[Successful anesthetic management in a patient with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) using dexmedetomidine and combined spinal-epidural anesthesia for low anterior resection of the rectum].

A 70-year-old man with a severe COPD was scheduled for low anterior resection of the rectum because of rectal cancer. After a week of respiratory rehabilitation, respiratory function was much improved. We selected combined spinal-epidural anesthesia (CSEA) and dexmedetomidine to preserve spontaneous breathing. We obtained appropriate sedative and antianxiety effect without causing respiratory depression and hemodynamic changes. Dexmedetomidine was useful for anesthesia for a patient with severe COPD without causing respiratory depression.