Anesthetic management of the asthmatic patient: a perioperative approach.

The patient with asthma presents an anesthetic challenge to the anesthetist. A thorough preoperative assessment, careful anesthetic planning, smooth induction, maintenance and emergence of anesthesia, and an uneventful postanesthesia recovery are essential to prevent the untoward effects of acute asthma exacerbation during the perioperative experience. Careful planning, continuous observation, and accurate diagnostic decision making are the essential components in lowering anesthetic and operative risk for patients with asthma.