Expert: Dr Ian Jackson - please note UK based - 10/8/2008

Question
Hi, I have congestive heart failure.  I'm going to have a D&C with general anesthesia. I'm 54 years old.  I take atenolol and clonadine for high blood pressure, primidone for tremors, armour thyroid for Hashimoto's disease, and atrovent for breathing.  I've never had anesthesia before and don't even know what kind of questions I should ask. Do you have any suggestions?

Answer
Hi cheri
54 is quite young to have congestive heart failure. However I assume this means you are under the care of a cardiologist who has ensured that your medical therapy is optimised. If this is the case and you live a fairly normal life despite your cardiac history then I'm sure you will be fine.
As to questions to ask - Do I have to have an operation? is a good start. Is there no way of getting tissue sample under local anaesthesia?
Then re the anaesthetic - tell the anaesthetist about your problems and then ask what type of anaesthesia they recommend as it can be done under general anaesthesia or spinal anaesthesia (a form of local anaesthesia)
Basically we manage people like yourself most days of the week and as long as your medication is right (and you take it as normal on the day) then you will be fine.
Dr Ian Jackson