Perioperative Pulmonary Medication Management

Pulmonary conditions such as asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are common conditions that warrant special consideration in the perioperative period. When these patients undergo surgical interventions, they have risk of complications such as bronchospasm, hypoxia, and even postoperative respiratory failure that warrant unplanned intensive care unit admission. Thus, clinicians must be familiar with pulmonary medication regimens that are critical for maintaining stable homeostasis of these chronic conditions.

To discuss the medications most commonly used to treat pulmonary conditions and to describe strategies for handling these treatment regimens in the perioperative period.

We conducted an online search of studies and review articles through PubMed and Medline that addressed pharmacology and perioperative management of pulmonary medications, with an emphasis on those treating patients with asthma or COPD.

Long-term medications for pulmonary disease are used to slow the progression of these conditions and reduce the occurrence of acute exacerbations. As such, these medications should be continued in the perioperative period. If the medications include oral corticosteroids or high-dose inhaled corticosteroids, stress-dose corticosteroid supplementation may be warranted to avoid adrenal insufficiency. Inhaled medications can be delivered through the anesthetic circuit, and some agents may be used to treat exacerbations during surgery.

Patients with chronic pulmonary conditions have risk of perioperative complications. Their pulmonary treatment regimens should be maintained in the perioperative period to reduce the risk of such complications.