Cardiac arrest and rhinoplasty. How common is this? Does it happen often in the US?

Protocols are set to ensure patient care and safety. Pre op health clearance is done prior to surgery to ensure patient is in proper health for surgery.

There are always risks involved in general anesthesia.  That being said, complication rate is relatively low.  Be sure to chose an experienced team to do your surgery to be sure you are in good hands.

There is always a remote risk from surgery. It seems the story from Mexico has been distorted in some way. You would never use spinal anesthesia for a rhinoplasty so something in that story isn’t right.Nonetheless I don’t see the wisdom of going to another country for plastic surgery when there is so much good plastic surgery in the USA. Some people think they have figured out something magical somewhere like France because they are so much into beauty and ahead of us in many beauty oriented ways. Trust me, you’re not missing anything.

If you take all patients who undergo a general anesthetic for elective or emergency purposes, the likelihood of dying is around 1:10,000. Most people who undergo rhinoplasty are young and healthy, and complications from general anesthetic are rare. If you have a family history of malignant hyperthermia or pseudocholinesterase deficiency, you can be tested for these inheritable diseases. If you are young and healthy, you can discuss your concerns with a reputable anesthesiologist. You can also get "medical clearance" from your primary doctor after you have been thoroughly examined and evaluated. Hope this helps! Dr Joseph

Preoperative evaluation is mandatory. Risk assessment is accomplished. Appropriate consultations are performed preoperatively, if necessary, to ensure that you are in an optimum state of health. But need to know  complications could happet on any place.Regards

Hi and welcome
to our forum!
 In
the US, protocols have been developed and set into law to ensure maximum
patient safety. Preoperative
evaluation is mandatory. Risk assessment is accomplished. Appropriate consultations are performed preoperatively, if necessary, to ensure that you are in an optimum state of health.  Intraoperative
patient monitoring includes BP, ECG, blood oxygenation, CO2 levels. 
Emergency equipment is required by law, including various resuscitation drugs
and a defibrillator. A plan is in effect for patient transfer to a local
hospital if necessary. Facilities are certified by the State with frequent inspections. As a result, it is safer to undergo an operative procedure than it is to drive a car! Safety is of primary importance. Cardiac arrest during or after rhinoplasty is an extremely rare event.
I cannot comment on the safety requirements for medical facilities in other countries. In addition to the quality / adequacy of the medical facility, there is the question of postoperative care. You may find it difficult to obtain follow- up from a local plastic surgeon after surgery is performed by someone else out of country.
Best wishes...

All surgery has its risks however I have been performing rhinoplasty surgery for over thirty years with multiple cases weekly and have never had a patient have a cardiac arrest or a transfer to a hospital for a complication with rhinoplasty. I know you have asked many questions on this format regarding rhinoplasty and anesthesia and this seems to be a large concern for you so my suggestion would be to speak with the anesthesiologist during your rhinoplasty consultation so you can be fully informed. It is unlikely a patient had spinal anesthesia for a rhinoplasty so there is something wrong with that story and this would certainly never be used in the United States. Make sure your surgery is in a fully accredited operating facility with a licensed anesthesia provider either an anesthesiologist or a nurse anesthetist and you should be in competent hands. Best regards, Michael V. Elam, M.D.

 Most people who undergo rhinoplasty are young and healthy, and complications from general anesthetic are rare.   I am sure complications do happen in foreign countries where the care is sketchy and anesthesia is not supervised by an M.D. anesthesiologist.  It is not always a good idea to go to a foreign country because of a reduced price for surgery.  You can also get "medical clearance" from your primary doctor after you have had an exam.  Having said this, cardiac arrest is highly unlikely to happen to a healthy person in the USA while undergoing Rhinoplasty surgery.