Anesthesiologist Undergoes Interscalene Block for Shoulder Surgery

What Anesthesia would the Anesthesiologist choose for their OWN shoulder operation?

The anesthesiologist undergoes shoulder surgery

A few years back, I had the opportunity to find out for myself.

The advantages of regional anesthesia for the patient are often missed by the methods used to document outcomes in formal studies. The benefits of regional anesthesia are better expressed by the first-hand reporting of the patients themselves. Here’s my personal report of what happened when the tables were turned and I, as the anesthesiologist, became the patient!

It was while I was still fencing at competition level, and, during one bout, I felt something snap in my shoulder.

Even though I was ahead in the bout, I had to withdraw from the competition, and a few weeks later, when my arm was completely incapacitated, an MRI scan confirmed that I had sustained a rotator cuff tear.

-??????So, I needed to have shoulder surgery!

On the day I arrived for the surgery at St Luke’s Roosevelt Hospital in New York, I was received by my fellows -who had trained under me! -and they asked me what kind of anesthesia I wanted!

I replied, “Whatever we give to patients here, that’s what I’ll have!”

It so happens that every patient reporting for shoulder surgery at St Luke’s always receives an interscalene brachial plexus block, and many receive an interscalene brachial plexus block catheter, so that, after the initial anesthesia for the operation, they have an infusion for several days after, to eliminate pain completely.

So, that’s what I had!

My fellows then asked me “Who do you want to perform the blocks?”

I replied, “Whoever does the blocks round here.”

The answer to that question was, of course; my trainees!

I figured that, if they were trained well, then they should be able to perform blocks well!

And so I was able to have this extraordinary experience of receiving care from my fellows -and they really took good care of me; talking to me throughout the operation, and I was able to watch the screen as the surgeons operated.

Anesthesiologist watches his own shoulder surgery on screen!

I had walked into the surgery at 8 o’clock in the morning, and, by 10 am, I was out again, in my car, being driven to the shopping mall to do some clothes shopping (for when else does a busy clinician have time to shop for clothes except when his right arm is out of action!)

That evening, we received guests from overseas, and the following day (catheter in place and arm immobilized), I joined them on a sightseeing trip of New York!

If I had to do it all again, would I choose the same technique for anesthesia?

In a heartbeat!

After just a couple of hours in hospital, my shoulder rotator cuff tear had been repaired and I was able to get on with my life!

From first-hand accounts such as mine, the advantages of regional anesthesia are obvious and are reported by so many patients. However, these benefits are difficult to document and so may not be reflected accurately in the findings of formal studies, where efficacy may be measured in terms of crude parameters such as “patient death at 60 days” or “the ability to play sport after 60 days”.?

I would love to hear from my colleagues and fellow professionals. Share your thoughts and your personal experiences. What anesthesia would you choose for your own shoulder surgery? FOLLOW me here on LinkedIn to get involved in the latest topics and discussions concerning our industry.