[A survey of perioperative bronchospasm in 105 patients with reactive airway disease]

We investigated the relationship between the intra- and postoperative incidence of bronchospasm and the predisposing preoperative factors in 105 patients with reactive airway disease. (1) The incidence of bronchospasm in intra- and postoperative period was not associated with age, sex, duration of bronchial asthma, severity of disease, duration of the anesthesia and operation, or with FEV1.0%. (2) The incidence of intraoperative bronchospasm was high with general anesthesia using endotracheal intubation (8.9%), but low with general anesthesia using mask and regional anesthesia (0% and 2.2%, respectively). (3) The incidence of postoperative bronchospasm was about 20% with both general and regional anesthesia. However, the incidence of postoperative bronchospasm was higher in thoracic and abdominal surgeries than in other surgeries (39.5%:10.4%). (4) The incidences of intra- and postoperative bronchospasm increased in proportion to the proximity of the latest asthmatic attack to the operative date. (5) Prophylactic preoperative inhalation of bronchodilators was effective in the prevention of intraoperative bronchospasm, but some patients developed postoperative wheezing within a few days after the cessation of postoperative inhalation.