Anesthesia Options for Hip Replacement Surgery Baltimore

Many medical procedures, including surgeries, include more choices for patients.  Some options may lead to shorter recovery times, less side effects, and better overall patient outcomes.  So, what anesthesia options are available for a  hip replacement surgery Baltimore?

Hip Replacement Surgery Procedures

There are two types of anesthetic that may be used for either a traditional hip surgery or a minimally invasive one.  Most patients will opt for a general anesthetic that will render them unconscious and unaware of anything that happens during the procedure.  A spinal anesthetic is another option for individuals who, for whatever reason, are not suitable candidates for general anesthesia.  The spinal block involves using a needle and a catheter to introduce a powerful nerve block to the spinal cord.  It removes all feeling below the location where the block has been placed.  It is used for some individuals who have heart and respiratory and other conditions that make general anesthetic particularly risky.

General anesthetic carries some risk for all surgical patients, regardless of whether or not they have previously been anesthetized successfully.  While administering the combinations of drugs used to induce a coma-like state is a very precise science, each individual case is different because of the completely unique history of each patient having a hip replacement surgery Baltimore MD (https://www.medstarunionortho.org). Even very healthy and fit patients very occasionally have a poor outcome with general anesthetic, such as a heart attack or stroke.  The is also a very tiny fraction of a percentage of surgical patients who simply cannot be made to regain consciousness once they have been put under.

Some patients are particularly afraid of being "put to sleep" and may choose a spinal block in order to avoid this scenario.  The spinal anesthetic is not without risks.  Each time this type of anesthetic is administered, there is some risk of damage to the spinal cord and some subsequent degree of paralysis as a result.  It also goes somewhat without saying, though, that most individuals respond with a firm "no thank you" when asked if they would prefer to be awake for their orthopedic surgery procedure.