Anesthesia

Complications with GERD and anesthesia

07/24/2006

Question:

The last time I had general anesthesia, the DR. told me that he had to insert an NG tube because of all of the stomach acid that was coming up (I have GERD). I am scheduled to have a hysterectomy next week and I am also having severe gastritis (ulcer?) for the past several weeks. Do you think the gastritis will add to the complication of the GERD. I had to cancel the GI tests for next week due to the hysterectomy.

Answer:

Gastritis simply means inflammation of the stomach and can be due to a variety of causes.

If the hysterectomy is elective - that is, not an emergency - and you are feeling unwell because of the gastritis, then it may be wise to delay the surgery until you are feeling better. This is a decision that should be made by you and your gynecologist, possibly with input from your anesthesiologist.

GERD is very common in the United States and patients with GERD are able to receive anesthesia safely. Certain precautions may be necessary. For instance, patients should continue to take their antacid or H2 blocker medicines (Zantac, Prevacid, etc) before their surgery and on the day of their surgery. During the induction of anesthesia ("going to sleep") certain actions may be taken to help prevent acid from coming up out of your stomach and into your lungs. If you are having gastritis on top of your GERD the prevention measures I have described would be especially important.

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Response by:

Gareth S Kantor, MD
Assistant Professor
Department of Anesthesiology
University Hospitals
School of Medicine
Case Western Reserve University