Expert: Ronald Levy, M.D. - 11/5/2009

Question
QUESTION: Hi.  My son is 16 years old.  He had been put under in May, 2009 and again this week.  Both times, he got a severe headache in the operating room as soon as the anesthesia was put in the IV.  His last words to me before he went out was "my head, my head!".  Then, both times it took a while to get him fully awake in the recovery room.  And then he has been laid up for the past five days being very pale and extremely dizzy.  Last time the doctor said his blood pressure was dropping when he stood up.  That was four days after the anesthesia.  It eventually wore off.  As I'm sure it will this time.  But I am wondering why it affects him this way.  Any explanation would be greatly appreciated.  Thank you.

ANSWER: Without knowing what he got both times (or what kind of surgery), it would be impossible to speculate what caused that. In general, I have not heard of patients complaining of that kind of a headache so I would not want to speculate on what has been happening.

Ronald Levy, MD
Professor of Anesthesiology
UTMB-Galveston

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: He had an endoscopy in May and both an endoscopy and colonoscopy this week.  He has had a few concussions within the past two years.  Could that be the headache problem?  thank you

Answer
I don't think the concussions have anything to do with it and I can't really explain the headaches as part of the anesthetic without knowing what anesthesia he received, if it was the same each time, etc.


Ronald Levy, MD
Professor of Anesthesiology
UTMB-Galveston