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Last Updated on February 23, 2024 by Partha Protim Choudhury
Blood pressure control is essential before the surgical procedure to reduce the risk of complications during and after the procedure. This is because high BP during surgery might result in significant bleeding, cardiac strain, and further cardiovascular issues. Conversely, low BP might impact organ perfusion and increase the risk of post-operative complications. This article discusses the need to regulate BP before undergoing surgery.
To put it simply, high blood pressure during surgery can put you at risk of various threats such as heart attack, excessive bleeding, stroke or kidney problems, etc.
Blood pressure control is important before elective surgery and it is dependent on the degree, the type of hypertension and the presence of other cardiovascular risk factors. A recent study shows this. A recent research state this.
Blood pressure should be in a normal range several months before surgery, although mild to moderate level is not in association with an increased operative risk. Mild to moderate hypertension doesn’t need to be in acute control even if it’s a few days before surgery. Higher blood pressure (HBP) elevations bring the patient at an increased operative risk and, therefore, must be in control before surgery. Various antihypertensive drugs confer a protective effect on the risk of intraoperative instability by controlling blood pressure.
Please note that some high blood pressure medications (like ACE inhibitors or angiotensin receptor blockers) are held for a certain period, such as 24 hours, prior to surgery.
Additionally, hypertension or HBP brings further concerns regarding general anaesthesia. Blood pressure normally may arise during surgery from the activation of your sympathetic nervous system during the start of anaesthesia. Too much HBP can make you lose excessive blood during surgery, and ultimately, your blood pressure can drop, requiring blood transfusion. In cases with severe loss of blood during surgery (meaning more than 20% of your body’s blood supply), a life-threatening condition called hypovolemic shock may develop.
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