Diagnostic value of visual stethoscopes for detecting bronchospasm in a patient under general anesthesia - A case report -
- Author:
Jaeeun SONG
1
;
Baehun MOON
;
Hyun-Seok KIM
;
Woo-Young SEO
;
Woo Jin KIM
;
Sung-Hoon KIM
Author Information
- Publication Type:Case Report
- From:Anesthesia and Pain Medicine 2025;20(3):277-282
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
Background:Bronchospasm is a rare but potentially life-threatening complication during anesthesia that requires prompt recognition and management. Traditional auscultation plays a key role but is limited in objective interpretation and continuous monitoring. Case: We report a case of intraoperative bronchospasm during laparoscopic surgery, detected early through real-time acoustic visualization using a digitalized esophageal stethoscope. The visualization of lung sounds facilitated the rapid identification of expiratory wheezing and abnormal spectrogram patterns characteristic of bronchospasm. Immediate intervention with a bronchodilator resolved the condition without further complications.
Conclusions:This case demonstrates the utility of visual stethoscopes in enhancing perioperative respiratory management. Real-time visualization and quantification of lung sounds offer anesthesiologists a valuable tool for early diagnosis and collaborative decision-making during critical respiratory events.
