Patients were excluded from the study if they were actively wheezing preoperatively or if their ASA physical status was 3 or higher. We enrolled 29 asthmatic patients at Johns Hopkins and 30 asthmatic patients at Hadassah. Patients were randomly assigned to one of three anesthetic induction agents: 5 mg/kg of thiamylal/thiopental , 1.75 mg/kg methohexital , or 2.5 mg/kg propofol . Randomization was carried out using a random-number table.

Taking Care Of Yourself At Home

Be guided by your doctor or anaesthetist, but general suggestions include:

• If you are permitted to leave hospital within hours of the surgery, dont try to drive home because your coordination may be affected by the medication. Ask a relative or friend to pick you up or take a taxi.
• Dont drive a car within 24 hours after the procedure.
• Take it easy for the next day or two. Rest at home. Remember it may take several days before you feel back to normal.
• Avoid taking herbal medicines in the days or weeks following surgery. Ask your doctor for further information.

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Following Surgery With General Anaesthetic

After surgery, you can expect that hospital staff will:

• Record your breathing, pulse and blood pressure.
• Note your level of consciousness, as well as any special observations required for your type of surgery.
• Record all intravenous fluids you are given.

Depending on the type of surgery youve had, you may find that when you wake up you:

• Have a tube coming from your wound site to drain excess fluid.
• Had a catheter inserted into your bladder while you are in theatre and your urine output is being noted.
• Are encouraged to do deep breathing exercises and move your legs at least hourly following surgery, if you can.
• Are given pain relief medication.
• Feel drowsy and nauseous, with a headache and sore throat. These side effects pass relatively quickly.

Could You Use A Brain Monitor To Prevent Anesthesia Awareness

Brain monitors have not been shown to provide protection from anesthesia awareness, but don’t worry, your anesthesiologist knows what to look for. Monitoring for sweating, tearing, increases in heart rate, breathing, and blood pressure are much more reliable. Brain monitors may provide other valuable information, so your anesthesiologist may use one, but not to prevent awareness.

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Preparing For Day Surgery

• How have you responded to previous anaesthesia and operations?
• Have there been any anaesthetic problems in any member of your family?
• What medicines or tablets are you taking?
• Do you have any allergies or sensitivities?
• What are your past and present medical problems?
• What are your smoking and drinking habits?
• Have you had dental work?
• Do you ever have indigestion or reflux?

• Tests you may have a physical examination. Your anaesthetist may order additional tests to supplement those performed on your first visit to day surgery.
• Fasting if there is food or drink in your stomach during and immediately after the anaesthetic, it can be very dangerous. This is why you should not eat or drink anything for several hours before your anaesthetic.
• Anaesthesia your anaesthetist will discuss the appropriate anaesthetic. Sometimes, the anaesthetist arranges for a sedative to be given an hour or so before the operation. This pre-medication will help you feel drowsy and relaxed. You can discuss whether you need this with the anaesthetist.
• Safety you may be asked to remove any false teeth and jewellery.

What Is Anesthesia Awareness

Anesthesia awareness is an unfortunate situation where you are not fully unconscious during the surgery. People with true anesthesia awareness later report that they heard some of what was going on in the operating room. Usually, they can’t feel anything, but may be very scared. Rarely, they can feel the surgery but can’t move or speak. People who have medical or surgical issues where giving deep anesthesia is dangerous are at more risk for true anesthesia awareness.

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Npo Means Nothing By Mouth

NPO stands for Nil Per Os, which is Latin for Nothing By Mouth.;Fasting before elective surgery is essential for your safety. Under general anesthesia, your body loses the protective reflexes that prevent your stomach contents from being breathed into your lungs. This is called aspiration and should it happen, aspiration could threaten your life.

An empty stomach is the best way to prevent aspiration.;If you eat or drink prior to your surgery, the procedure will be delayed or cancelled, in order to protect you.

Is Dental Anesthesia Safe For Patients With Mild Asthma

Posted by holotrop029 on Feb 8, 2019 in Health |

Truly, asthmatics are in danger of specific complication because of their asthma. But your real issues rely upon the seriousness of your asthma, the measure of hyperresponsiveness, and the sort of anesthesia being utilized. If you have asthma and you worry about going through a dental procedure under anesthesia, here are some useful information from to answer your concern.

In the event that you have steroid-depending mild asthma or ineffectively controlled asthma, you should see your asthma specialist before a medical procedure. The prior the better, around seven days ahead of time in the event that your medication needs change. Unfortunately, control of asthma does not generally foresee the danger of intricacies amid medical surgery as various patients with what seems, by all accounts, to be great control may create difficulties intraoperatively.

In any case, doctors are dealing with problems which might arise in case patients are administered for general anesthesia. The doctors thinks that with a varying focus from treatment to numerous past examinations talking about the dangers and complications are not as substantial today. Most patients will experience general anesthesia without issue, its as yet worth talking about with your specialist before a medical procedure.

Dangers of anesthesia

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Sleep Apnea And Anesthesia: The Special Risks That You Should Know

• Filed under: medical malpractice, anesthesia, patient safety

Any time a patient is facing a surgical procedure requiring general anesthesia, safety rules require an individualized anesthesia plan. Under American Society for Anesthesiologists standards, the anesthesia plan should be formulated by a fully-trained anesthesiologist physician, as opposed to a certified registered nurse anesthetist .

The anesthesia plan reflects that administering anesthesia to a patient is serious business. When something goes wrong, the anesthesiologist and staff only have a few short minutes to correct things before cardiac/heart or respiratory/breathing problems cause the patient to die.

An anesthesiologist starts this process by performing a pre-anesthetic evaluation on the patient. In addition to a physical exam, the doctor asks many questions designed to uncover potential risksthings like medications that the patient takes and a history of medical conditions, diagnoses, and surgical complications. When those risks are identified, the anesthesiologist makes advance preparations with proper planning and supplies.

Sometimes there are conditions or risks that the patient doesnt know anything about. An experienced anesthesiologist will ask the right questions or make the right observations to account for these things, too. Take sleep apnea, for example.

What is sleep apnea?

How does sleep apnea affect anesthetic risk?

Do you SNORE loudly ?

Is your BODY mass index more than 35?

General Anesthesia: What You Need To Know

For some procedures and surgeries, you may have a choice regarding the type of anesthesia used. Many times, though, the only good choice will be general anesthesia.

In this article I will give you a broad introduction to terminology, procedure, and what to expect.

General anesthesia means loss of consciousness.

If you are “under” with general anesthesia, you cannot feel, see, or hear anything, and you do not respond to even painful stimuli.

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Are You Using Your Inhaler Properly Are You Sure

Those at risk for more significant problems with asthma after surgery are

• Severe asthmatics
• Those whose asthma is not under good control at the time of surgery
• Asthmatics who smoke
• Asthmatics with recent respiratory infections
• Asthmatics presenting for airway surgery
• Asthmatics presenting for emergency surgery

Tips For Staying Well With Your Asthma Through Your Pregnancy

Heres how you can lower your risk of asthma symptoms and asthma attacks:

• Keep taking your asthma medicines as prescribed. Theyre safe to take when youre pregnant. In fact, your baby is more at risk if you stop taking your medicines and have symptoms and asthma attacks.

• Have an asthma review. Your GP can check your asthma medicines, your;inhaler technique and update your;. Book further appointments if you notice symptoms during your pregnancy.;

• Tell your midwife you have asthma. Make sure asthmas in your notes and included in your birth plan. Looking after your asthma needs to be part of your overall antenatal care plan.

• Stop smoking. Smoking while youre pregnant means your babys more likely to have breathing problems, including asthma. It also puts you more at risk of both miscarriage and premature labour. And avoid breathing in secondhand smoke too. Theres lots of support to help you give up.

• Have the flu jab. Pregnant women, and people with asthma, are more at risk of complications from flu, like chest infections or pneumonia.;The flu jab;is safe in pregnancy. It will also help protect your baby from flu in their first few months.

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Cardiopulmonary Effects Of Bronchospasm

Progressive acute bronchoconstriction rapidly leads to increased work of breathing , decreased airflow, air trapping, dynamic hyperinflation, ventilationperfusion mismatch, increased pulmonary vascular resistance , and right ventricular overload. The forced expiratory volume in the first second of expiration is substantially decreased during active bronchospasm. The forced vital capacity , expiratory reserve volume , inspiratory capacity, and forced expiratory flow between 25% and 75% of the FVC are also decreased, whereas residual volume, functional residual capacity, and total lung capacity are increased. All these indices can return towards normal between bronchospastic attacks. The dynamic compliance of the lungs decreases because of air trapping, and accessory muscles are recruited to preserve the tidal volume despite increased ERV. Soon, intrinsic and extrinsic recoil of the lungs is unable to overcome airway obstruction, necessitating active exhalation using intercostal, abdominal, and diaphragmatic muscles. The WOB progressively increases, together with oxygen consumption and carbon dioxide production , whereas the O2 supply and CO2 elimination diminish. Ultimately, this may result in myocardial oxygen imbalance .