heart

[buddro]

I had dental surgery 2 weeks ago and during the surgery my heart stopped.  The dr. and to give me adrenaline and once the surgery was done he told me a just had an anxiety attack.  I felt like there was more to it.  Can anyone please help me on the subject. thanks

[RCA7591]

Your doctor is an idiot, and should be "relieved" of his license.

Let's put this into perspective for a moment, shall we?

During an "anxiety attack", the body's fight or flight mechanism releases the hormone Adrenaline ( a potent stimulant, and vasopressor) into circulation. This has a "pressor" effect on the heart, causing an increase in blood pressure and cardiac output. One's heart doesn't stop due to an "anxiety attack" occuring in isolation. Therefore, something else caused your heart to stop.

In short, anxiety doesn't cause cardiac arrest (even in the most severe forms with the most severe case of respiratory alkalosis presenting). It's the lamest excuse I've ever heard.

A likely synopsis: You had an adverse reaction to the anaesthesia used, were given too much anaesthesia, or someone was neglegent, and was not monitoring your vitals (O2 sats, ECG rhythm strip, BP CO2). In turn, either your 02 dropped, or your heart rhythm was disturbed due to an acid/base imbalance, sharp drop in BP/cardiac output, etc.

I'd request a copy of all drugs used, a full report of the procedure, and the reported complications (and the actions taken to correct the complications). I would then find a good medical malpractice attorney.

Complications can arrise during anaesthesia, but blaming anxiety for complications is crossing the line by a wide margin. Ask the doctor to put the "anxiety attack" diagnosis for cardiac arrest into writing. He'll never do it, for he *would* indeed be relieved of his duties! (and rather easily, I might add).

-Ryan

[debaser23]

I have a law degree but I'm not a lawyer (I've never attempted a bar exam).  This is not legal advice:

Sever contact with the doctor in question.  Contact a malpractice attorney and let him deal with it.  He needs to find out how long your heart was stopped and under what conditions.  He'll consult with an expert to determine if there's a possibility of long-term complications.  This doctor may need to be taken out of circulation.

And I'm not a doctor but I do have panic disorder and have done a lot of research on it.  Just backing up what RCA said: I've never, ever heard of a panic attack stopping a person's heart.

[br2509]

I am with Ryan your Doc must be crazy because your heart doesn't just stop there is something else wrong and i don't think its anxiety .I really never heard of anyones heart giving out with anixety attack but then again i am not a Doc i don't know just very uncommon.So if i was you i would go to another Doc to get a check up..