Asthma: an anesthetic update. Part 3.

The effective management of the patient with asthma continues to represent a significant challenge in modern anesthesia practice. The prevalence of asthma is increasing worldwide and is the most common chronic disorder among children. Classification and treatment strategies continue to evolve as new therapies emerge. Fortunately, the incidence of bronchospastic episodes under anesthesia has declined in recent years with the development of improved anesthetic drugs and techniques. A thorough understanding of the pathogenesis of asthma will assist in developing anesthetic management plans that are patient specific and use the best treatment pathways currently available.