Low Blood Pressure After Surgery: Key Facts

We’ll look at some of the causes of low blood pressure just after surgery, which range from substantial blood loss to lasting anesthesia after effects. Consult your care team if your low blood pressure persists after a few days.

Even if surgery is a regular treatment, there is still a chance of certain dangers. A shift in your blood pressure is one such risk. Blood pressure below 120/80 mmHg is considered normal. Systolic pressure, which is the highest value (120), indicates the pressure at which your heart beats and pumps blood.

Diastolic pressure, which is the bottom number (80), indicates the pressure in between heartbeats. Although it might vary based on the individual and the situation, any measurement below 90/60 mmHg can be regarded as low blood pressure.

Possible Reasons for Low Blood Pressure After Surgery?

Your blood pressure can drop during or following surgery for any of these reasons:

Anesthesia

Your blood pressure may be impacted by anesthetic medications, which are used to put you to sleep during surgery. Both when you’re being put to sleep and when you’re stopping the medicines, things can change.

Anesthesia can significantly lower blood pressure in certain individuals. If so, medical professionals will closely monitor you and administer drugs via intravenous (IV) to assist normalize your blood pressure.

Hypovolemic shock

When there is a significant loss of blood or fluid, your body enters hypovolemic shock. A significant blood loss, such as that which occurs during surgery, lowers blood pressure. The body cannot transport less blood as readily to the organs it needs to reach.

You will receive treatment in the hospital since shock is an emergency. The aim of treatment is to try to replenish your body’s blood and fluids before harm is done to your essential organs, particularly the heart and kidneys.

Septic shock

A potentially fatal consequence of contracting a bacterial, fungal, or viral infection is sepsis. It results in fluid leakage into other tissues from the walls of tiny blood vessels. Critically low blood pressure is one of the signs of septic shock, a serious sepsis consequence.

If you are in the hospital recuperating following surgery, you are susceptible to certain diseases. In a hospital, sepsis is treated with antibiotics, more fluids, and close observation.

You can be prescribed drugs known as vasopressors to treat low blood pressure. These contribute to elevated blood pressure by constricting your blood vessels.

At-home treatment

Here are some strategies to lessen symptoms if your low blood pressure persists after you go home:

• Before standing, take some time to stretch and move around. Your body’s blood flow will be aided by this.
• Avoid alcohol and caffeine as they can both dehydrate you.
• Eat frequently and in modest portions because smaller meals lower your risk of experiencing hypotension after eating.
• Increase your fluid intake because staying hydrated lowers the risk of low blood pressure.
• Increase your intake of salt by taking salt supplements or adding more salt to your food, as advised by your doctor. Consult your physician before beginning to add salt. Only a doctor’s recommendation should be followed when using this type of treatment.

Should You Worry About Low Blood Pressure?

Extremely low blood pressure puts you at risk for oxygen deprivation, which can harm important organs like your heart and brain.

This level of low numbers is more likely to occur while you are receiving medical treatment for conditions like a heart attack or blood loss.

Low blood pressure, however, usually doesn’t need to be treated.

You’d better be safe than sorry. You should consult your physician if you’re worried about persistently low blood pressure, particularly if you’re exhibiting any of the following symptoms:

• dizziness
• lightheadedness
• blurry vision
• nausea
• dehydration
• cold clammy skin
• fainting

In summary, talk to your doctor if your situation becomes more severe. Your doctor will be able to tell if there’s another health issue going on or if you need to add or change medications.