Expert: Ronald Levy, M.D. - 2/23/2011

Question
I am having an anterior cervical discectomy with fusion is 5 days. I am starting to have symptoms of a common cold (no fever). What determines the criteria for canceling the anesthesia and is there anything I can do to in advance to lessen the possible side effects
so that surgery will proceed as scheduled.
Thank you

Answer
If you have a fever, then the surgeon's might cancel if they are planning to place any instrumentation (because of the risk of infection). If you have an upper/lower airway infection, then anesthesia might cancel because of the rsik of pneumonia, potential prolonged ventilation and risk of laryngo/bronchospasm. Treat you cold as you normally would (tylenol, bedrest, fluids, etc) and see how you are the day of surgery. If all is well, they will likely proceed.

Ronald Levy, MD
Professor of Anesthesiology
UTMB-Galveston