After 2 years of chronic tonsilitis, my otherwise healthy 22 year old daughter had her tonsils removed yesterday. There was no stress test done prior to undergoing surgery.
While under anesthesia, she developed an "abnormal" heartbeat which continued throughout the surgery and remained 25% of the time in post-op.
She was sent home; as this was outpatient surgery, but was referred to a cardiologist. My question is this:
Could the heartbeat issue be directly related to the anesthesia or is it truly likely that she has some sort of heart problem?
2007-04-20 02:34:37 · 6 answers · asked by I've Got It! 3 in Health ➔ Diseases & Conditions ➔ Heart Diseases
Either could be the case.
We sometimes see abnormal heart rhythms in people under anesthesia. (We used to see it a lot more with some of the older gases.) You don't say what the abnormality is, so I can't elaborate much on the possible causes.
She could have an irregular heartbeat that comes and goes, and you didn't know it because she's not walking around with a heart monitor on. The cardiologist may put her on a Holter monitor, which is a recording of her heartbeat over several days. If this is the case, the Holter should pick it up.
There is also the chance that either the surgery or drugs she received contributed to her arrhythmia. If that is the case, it's a good idea to let her anesthesiologists know for future surgeries.
The cardiologist can tell her if there is anything to worry about. Most likely, there is not.
Best of luck to both of you!
2007-04-20 11:09:33 · answer #1 · answered by Pangolin 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
This abnormal heartbeat in an otherwise healthy 22 years old is probably a benign (harmless) one. Some abnormal heartbeat (arrythmia) is precipitated by stress conditions and patient can be otherwise aymptomatic. Some arrythmia is caused by abnormal electrolytes in the body, and with correction the arrythmia is gone.
She was referred to a cardiologist most probably for a full cardiac assesment which may consist of a stress test (to diagnose cardiac condition induced by stress), and/or a holter test (patient connected to small portable monitor to record 24 hours continuous heart activity).
Very seldom the anaesthesia itself causing the arrythmia, unless patient already has preexisting cardiac condition.
I am sure her abnormal heartbeat is not serious as she was discharged home postoperatively which is rather unsual if she has serious condition.
2007-04-20 05:07:31 · answer #2 · answered by Ferris 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It is probably safe to say that the abnormal heartbeat was aggravated by the surgery...but she has probably had it before, it was just not known because she wasn't on a heart monitor. She is definitely at risk for having it again.
Now that it is documented, the Dr. will know how to treat it. Some arrhythmias are not dangerous, others are. The Dr. can do tests, if he/she feels the need, to see how much your daughter is actually having the arrhythmia and if she is likely to have it again.
2007-04-20 03:03:53 · answer #3 · answered by streenbeen 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The whole reason for sending her to a cardiologist is so that the cardiologist can find out what is wrong, if anything.
Make sure she sees the cardiologist. S/he can help.
2007-04-20 09:14:36 · answer #4 · answered by istitch2 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
by no potential at the same time as decrease than anesthesia, yet I dream each and every night and that i frequently undergo in ideas them, heck, thats the better area of dozing to me is the paranormal or perhaps each and every so often frightening places i'm getting to holiday.
2016-10-13 00:54:55 · answer #5 · answered by lints 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
either is possible but, only the cardiologist will be able to tell if she has an underlying condition.
2007-04-20 02:57:27 · answer #6 · answered by racer 51 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋