The longer I practice, the less I have need for general anesthesia . . . even IV sedation. Most podiatrist are quite skilled at administering profound local anesthesia with a minimal of patient discomfort. With the exception of a patient now and then who simply won't calm down in spite of the fact that he or she is having no pain during surgery, as far as I am concerned, local anesthesia is the way to go. Personally, I enjoy talking with my patient during the prodedure (about things other than the surgery). It tends to calm them down and most of my patients would tell you that the time in the OR was not an unpleasant experience.
If your surgery is hospital or surgicenter based, you can have, what we term in my hospital, "Standby Anesthesia" if you're really in doubt. This means that there will be an anesthesia available if it is deemed necessary to administer either IV sedation or general anesthesia. Of course, this will change the picture for pre-surgical medical evaluations and the withholding of food and drink.
Don't worry. If you're like most, the experience will be fine under local. Just try to relax. An up tight patient can transmit that tenseness to the surgeon. |
