COPD and Surgical Risks

Dear Ask The Doctor: What is the risk factor for 59 year old woman with c.o.p.d., one lung(the size of a child) undergoing a small intestinal blockage surgery?

Dear Laura: The risk of surgery can be divided into anesthetic risks and risks directly related to the surgical procedure. The person you have described has greater than average anesthetic risk. COPD significantly decreases the amount of normal lung tissue available to transfer oxygen to blood. As such, there will be some difficulty providing oxygen to this patient during the operation. There is also the possibility of a flare up of her COPD while under anesthesia which delays emergence after the procedure is completed. Essentially, she is a high risk candidate for any surgical procedure requiring general anesthesia.