Having surgery is a big event which causes stress on your body systems including your heart. While many patients have surgery without complications, some patients are at higher risk of serious heart problems around the time of surgery, including:
- A heart attack (when the heart muscle does not get enough blood)
- An irregular heartbeat (arrhythmias)
- Heart failure (when the heart muscle is weak and cannot pump blood well)
- Cardiac arrest (when the heart stops beating and it may, or may not, be possible to start it again)
Because your heart can work extra hard during and after surgery, your health care team may check your heart carefully before surgery to learn how well your heart is working and help estimate your potential heart risk.
Knowing your risks helps your health care team plan ahead and take steps to monitor, support, and protect your heart before, during, and after surgery. It also gives you helpful information about your health so you can make decisions about surgery.
How Does Your Health Care Team Check Your Heart?
Your health care team may:
- Ask about your medical history and symptoms you are having
- Do a physical exam
- Do blood tests or an electrocardiogram
This information is used to help predict your personal risk of serious heart problems after surgery. Your health care team can explain what the results mean and answer any questions you have. They may also order additional tests or refer you to a specialist.
What Can You Do Before Surgery?
There are many things you can do to help protect your heart before surgery. These can make recovery smoother and safer.
- Optimize your heart issues and conditions that affect the heart - Work with your health care team to make sure your blood pressure, heart rate, and other conditions are be well managed.
- Share symptoms with your doctor, especially if new or worsening - Before surgery, tell your health care team If you have had chest pain, shortness of breath, dizziness, or fainting. These symptoms may need attention and sharing them helps your health care team treat any issues early and avoid delays in surgery.
- Be open to extra testing or a specialist visit - If your health care team suggests more heart tests, these can give important information to guide your care and make sure surgery is safe for you.
- Develop healthy habits while waiting for surgery - This will ensure your heart is as strong as possible before surgery. Check out the Getting Active, Nutrition, and Smoking Cessation sections.
Where to Learn More
Healthlink BC - Information on heart health
Cardiac Services BC - Information on heart failure and heart rhythm disorders