Are you planning a surgery soon?
When we are going to have surgery for any reason, the first thing that comes to mind is our heart. Considering that the heart may cause problems before, during or after the operation, your surgeon and anesthesiologist plan the immediate pre-operative check-ups. In the lungs, at least as much as the heart, there are problems during and after the operation.
During and after general anesthesia applied in surgery, some changes occur in our lungs. Lung volume decreases due to anesthesia. In particular, the lung bases tend to deflate (atelectasis). The pleura can collect water. The oxygen level in the blood may decrease and pneumonia may develop. It is possible to prevent these common complications. It is tried to protect lung health with breathing exercises, sputum removal techniques and some medications to be done before and after the operation.
Pulmonary clotting (pulmonary embolism), which may develop due to surgery and immobility, is also one of the common pulmonary complications. Your surgeon and pulmonologists will plan treatments to prevent embolism.
If you have already been diagnosed with a lung problem (eg COPD, asthma, etc.), your risk of postoperative lung complications is higher no matter what type of surgery you have. Patients with lung disease should be evaluated by anesthesiologists and chest diseases specialists before the operation, and the operation risk ratio should be determined by chest X-rays, pulmonary function tests, and necessary protective measures should be planned.
In this way, even if any unexpected complications occur, knowing your current lung problem and general medical history will be of great advantage in treatment.
Quitting smoking before receiving general anesthesia is the most important ingredient in reducing possible lung complications.
What to check before surgery:
While making the preoperative evaluation, the patient’s surgeon should work in coordination with the anesthetist. Below is a general checklist we use to prepare the patient prior to surgery. Of course, it can be done in different controls customized according to the medical condition of the person.
Before surgery:
-We learn about your functional capacity, determine your physical condition, and review your previous medical surgical history and reactions to anesthesia.
– We evaluate the oxygenation and ventilation status, especially if you already have a lung disease. Pulmonary X-ray, arterial blood gas, and pulmonary function tests give us information on this issue.
– If you smoke, we provide the cessation support you need to quit smoking.
– If you’re obese or malnourished, we’ll provide the help you need to manage your diet and get support from dietitians and endocrinologists.
– We determine and arrange the medications that should be administered just before, during and after the surgery.
– We plan preventive measures and medications against the risk of pulmonary embolism.
– In the post-operative period, we plan the measures to prevent lung collapse and plan respiratory physiotherapy support.
It is a team work to prevent and minimize possible complications during risky surgeries and to make the right intervention at the right time. In the team: surgeon, anesthesiologist, pulmonologist, intensive care specialist, cardiologist and veftr specialists should be present as needed.
