Diagnostic value of visual stethoscopes for detecting bronchospasm in a patient under general anesthesia - A case report.

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.