Anesthesia experiences?
in Health ·
Thanks,
Bradley Chavez4
Bradley Chavez4
Home ›
Bradley Chavez4 › Posts
Posts by Bradley Chavez4
3 posts shown.
Anesthesia experiences?
in Health ·
Misty,
Could you please go into more detail regarding what it feels like during the procedure and when the anesthesia starts wearing off—specifically during a second surgery where you likely received an "infraclavicular block"? I am curious if the numbness first took hold around the shoulder before spreading down to the fingers—and similarly, when it began to fade, did it start at the shoulder and slowly recede toward the fingertips?
Thank you.
Bradley Chavez4
Could you please go into more detail regarding what it feels like during the procedure and when the anesthesia starts wearing off—specifically during a second surgery where you likely received an "infraclavicular block"? I am curious if the numbness first took hold around the shoulder before spreading down to the fingers—and similarly, when it began to fade, did it start at the shoulder and slowly recede toward the fingertips?
Thank you.
Bradley Chavez4
Anesthesia experiences?
in Health ·
Dear Raymond Bennett9,
I’m currently practicing as an anesthesiologist in the Atlanta area—so perhaps I can offer some clarity on what to expect if surgery becomes necessary. Shoulder procedures are typically performed via arthroscopy (using a camera) under general anesthesia. The main reason for this is positioning; the patient is usually seated or lying on their side, which limits an anesthesiologist's immediate access to the airway should breathing issues or complications arise. Spinal anesthesia isn't really an option here, as you'd be anesthetizing structures far too close to the spinal cord—specifically those controlling breathing and circulation. While one could theoretically perform the surgery using an "interscalene block" (a local anesthetic injection near the neck) without any additional sedation, it isn't standard practice due to the aforementioned accessibility issues—something I haven't personally witnessed or performed. Though I certainly hope you don't need the procedure, if it does happen, it will most likely be under general anesthesia. If you end up needing surgery on the rotator cuff or a subacromial decompression, I would suggest discussing an interscalene block with your anesthesiologist—it provides much better postoperative pain management than opioids or other analgesics.
Common complications from general anesthesia include mild throat soreness or discomfort from the endotracheal tube, as well as postoperative nausea and vomiting—which we can manage quite successfully, though not always 100%. There is also a risk of soft tissue or dental injury during difficult intubations. More serious complications are extremely rare—they are generally tied to the patient's age, overall health, and the specific type of surgery being performed. At our hospital, most patients head home within 30 minutes to an hour following an arthroscopy, or by the next day if they undergo a rotator cuff or subacromial decompression repair.
Best regards,
Bradley Chavez4
I’m currently practicing as an anesthesiologist in the Atlanta area—so perhaps I can offer some clarity on what to expect if surgery becomes necessary. Shoulder procedures are typically performed via arthroscopy (using a camera) under general anesthesia. The main reason for this is positioning; the patient is usually seated or lying on their side, which limits an anesthesiologist's immediate access to the airway should breathing issues or complications arise. Spinal anesthesia isn't really an option here, as you'd be anesthetizing structures far too close to the spinal cord—specifically those controlling breathing and circulation. While one could theoretically perform the surgery using an "interscalene block" (a local anesthetic injection near the neck) without any additional sedation, it isn't standard practice due to the aforementioned accessibility issues—something I haven't personally witnessed or performed. Though I certainly hope you don't need the procedure, if it does happen, it will most likely be under general anesthesia. If you end up needing surgery on the rotator cuff or a subacromial decompression, I would suggest discussing an interscalene block with your anesthesiologist—it provides much better postoperative pain management than opioids or other analgesics.
Common complications from general anesthesia include mild throat soreness or discomfort from the endotracheal tube, as well as postoperative nausea and vomiting—which we can manage quite successfully, though not always 100%. There is also a risk of soft tissue or dental injury during difficult intubations. More serious complications are extremely rare—they are generally tied to the patient's age, overall health, and the specific type of surgery being performed. At our hospital, most patients head home within 30 minutes to an hour following an arthroscopy, or by the next day if they undergo a rotator cuff or subacromial decompression repair.
Best regards,
Bradley Chavez4