Issues in Anesthesia – Heart Problems
Being placed under anesthesia, especially generally anesthesia, where a person is made unconscious and temporarily paralyzed, can put a lot of stress on a patient’s body. It is well known that anesthesia can be just as, or in some cases more, dangerous than the surgical procedure being performed. When the patient has a pre-existing medical condition, the dangers of anesthesia can be further elevated. Heart problems are one example where the increased risks are twofold: anesthesia can cause circulatory and cardiac issues, and surgeries where the patient’s heart is the target are already serious without the added potential for anesthetic complications.
In the United States, 25% of surgical patients suffer from some sort of heart disease (regular culprits include coronary artery disease, high blood pressure, and congestive heart failure). Patients with existing heart problems are almost always more likely to suffer from anesthesia-related heart complications during or following an operation. As expected, the more serious the person’s preexisting condition, the more elevated the risk for complications.
Various agents can be used to send patients into an anaesthetized state. Many of the most common varieties can increase the probability that a person’s heart will begin to beat in an arrhythmic manner. In minor, temporary instances, this may not have serious medical consequences, but it can cause serious health issues, particularly in patients who may have already been suffering from chronic arrhythmia. A patient with heart problems may also need additional medications during a procedure to make sure there are no problems. When more medications are required, there is obviously an increased risk for dangerous drug interactions.
When a person’s heart is the subject of an operation, anesthesia can pose other types of risks. Monitoring a patient’s vital signs, including pulse and blood pressure, are very important to assure that anesthetics are not having a dangerous effect, and procedures involving the heart can obviously complicate taking these measurements. Special devices may have to be needed in order to get accurate readings.
Doctors have a responsibility to vigilantly protect the wellbeing of their patients. This includes fully discussing existing medical issues and potential risks before an operation takes place. If a patient is injured due to a medical professional’s negligent actions, there may be grounds for a medical malpractice lawsuit.
Source:ezinearticles.com
