When is low blood pressure during surgery dangerous?
During many surgical procedures, a certain lowering of blood pressure levels to a certain level is attempted to prevent possible complications such as intraoperative bleeding. On the other hand, too low blood pressure during an operation is considered critical. According to studies, too low blood pressure before surgery even increases postoperative mortality, while high blood pressure reduces it.
The anesthetics used have a regulating effect on the blood vessels by dilating them (vasodilation). Consequently, blood pressure decreases. In healthy patients this has only a minor effect.
However, in patients with mainly pre-existing cardiovascular diseases or fluid deficiency, anesthesia can have serious effects on blood pressure. If the anesthetist notices a critical drop in blood pressure (for example due to a reflex rise in heart rate), countermeasures are initiated. These include the administration of sympathomimetic drugs (e.g. noradrenaline, cafedrine theodrenaline in the form of Akrinor® or ephedrine) or the administration of volumes in the form of infusions to balance the fluid balance.
