Atrial Fibrillation (AFib) Support Group

We had a discussion about this before. Many of us had a colonoscopy and while being prepped or during or shortly after colonoscopy got afib. I don't think this was posted before. Take a read. It comes from a hospital website. petey

http://stanfordhospital.org/clinics...



Surgery or medical procedures
Patients undergoing surgery or medical procedures seem to have an increased likelihood of developing atrial fibrillation. Almost any type of surgery seems to be associated with an increase in the likelihood of developing atrial fibrillation. Atrial fibrillation may even prior to surgery with the administration of sedatives or anesthetic agents, may occur during the surgery, or after the surgery. Heart surgery is associated with a significantly increased risk of developing atrial fibrillation, in many series up to 20-30%. Medical procedures such as endoscopy (looking down into the esophagus or stomach with a camera) or colonoscopy (looking into the intestine or colon with a camera) are also more commonly associated with atrial fibrillation. Even the colonic “washout” preparation for colonoscopy may precipitate atrial fibrillation. Surgery and medical procedures may alter the autonomic nervous system, stimulating to different degrees the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems. Endoscopy and colonoscopy are associated with a particular degree of parasympathetic activation.
Posted on 09/01/12, 11:09 am