Unexpected bronchospasm during spinal anesthesia.
Asthma and bronchospastic disease are common in patients presenting for anesthesia. Intraoperative bronchospasm can be a life-threatening problem. One approach to these patients is to use regional anesthesia because it is believed that this will reduce the complication rate. Presented here is a case of bronchospasm occurring during regional anesthesia that was unresponsive to beta agonists. The use of atropine in the treatment of bronchospasm also is discussed.
McGough
E K
EK
Department of Anesthesiology, University of Florida College of Medicine, Gainesville.
Cohen
J A
JA
D000775:Anesthesia, Spinal / Q000009:adverse effects; D001986:Bronchial Spasm / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D007431:Intraoperative Complications; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged