ANESTHESIA & PACEMAKER

Hello Fellow PaceMaker Users!

I have to have a routine (I don't want to type the name of it) - everyone over 50 supposed to have it  everyone 10 yrs. to prevents colon cancer & you drink a horrible drink the night before (you guessed it).

I'd like to know if anyone's ANESTHESIA affected their pacemaker?  AND/OR if your gastro doctor found a polyp to remove did that procedure affect your pacemaker?

THX TO ANYONE WHO REPLIES FOR ME.

4 Comments

No issues with PM, but...

by CyborgMike - 2020-09-24 12:53:41

Anesthesia won't specifically affect your pacemaker, but it is very important that the doctor and the anesthesiologist understand your specific heart condition, pacemaker settings, and medications. I had a similar procedure (endoscopy) at my GI doc and on the first try my blood pressure crashed with anesthesia, so they had to abort and wake me up. After consult with my cardiologist they had me stop taking my beta blocker for three days ahead of the procedure. The next time around all went well. 

Anaesthesia, Colonoscopy and bowel prep

by Gemita - 2020-09-24 14:08:17

Sorry Robert, not a very nice subject, but a necessary one.  With any surgery or surgical procedure it can trigger unwanted symptoms, particularly heart rhythm ones.  For me I suspect this is mainly caused by any "fasting" required beforehand causing dehydration, weakness and a general anaesthetic will always trigger my arrhythmias (Atrial Tachycardia, SVT, Flutter, Fibrillation) so like CyborgMike my doctors have to be aware of what could happen.  

Similarly with the bowel prep required for a Colonoscopy, it could cause heart rhythm disturbances (through sudden electrolyte losses).  In fact my Gastroenterologist recommended that I came into hospital the day before for my prep and stay overnight because he knew that my arrhythmias would be triggered.  They were triggered during the bowel purging in hospital but I was in a safe place.  I was in fact experiencing intermittent atrial tachycardia at the time of my Colonoscopy (around 150 bpm) but the procedure still went ahead.

It took several days for my heart rhythm to settle down but no adverse pacemaker effects were noticed.  On that occasion, my colon was found to be squeaky clean, so all ended well.  

Be brave, be prepared and you will be fine.  Good luck

Squeaky

by AgentX86 - 2020-09-24 19:18:33

I once had a boss like that. He was so tight that his squeaked when he walked.

Colon procedures with a pacemaker

by No St. Chas - 2020-09-26 23:41:49

Same here, no problems with my pacemaker and I had 3 colonoscopies and also colon surgery as well. Good luck with your procedure.

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