Need advice from a CRNA ASAP, PLEASE!!!!

[gypsyatheart]

Good evening, I hope you knowledgeable and experienced CRNA's can help me out here. (I'm an L&D/NICU RN, so the area of anesthesia/surgery is not too familiar w/me).

I am scheduled on Tues, Dec 30, for an outpatient surgical procedure, lasting ~3hrs, it will be under general anesthesia, I will spend 1-2hrs in Recovery, then go home. During my pre-op interview I was asked if I had been sick, plus, on the pre-op instruction form it said to notify the surgeons office if I developed an illness...for further instructions.

Well, wouldn't you know it, Fri night I started getting URI s/s....congestion, cough, chest cold kind of stuff. I do not have a fever or sore throat, just cough, mild, and congestion...clear drainage...minimal. I do sound "hoorifice" but no wheezing or anything like that.

My question is, how likely is it that my surgery will get cancelled???

I understand the risk of pneumonia, but would this really put me at higher risk? I'm young, healthy, non-smoker...usually "kick" this kind of stuff pretty quickly, in fact, this is the 1st time I've been sick this year! (my luck )

Thank you for any advice or info you can give me!:)

[Tenesma]

you have to understand that you are exposing yourself to a higher risk of atelectasis/pneumonia... while I have done cases on patients with similar situations for elective cases, in retrospect - i think i was testing my luck. if you are feeling better by your date of surgery then go ahead, but if things are the same or worse i would definitely reschedule.

[Brenna's Dad]

It's a very good question, and one that remains controversial.

Whether or not your surgery will be cancelled, will depend on the anesthesia provider and their past experiences.

In the setting I am practicing, I believe most providers would go ahead with the surgery, unless you developed fever, wheezing, frequent cough, purulent drainage, etc.

As tenesma says, you will be putting yourself at a higher risk of pulmonary complications.

[Diprivan/Vented]

What surgery are you doing anyway? Maybe they don't have to put you under general anesthesia.

[gypsyatheart]

Thank you all for your responses! The last thing I want to do is put myself at risk...it is important for me to have this surgery at this time, d/t my insurance expiring soon, but nothing is worth jeopardizing my safety or health.

I called the surgeons office today, explained the situation, his nurse told me it "should be fine" and to come at my scheduled time...,I would be evaluated by the anesthesiologist in the am and there might be a chance of cancellation anyway.

I've never had any kind of surgery before (this procedure is, d/t medical reasons, a breast reduction), and I'm pretty scared, almost scared enough to back out of doing it anyway!

Anyway, my s/s are MUCH better today...a little lingering congestion, but that's about it....

Thanks again, and please keep me in your good thoughts! :)