title: Asthma, surgery, and general anesthesia: a review.
abstract: Over 20 million Americans are affected with asthma. Many will require some type of surgical procedure during which their asthma management should be optimized. Preoperative assessment of asthma should include a specialized history and physical as well as pulmonary function testing. In many asthmatic patients, treatment with systemic corticosteroids and bronchodilators is indicated to prevent the inflammation and bronchoconstriction associated with endotracheal intubation. The use of corticosteroids has not been shown to adversely affect wound healing or increase the rate of infections postoperatively. Preoperative systemic corticosteroids may be used safely in the majority of patients to decrease asthma-related morbidity.
authors.affiliation: Division of Allergy-Immunology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois 60611, USA.
authors.forename: Jyothi
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Tirumalasetty
authors.forename: Leslie C
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Grammer
mesh_terms: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000768:Anesthesia, General / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000379:methods; D001249:Asthma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000517:prevention & control; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D016343:Monitoring, Intraoperative / Q000379:methods; D011182:Postoperative Care / Q000379:methods; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011300:Preoperative Care / Q000379:methods; D018570:Risk Assessment; D013514:Surgical Procedures, Operative / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000379:methods; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones