“Can anesthesia badly affect my grandfather, who has COPD?”
My grandfather is in palliative care due to severe COPD. The doctors want to perform a procedure on his lungs but I'm very nervous, especially about the anesthesia. Is it safe to give someone with such bad lungs general anesthesia?
1 Answer
Good afternoon!
You are correct! Administering general anesthesia to someone with severe COPD caries increased risk of respiratory failure. Moderate sedation is usually used when bronchoscopy is performed, which is less risky. We usually weigh risk vs. benefits of doing the procedure and it is up to the patient to decide. I would discuss risks and benefits with the physician who is performing the procedure.
Hopefully, this answers your questions.
You are correct! Administering general anesthesia to someone with severe COPD caries increased risk of respiratory failure. Moderate sedation is usually used when bronchoscopy is performed, which is less risky. We usually weigh risk vs. benefits of doing the procedure and it is up to the patient to decide. I would discuss risks and benefits with the physician who is performing the procedure.
Hopefully, this answers your questions.
