Anesthesia with COPD 4.

Hi . I hope you get lots of feedback from the community. While you wait, I thought I would share this article from one of our health leaders that discusses surgery and end-stage COPD: https://copd.net/living/surgery-stage-four. I hope this helps and that you are able to safely have the procedures you need. Best wishes. - Lori (Team Member)

I'm stage 4 I think, but not end stage, and have been knocked out multiple times! For my last procedure, to deal with a pneumothorax, they used Ketamine instead of a general anesthetic. They had to monitor my oxygen levels very closely (and definitely had to supply oxygen). It went fine though!

(stage 3), Few months ago I had a hernia surgery. The Doctor warned that the anastasia would effect me pretty good. I choose to go ahead and have the surgery. Since I can tell I was affected, moderately to severely. Cut my walking distance by half, and increased my O2 level need by 1/2 point.

hello ya all
I have had many MRI's an more
I have stage 4 in U S terms stage 3 serevre in Canadian terms [ we have 3 stages here ]
I also have end stage cancer matastizied {sp?} prostate even thou prostate was removed 18 yrs ago beat that round of cancer, now it's back with vengence
at present I have a stent in my left kidney a retrograde tube in my back which gets changed out every 3 months, due to daily discomforts with the retrograde I discussed with my Cancer specialist have a Antegrade installed which would require being put under, he was very against this idea and suggested I get frozen from mid chest down for this as people with COPD do not do well being put under.
I have since learned Calgary does not carry the metal stents suggested by my Doc yet Lethbridge where he is from does- difference is a metal stent changed 1ce a year/ rubber stent [ which i have now ]every 3 months and a antegrade does rid me of the pee bag, it s very invasive and uncomfortable to have done
So I am staying with the retrograde stent an just local freezing, this works best if performed properly { had it twice so far, first time was a breeze.. second time not so good, I told the nurse I have copd as well as servere arthritis of lower spine n need to be on my side to operate} her response " just relax" as i am put on a metal table flat on my stomach fighting to breath.... after stent was changed i walked stooped over n used a cane to move for a week with bad back pain.... I am due again in mid November an this time "they will listen or I will walk out" first was done with me my my side no probs, local to freeze, oxygen an relaxiant given
so point is My Cancer doc was VERY concerned bout putting me under with COPD so would have avoided that opting for freezing lower half of body instead.