Asthma: Current pathophysiology and treatment

At least 10 million Americans suffer from asthma, one of the most common chronic diseases in the United States. Disturbingly, both the incidence and severity of asthma appear to be increasing, especially among the urban poor, despite the concerted efforts of health care providers. Some forms of asthma therapy have been implicated as contributing to sudden death in these patients. It is increasingly important to properly manage patients with asthma in the perioperative period. This article presents current thought regarding the pathophysiology and treatment of asthma and outlines an approach to the perioperative care of these patients.