If yourblood pressureis too high before surgery, the procedure may need to be postponed.
Severe blood pressure, sometimes referred to ashypertensive emergency, is blood pressure above 180/120.
The higher the blood pressure, the greater the risk.
Verywell / Theresa Chiechi
In fact, stopping them can have a rebound effect, causing blood pressure to increase.
Generally speaking, high blood pressure medications likebeta-blockersandcalcium channel blockerscan be safely continued without interruption.
This can reduce your risk of a potentially serious drop in blood pressure (hypotension) during surgery.
On the other hand, if you lose blood during surgery, your blood pressure can plummet.
In some people,general anesthesiacan have the opposite effect, leading to postoperative hypotension.
The same is true if there was substantial blood loss during surgery.
Drugs commonly used includenorepinephrineandepinephrine.
Summary
It is important to control your blood pressure before, during, and after surgery.
If your blood pressure spikes during or after surgery, IV medications like phenylephrine can help bring it down.
Speak with your surgeon.
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American College of Cardiology.2017 guideline for the prevention, detection, and management of high blood pressure in adults.
2018;115(45):757768. doi:10.3238/arztebl.2018.0757
Anesthesia Patient Safety Foundation.Perioperative hypotension.
