ANESTHESIA AND BLOCKS

There are various types of anesthesia used for surgeries at Slocum Center. General anesthesia involves putting the whole body to sleep with medication injected into a vein. Regional anesthesia numbs only the part of the body where the surgery will occur and allows the patient to remain conscious. This is accomplished using nerve blocks. A peripheral nerve block can be given on its own, or in combination with sedation. Many of these blocks are performed using ultrasound imaging, improving both our success rates and safety.

Along with numbing the area during surgery, a peripheral nerve block continues giving you pain relief until it wears off - from 6-18 hours after your surgery has been completed. That period can be extended even further by inserting a catheter (tiny tube) into the injection site and attaching a small pump that will deliver numbing medicine to the site. The benefits of a peripheral nerve block often include a shorter recovery period and better pain relief after your surgery, which allows you to become mobile more quickly. You may also not need as many strong pain medications.

There are some risks with peripheral nerve blocks, including the rare possibility of nerve injury. If you have certain risk factors like diabetes or an existing neuropathy, you may be at increased risk for nerve injury. Be sure and discuss any concerns you may have with your doctor as you prepare for surgery.