Expert: JM Starkman, MD - 7/23/2011

Question
After a recent eye surgery and having anesthetic,my heart rate dropped and anestheologist administered epinephrine causing my heart rate increase.  Also, after total hip replacement and having a spinal, my heart rate dropped and nurse administered epinephrine causing increase in heart rate.  My blood pressure is a normal low....112-120 systolic and 60 diastolic.  Can this slow heart rate cause cardiac arrest?  I was 60 years old when I had eye surgery and 65 when I had hip replacement....Now going to have second hip replacement on other hip.....otherwise very healthy....

Answer
The heart rate changes you have noted are part of the abnormal physiology and depressant nature of anesthetics.  This is why it is imperative to have a conscientious anesthesiologist administering anesthesia---to monitor, identify and act on those responses which may result in morbidities from the side effects of anesthetic drugs.  What you've described can result in cardiac arrest (i.e. no pulse at all; heart rate equal to zero) if it is allowed to worsen and/or go unnoticed and untreated by a less-than-vigilant "provider".