Expert: Ronald Levy, M.D. - 1/11/2008

Question
I am scheduled for arthroscopic bilateral knee surgery for torn menisci in two weeks. I want to be awake for the surgery. My surgeon prefers general anesthesia, but is ok with my request. When I had the same surgery several years ago the Anesthesiologist pressured me to general anesthesia by insisting I would need a lasting spinal because the surgery would last a couple of hours and because of the long lasting spinal I would be  four or five hours in recovery. Surgery lasted forty minutes. What are the anesthesia options for staying awake? Is general anesthesia safer? Thanks Dave  

Answer
If it is just a meniscus tear, then you have many options. You could have a spinal which will let you be awake, give you good post op pain relief but you might be in recovery longer. You could have general which would get you to your room faster but you might need pain pills. General anesthesia is safe. There is no safer, both are safe.

Ronald Levy, MD
Associate Professor of Aneswthesiology
UTMB-Galveston