“Does anesthesia affect your heart?”
My 82 year old mother will have surgery under general anesthesia. Does anesthesia affect your heart?
7 Answers
Yes. You could have arrhythmias, high blood pressure under anesthesia.
If she is a healthy 82 yo, should do well. All depends on anesthesia provider if she is healthy.
Yes
Many of the intravenous and inhalant agents used in anesthesia have effects on the heart. In general, elderly patients need these drugs in lower amounts than younger patients. An experienced anesthesiologist knows these facts and administers anesthesia to elderly patients in a carefully titrated manner to allow for safe induction, maintenance, and emergence from anesthesia, and will provide a care plan for your mother that will include preoperative, intraoperative and postoperative care.
It depends on the medical conditions your mother has. In general, all anesthetics can depress the heart function to various degrees. Most older patients are recommended to to be medically cleared by either PCP or cardiologist depending upon type of surgery, length of surgery, and many other factors. You can discuss individual case by asking your surgeon for anesthesia consult if you feel it is necessary and they can answer specific questions.
Anesthetics can depress heart function. These effects are not permanent.
In any age group, maintaining blood pressure and oxygenation (breathing) is important in keeping the heart and brain safe. Fortunately, anesthesiologists and CRNAs are very good at this do yes, she should be okay from an anesthesia standpoint if she does not have an underlying heart condition. I recommend having her get pre-anesthetic evaluation if available to get more detailed advice
From Christopher Creighton
From Christopher Creighton
