Why
Maintaining adequate blood pressure during surgery is critical to prevent potential long-term injuries. If your blood pressure drops too low, it may not supply enough oxygen and blood to your brain and vital organs, which can lead to various issues such as postoperative memory problems, cognitive dysfunction, or even damage to organs. Therefore, it's imperative that your anesthesia providers closely monitor and regulate your blood pressure to ensure it remains close to your normal levels. Current recommendations suggest keeping your blood pressure within 20% of your usual pressure during surgery, with emerging theories proposing not allowing it to drop below 15%.
What You Can Do
Here are the proactive steps you can take to safeguard your health during surgery:
1. Communicate with your anesthesia provider about maintaining adequate blood flow to your brain and vital organs.
2. Inform your provider about your typical blood pressure levels for tailored care.
3. Ensure existing high blood pressure is well-managed with prescribed medications before surgery.
4. Maintain proper hydration levels to support cardiovascular health and blood pressure stability.
5. Request your anesthesia records after surgery to verify blood pressure maintenance and identify potential post-surgical issues.
6. If you are having shoulder surgery in the ‘beach chair’ position, it is vital your blood pressure is kept high enough to perfuse your brain.
Articles to Read
For further insights and information on perioperative blood pressure management and its impact on patient outcomes, consider exploring the following articles: