Is it safe to have a general anesthetic when you have a croup like cough?

my son is due to have his teeth out tomorow but all night last night he was awake with a very bad cough that sounds like croup. my nephew has just had croup, so im pretty sure that this is what my son has, so i want to know if i should post pone him having his teeth out until he is better as he has to have a general anesthetic. thanks in advance for any serious replys

not safe... when we undergo GA, the anesthesiologist will put the patient to sleep, and at some point he will control the airway himself, there are several ways to do this

1. by face mask
2. by inserting a laryngeal mask airway
3. by inserting an endotracheal tube

either method he chooses stimulates the airway, when the airway is hypersensitive ( px has cough, sore throat etc...) the airway may go into spasm ( laryngospasm, bronchospasm ) making entry of air into the lungs difficult if not impossible... i dont have to say that this may have dire consequences...

any anesthesiologist worth his salt will advise against going ahead with the surgery since it is an elective case anyway... wait for the cough to pass...

PS i do hope you heed my advice, pls check my profile, i am an ANESTHESIOLOGIST... i was trained in the US but am currently practicing in Asia... i was chief resident during my training years, and am currently the training officer of the dept of anesthesiology in my hospital... im not bragging... just trying to convince you that i know what im talking about...

thank you, and i hope everything works out well...

I would deffinitely speak to the dentist/aneasthetist, I doubt if they will give a general when he has a cough but they should check his chest etc. before giving an aneasthetic anyway.

i'm assuming by "general anesthesia" you mean putting him to sleep. it's something to be concerned about if it is truly croop. better to let the dentist know about it and let him make the decision. breating conditions like pnuemonia and croop weaken the body's ability to "blow off" anesthesia during recovery. there just isn't the same gas exchange going on. that's no to say it shouldn't be done. it's a decision for the doctor.

Hi.

No anaesthetist would do a dental anaesthetic with such an irritable airway as you describe - his op needs to be delayed for at Least 2 weeks after he has recovered.

If he had an acute problem such as appendicitis then they would crack on and he would be fine but for routine dental procedures your anaesthetist will want him free of any respiratory tract infections.

Generally a non-urgent procedure requiring anaesthetic would be cancelled so I would phone the dentist.

Tags

　　Cystitis 　　Cystic Fibrosis 　　Cushing Syndrome 　　Cubital Tunnel Syndrome 　　CT Scans 　　Crutches 　　Croup 　　Crohn Disease 　　Cramps 　　Crack 　　CPR 　　Cough 　　Costochondritis

Related information

Is there a shot to help reduce the symptoms of croup?

Steriods can be given by injection if the child has viral croup, and the steam method hasn't worked. ...

Please help me with croup? how do i help it go away..?

Croup does not cause bleeding. Since it has gotten worse, it is 911 time. Get him to an ER immediately. There are very few things that cause you to cough up blood that are minor. Please...

Anyone know anything about croup?

In my opinion, you need take your baby to the ER urgently! Croup is very dangerous and can cause the person with it to lose their airway (death when at home). This is a very serious illness. ...

Ear Infection, URI and Croup?

Okay, first off what does the cough sound like. Croup will sound like a loud, seal-like bark. Croup will also usually will be improved with exposure to warm humid air. ((Also cool humid air can be ...

Did I catch a cold from my nephew who has croup?

Adults can get croup. I'm 24 and I recently had it. I went to the doctor and she was puzzled. She asked if I worked closely or had any kids and I said no. She said, I don't know how y...

Why does The Croup Get worse at night?

it has to do with the tempature differce and the hewmidity in the air. ask your doctor to explain it in english(lol) so that you know for sure what's goin on. dont be afraid to ask, i mean con...

What exactly is croup cough?

My daugther had croup a few months ago. It happens when the airways get inflammed from a common cold/respiratory virus and they shrink somewhat. The cough sounds like a seal bark, but it's j...

How long is croup contagious?

croup is as contagious as the common cold. wash hands well. cool night air works great in reduction of swelling. if put on antibiotics, it shouldn't be contagious after 24hrs of medication....