Pathophysiology of respiratory disease and its significance to anaesthesia

Significant changes occur in the respiratory system during anaesthesia. The changes in those with underlying respiratory pathology may lead to additional clinical problems during the perioperative period. Understanding these disease processes that affect the respiratory system will allow the anaesthetist to anticipate potential complications as well as adapt practice to manage them more safely. More recently, coronovirus disease (COVID-19) has also added an extra concern to the anaesthetist.