Question:
Do asthma patients have to remain on a ventilator/ICU for 24hrs Post Op?
I read on a surgeon's website that anyone with lung disease will have to be intubated and kept on a ventilator in ICU for 24 hrs post op. Can anyone verify this or share their experiences? I searched, but couldn't find a specific post on this. Thanks in advance for the help!! — Dawn W. (posted on January 8, 2004)
January 7, 2004
I have had asthma since I was 5 years old. I am now almost 40 (yikes). I
was not put on a ventilator. They did give me something extra in my
anestesia so I wouldn't have an attack and I had to stay in recovery
longer. They kept that tube in my throat until I woke up...I don't know if
that was procedure or not. I did stay in the PCU an extra day and saw the
lung doctor to make sure I was okay. Oh, and I haven't had an asthma
attack in 7 months and I am off all my medicines, Advair and Singulair.
Cindy -106
— cinthygrady
January 7, 2004
dawn... i also have asthma. i did not have to stay on a ventilator or in
icu after surgery. in my room, i was put on oxygen though. it depends on
the person and the severity of your asthma. it's good to have a doctor
that errs on the side of caution rather than not. good luck with your
surgery. :)
— Jeanie O.
January 7, 2004
Jen my wife had severe asthma pre op. At 32 years old most of her 23
prescriptions were for asthma. Her pumonary doc said the reason asthma is
so bad in MOs is our body cavity gets so packed with fat the lungs dont
have room to expand. kinda like iving in a tightly laced corset his words.
Jen was so bad she was on medical disability from work. She is a nurse. I
am glad to report her asthma is completely gone! The first 50 pounds made a
big difference! Jen is down to 2 prescriptions:) The co pays were killing
us. She takes flonase for her sinuses and one other pill. nothing for
asthma. got rid of all the inhalers and stuff. Jen is 4 foot 10 and weighed
293 pounds pre op. If this requirement bugs you you might try another
surgeon. Mine is world class and operates on many people from ohio/
— bob-haller
January 7, 2004
Ther answer to this is that it depends on your surgeon. You must ask
him/her this question. I agree with feeling good about a doctor who errs
on the side of caution. It's always better.
— LMCLILLY
January 7, 2004
I had asthma but I was not on the vent or in ICU post-op. I was on extra
oxygen and my levels were watched but nothing else. I am now asthem free!!
I have not taken any meds or had any attacks since surgery. Woo-Hoo!
~Sidney~ Open RNY 10-23-02 down 130+ and under goal
— Siddy I.
January 8, 2004
Hi Dawn, <br>
I have lung disease (copd) and sleep apnea. My surgeon likes all of his
sleep apnea patients to go to ICU on a vent post op, but they watch you
closely in PACU, and if your blood gases are good, they will extubate you
and send you to a step-down floor. I did have to stay on the vent about 6
hours, but as soon as my blood gases were okay, they ex-tubated me, got me
up and walking, then sent me to the floor. The experience is not bad--they
keep you pretty well sedated while you're on the vent (this prevents us
from "fighting" the vent.) I remember very little about the
experience. A good surgeon will do all he can to ensure your well-being,
so just trust him and go with his decisions. <br>
Best of luck on your journey.<br>
Linda
— Linda S.
January 8, 2004
I have been a chronic asthmatic since I was 3, on predizone more than off
of it since I was a teenager (helped put on all the weight). You name a
medication for asthma and I have probably been on the medication at one
time or another, over the years. I had sugery in July and was put on some
extra predizone for a few days/weeks prior and given some in my IV while I
was in the hospital but I was not put on a ventilator or in ICU. I have
now lost over 100 pounds and my asthma is doing much better, taking the
stairs occationally at work and trying to change my mind set of I can't do
that because I won't be able to breath. I go tomorrow for my 6 month follow
up appointment with my surgeon to see the "offical" loss count.
I don't have that weight on my upper chest like I had before surgery so I
can't wait to see what my pulmonary numbers are like the end of this month.
It is really visable now and I have people stop me all the time who I
haven't seen in a while to ask me what I did. I have a picture at home
that was taken in May of me from the waist up and I can't even belive the
difference. I started at 390lbs 5'9" and last time I checked in early
December I was 288lbs.
— Beth E.
January 8, 2004
I have had asthma all my life and was on 4 medications before surgery.
WHen they operated I was intubated and I woke up without it. They told me I
had been intubated and of course my throat hurt like hell, but that was the
extent of it. My surgery was Dec 4th 2002 and I weighed in at 306 the day
of surgery and the day I went home I weighed 312, my weight loss the first
2 months was slow, but then the dr pointed out what I was doing wrong and
since then I have 161 lbs and am now @146, six lbs from my drs goal and I
feel GREAT!!! Take Care and keep in touch, Cinde
— Cinde S.
January 9, 2004
Dawn
I had asthma when I had my open RNY. I was not on the ventilator when I was
in ICU. I was only on it while I was in surgery. I think it depends on your
doctors orders as to whether or not you stay on it after surgery.
Deb
— Deb S.
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