“Can shoulder surgery be done without general anesthesia?”
I need to have shoulder surgery, but I don't want to have it under general anesthesia. Can shoulder surgery be done without general anesthesia?
9 Answers
AnesthesiologistAnesthesiologist
Yes, but it can be quite uncomfortable. Nerve block can be done before the surgery to "numb" the area, however, the positioning during the surgery can be quite uncomfortable.
Yes. You could have regional anesthesia, namely, interscalene brachial plexus block and conscious sedation without general anesthesia. You could get adequate pain control lasting 48-72 hours with the block.
Most shoulder surgeries will get an interscalene block first. This procedure has the anesthesiologist deliver a numbing medicine into the nerves that innervate the shoulder. Then, normally, the patient gets a general anesthetic. However, a good shoulder block and deep sedation could probably get the job done if the anesthesiologist is comfortable with that technique.
Depends on your exact shoulder problem. Most rotator cuff surgeries are performed with a preop brachial plexus block ( nerve block). Usually, some degree of sedation is also required and requested by the surgeon. The degree of sedation or crossing over to general anesthesia depends on the effectiveness of the block if you have sleep apnea, and the preference of an anesthesiologist. All this can be discussed before surgery with your anesthesiologist.
Yes, an Interscalene nerve block and little sedation should do it.
Shoulder surgery is almost always done under general anesthesia with a regional brachial plexus block performed just before surgery for pain control after surgery and to minimize the use of opioids which can have post-operative side effects of nausea, vomiting, and delayed emergence from anesthesia. Shoulder surgery is very painful and requires the patient to be in essentially an upright position during surgery, it cannot be done under just regional anesthesia and does require general anesthesia.
You should do the anesthesia preferred by your doctors. In my opinion the answer to your question is no.
I know this is an annoying answer but it really depends on what they’re doing to your shoulder. For example, I have only seen shoulder replacements be done under general anesthesia. Because of the position, you have to be in and the draping of the shoulder and several other factors, general anesthesia is best. Some smaller surgeries might be able to be done with just some sedation. You also do a nerve block and numb the shoulder and you feel little to no pain during and for several hours after surgery.
It is possible to have a regional block with sedation for shoulder surgery and then have sedation to take a nap for the procedure. Sedation is a lighter plane of anesthesia than a general. There are some reasons why one can’t have a block, however. If one is taking anticoagulants or has moderately severe lung disease are a couple of reasons. Also sometimes it is not successful getting one numb enough to do the surgery comfortably. Not all anesthesia providers have the same level of expertise with the regional block.
