Asthma after surgery

[lpp12]

Hi,
I had a emergency right hemi-colectomy after my colon was punctured during a colonoscopy.  I was in surgery for 3 hours.  Before my surgery, my asthma was under control and I could run for 25-30 minutes.  Now, 2 months later, breathing is awful. My chest feels tight. I am not wheezing and do not feel I need my inhaler but I can not run for more than 2 minutes without being short of breath.If I do use the inhaler, it does not seem to change anything.  I had my pft and my numbers were mainly in the 60's and 70's.  Treatment with albuteral did not effect my numbers at all.  My doctor says this could take up to a year to return to normal and it is the effect of anesthesia as well as a weak diaphram after surgery.  I have googled anesthesia effecting asthma long-term and I can not seem to find anything on that topic.  Do you think this is the cause of my shortness of breath?  If not, what could it be.

[niska1]

A related discussion, asthma caused by surgery was started.

[need2breathe]

Hi asthmaaftersurgery. I also am recovering from a perforated colon during colonoscopy. After my surgery and during recovery, I started feeling the need to take a deep cleansing breath, but could never fully finish the breath. I also was yawning hard, but could not finish the yawn, I hope you are able to follow me.  As the days went by, I was not getting better but feeling as if the symptoms were worse. I finally saw an allergy/asthma specialist who told me I have asthma.  This diagnosis was 3 weeks ago, and I have had to use my rescue inhaler 3 times since then. I am not happy about any of this, and am feeling anxiety (mostly from the injury).  The doctor gave me QVAR, I am starting to feel better, but also notice that I am gaining weight, and am having a negative attitude. I hope this is not from the meds. I also hope you are feelng better very soon! Thanks for this post.

[National Jewish Health]

I am so sorry to hear of your misfortune and the suffering you have had to endure.  I know of no lasting effect of anesthetics on pre-existing asthma.  Makes me wonder if your shortness of breath with exertion is on the basis of a problem, other than asthma.  Three possibilities come to mind:  1) that you sustained paralysis of one of your vocal cords or tracheal stenosis (narrowing), secondary to the (presumed) tracheal intubation during surgery, 2) that you may have had or may still be having clots to your lungs (pulmonary emboli)  or, 3) that you have not just a weak diaphragm, after surgery, but a paralyzed diaphragm, a not infrequent complication of cardiac surgery but seldom a problem secondary to abdominal surgery and/or tracheal intubation.  Your doctor is correct in asserting that paralysis of the hemi-diaphragm, post-operatively, may take a year or more for spontaneous recovery to occur.

Another, much less likely, explanation for your shortness of breath would be some type of heart failure.

You should ask your doctor if these 4 possibilities have been considered and carefully investigated.  The specific PFT’s that gave “numbers .. mainly in the 60’s & 70’s”  might provide a clue as to the cause of your breathlessness.  Do not hesitate to ask your doctor questions or to request one or more second opinions.

Good luck