Thoracic epidural for modified radical mastectomy in an asthmatic patient

Thoracic epidural anaesthesia is one of the safe and good alternative to general anaesthesia in high risk patients of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and asthma where general anaesthesia is contraindicated. A 55 years old female patient was scheduled for modified radical mastectomy on account of advanced carcinoma of right breast. The patient was known case of bronchial asthma since 5 years with frequent attacks per week for which she was taking nebulisation with salbutamol and budesonide two times per day. In the pre-operative evaluation, her vitals were within normal limit but on auscultation air entry was reduced all over the chest with bilateral crepts and rhochi present. We did this patient in plaine thoracic epidural anaesthesia without haemodynamic instability. Thoracic epidural anaesthesia and analgesia for mastectomy is feasible, and it offers additional benefits in high-risk patients.