Expert: Ronald Levy, M.D. - 3/9/2011

Question
Hi doctor and thank yo in advance to read my question, I am a 29 years old female, and I am schedule for surgery(niessen fundoplication, laparoscopy) in 10 days. However a month ago I had a cold with a lot of dry cough, I get better and a week later the cough came back, it is just dry cough, I have been like this for the last 2 weeks I have seen 2 doctors which both said that my lungs sound very clear when they check my chest a back with the stethoscope, the only one thing that helps is the Robitussin, which suppress my cough and make some phlegm to loosen up, I have also been on antibiotics, that haven't helped. I had all my blood pre-op test and everything come back fine.If this keeps going on my surgery would have to be canceled, right? or is it possible to go to surgery?

Answer
If you have no other symptoms of infection (fever, chills, etc), then the surgery will probably proceed. When you see the anesthesiologist pre-op, explain your symptoms as you have here and my guess is they will proceed with surgery.


Ronald Levy, MD
Professor of Anesthesiology
UTMB-Galveston