Mehdi Hassan Mumtaz.
Problems in Anesthesia in connective tissue disease.
J Pak Assoc Derma Jan ;10(2):26-39.

Patients with connective tissue diseases require surgical operations more frequently than realized. They are a definite challenge and present the anesthetist with many potential problems. Such patients are chronically ill and sometimes are seen during an acute flare up of their disease where upon systemic visceral involvement may be common. The anesthetist must be aware of the patients general state of health and must search for evidence of pulmonary, cardiac, or hematologic disturbances. Airway problems should be anticipated in many cases, especially in rheumatoid arthritis. A few minutes of careful questioning and examining preoperatively may prevent an unexpected disaster. The history of drug therapy is essential preoperative information, particularly because of many of these patients will need augmentation or coverage with steroids drugs. This is a review article.

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