Perioperative Anaesthetic Management in Asthma

Abstract

Asthma is a chronic disorder of airway characterized by hypersensitiveness to a variety of triggers. With a potential to cause an anaesthetic disaster during perioperative period, acute episode of asthma can lead to life threatening complications. It is important for an anaesthesiologist to make a positive difference in the outcome of the asthmatic patient by stepwise approach pre, peri and post operatively.

This review takes the anaesthetists perspective to discuss the approach to asthma, safe practices and special considerations to be followed in asthmatics. This article focuses on the pathophysiology, pharmacotherapy and perioperative management in acute bronchial asthma.