Pathophysiology of respiratory disease and its significance to anaesthesia

Significant changes occur in the respiratory physiology of healthy patients during anaesthesia. In patients with underlying respiratory pathology (e.g. chronic obstructive airways disease) these changes in respiratory physiology may lead to clinical problems during the conduct of anaesthesia and the perioperative period. An understanding of the disease processes that can affect the lungs and pleura allows the anaesthetist to account for the potential complications of these conditions and manage the anaesthetic accordingly.