Getting sick right before surgery may or may not delay the scheduled procedure.
Change in patient health was the cause in nearly one out of every four such events.
In some cases, your illness may be related to the reason for your surgery.
Verywell / Laura Porter
For example, you may be experiencing severe chest pain due tocoronary artery disease.
If you are scheduled foropen-heart surgeryto improve that condition, it would likely go on as planned.
A respiratory infection orstomach flumight delay surgery too.
There are reasons why feeling unwell could lead to a canceled procedure.
That said, there are also reasons why your health changes would give cause to move forward.
Usually, your surgeon will make a final decision on whether to move forward.
Only your surgeon can decide if your symptoms are severe enough to lead to a delay.
Among them are several respiratory illnesses.
Asthma Symptoms
Asthma alone is not a reason to cancel surgery.
Breathing Problems
Breathing problems can lead to the delay or cancellation of a procedure.
Patients who have general anesthesia are at increased risk for breathing difficulties, includingpneumonia.
For that reason,pulmonary function testsmay be done to ensure that you are breathing as well as possible.
This is intended to reduce the risk of breathing problems after surgery.
A new diagnosis of a severe breathing problem may postpone surgery or lead to a canceled surgery.
Respiratory infections may make it harder for you to get enough oxygen while under anesthesia.
In cases where surgery is essential, your surgeon may relax these requirements.
Contagious Illness
A contagious illness, such aschickenpoxormeasles, will usually delay your surgery.
Fever
Afevercan lead to a delay in surgery, particularly if it is very high or unexplained.
A low-grade temperature may not lead to a delay in surgery.
Those rates were even higher during winter months when fever-related infection was more likely.
Whereas major infections, such assepsisormeningitis, may cause your surgery to be delayed.
However, most cases of the flu will typically be over within a week.
A mild sore throat with no other symptoms may not be a reason to cancel your surgery.
However, the anesthetic used during surgery may make a sore throat worse for a few days.
They will decide whether it’s safe to go ahead with the surgery or postpone it.
Uncontrolled Diabetes
Uncontrolleddiabetescan increase the risks of complications after surgery.
High glucose, or blood sugar, levels can increase the risk of infections.
It also may lead to slow wound healing and increased recovery times.
Vomiting
Any vomiting symptom can be a cause for surgery delay.
Vomiting during surgery can cause aspiration pneumonia, a serious complication from food or liquid getting into the lungs.
Vomiting after surgerycan cause other problems too.
It may increase pain and put more stress on some types of incisions.
This can make the recovery process more difficult.
One exception to the rule may be when the surgery is meant to correct the vomiting.
That’s more likely when the surgery is intended to correct a digestive tract disorder.
Talk to your surgeon about blood thinners and estrogen-containing birth control you may be taking.
There may be no delay, for example, with a minor illness.
It’s necessary to assess surgical risk based on the patient’s health status prior to the procedure.
If the condition is related to the procedure, there should be no delay or postponement.
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