Expert: Ronald Levy, M.D. - 2/25/2011

Question
I am having an anterior cervical discectomy with fusion. Is is possible for the procedure to be done with sedation plus local anesthesia and avoid general anesthesia?

Answer
No it is not possible to do this under local for several reasons. First, it would be impossible to block the pain from the periostium of the bone. It is a rather involved procedure where they will be using either bone from your hip or cadaver bone with perhaps plates and screws. Local would not be enough to cover this and in the worst case scenario, if you needed to be put to sleep, it would be difficult to accomplish because they are working around the neck. So this case is always done under general anesthesia. If you are otherwise healthy, there is nothing to fear from anesthesia.

Ronald Levy, MD
Professor of Anesthesiology
UTMB-Galveston