Do any chronic diseases affect Anaesthesia?

The management does vary with chronic diseases. The most common of these are listed below:

Respiratory Diseases

• Viral Infections - best to delay until recovered.
• Asthma - irritable airways with increased secretions, coughing and spasm.
• Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease - increased secretions, coughing and spasm.

Cardiovascular Diseases

• Hypertension - should be controlled by a GP before surgery.
• Ischaemic Heart Disease - should be investigated and corrected before surgery.
• Valvular Heart Disease - should be investigated and corrected before surgery with antibiotic cover.

Haematological Diseases

• Anaemia - may need treatment.
• Sickle Cell Disease - will need special pre- and postoperative monitoring to prevent hypoxia.
• Clotting Abnormalities - may need replacement therapy or cancellation of surgery.

Musculoskeletal Diseases

• Rheumatoid Arthritis - difficulties in positioning the neck and may need a neck X-ray.

Renal Diseases

• Renal Failure - special attention to drugs used and their excretion.

Endocrine Diseases

• Diabetes Mellitus - needs to be controlled and monitored carefully throughout.

Liver Disease

• Special attention to drugs used (due to major clotting problems that may occur).