Expert: Ronald Levy, M.D. - 3/22/2010

Question
Good Afternoon Dr. Levy,
One week following foot surgery on February 19, 2010 I developed pleurisy in my right lung that sent me to the ER twice with excruciating pain.  Mainly because the condition went undiagnosed on the first visit to the ER.  In the recovery room I was not administered a Nebulizer treatment to clear my lungs.  Pleurisy is a viral infection.  I am a healthy 48 year old female and was given a clean bill of health by my physician prior to surgery.  There are documented cases of respiratory complications following surgery.  Could the anesthesia have caused an inflammation and irritation to the lining in my lungs?  Perhaps the viral infection was picked up in the operating room.  Any thoughts?

Answer
The anesthesia could not have caused this problem. What is possible is that if you had an upper respiratory infection already (perhaps sub-clinical) the endotracheal tube could have pushed it down further into your windpipe. Infections certainly can be picked up in the operating room but operating rooms are very clean with special air handlers so it is very rare to get an infection from the OR.

Ronald Levy, MD
Professor of Anesthesiology
UTMB-Galveston