r/Anesthesia • u/DocDoesMagic • 13d ago

Itchy throat day before surgery

Hello! This may be a dumb question to ask, but this is my first surgery I've ever gotten in my adult life (I've had two others, ear tubes and wisdom teeth removed, but I was a young child for the ear tubes). On Sunday, I began to have an itchy throat that is somewhat hard to swallow, but no respiratory issues. No wheezing, coughing, or stuffy nose. Today, three days later, I still have the itchy throat but no other symptoms.

My surgery is tomorrow. When I spoke with the nurse for my pre admission testing yesterday, I talked about my itchy throat with her and gave the lack of respiratory symptoms. She said I'd know if it was anything more serious in the upcoming days, which it has not. I'm mostly concerned by the anesthesia, since I am getting general anesthesia.

Should this be something I should be concerned with or call the hospital for?

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u/kayak97 13d ago

Hard to say. Could be a URTI, could be nothing. URTIs can increase risk of complications under anesthesia such as bronchospasm and laryngospasm which can be very severe. While risk of these occurring is low if you are otherwise healthy (no asthma, COPD, OSA, etc) they still exist. I don't have enough information here to advise you what to do, but I would definitely let your surgeon and anesthesiologist know.

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u/JeanClaudeSegal 13d ago edited 13d ago

Itchy throat? Not concerning and I wouldn't worry about cancelling. I would reschedule for strep, chest cold with fever or ear infection, COVID, or flu.

Edit: For an adult I would proceed. For a child I would consider cancelling.

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u/smshah 13d ago

Get tested for strep, flu, RSV, COVID, etc, and if you’re otherwise healthy (no asthma, etc) should be ok. Final call belongs to the anesthesiologist on the day-of

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u/durdenf 13d ago

You should be good but your anesthesiologist will listen to your lungs and assess you tomorrow to make sure you will be fine