Anesthesia - hoping I have a choice

With all the frightening things involved with major surgery this one ranks pretty low in the overall scheme --but fairly high for me.

I sing --not just in the shower but serious classical/choral/opera aria kinds of things-- and I'm really worried about the airway necessary for anesthesia and my vocal chords. My voice coach suggested asking for a block rather than general anesthesia. When I mentioned it to the Dr (before the conversation with my coach) he said the procedure was always done under a general and that everything would be fine. At the time I asked I was thinking more of breath support (abdomen) and didn't press the issue of the voice apparati.

What experiences/knowledge can you share regarding an epidural type of thing versus putting me under and requiring an airway? I'd REALLY like not having a tube rubbing against the ol' chords, ya know?

Thanks for your insight!
Beseda

P.S., the procedure in question is LSH

I've read alot of women getting an epidural with twilight anesthesia. I think that means they are not completely out. I'm not for sure though, hopefully someone who's had it will answer you soon.

Hi;

I had an epidural with twilight sedation which means you are not completely out but are not aware nor remember anything of whats going on......and you are pain free for the first 24 hours which is AWESOME!!

I remember being wheeled to the OR and thats it....I dont remember when they put needle nor anything......

in my opinion, because of your singing, I would go with the epidural if your doctor says it ok in your case......(health wise)

I had the epidural with twilight, and would do it again. However, I was not pain free for 24 hours.

My mom asked for this, and her doctor didn't like doing surgery that way, so I guess it would depend on your doc.

My doc, actually recommended it.

I too had a lsh and I was told that with the lsh they use general anastesea because of the need to expand the abdominal area with gas and preasure being on the spine. Look into your options. Good luck and God Bless. Denise.

I had thought about asking for an epidural or a spinal, but I'm having a robot assisted procedure and the Dr. likes to tilt the patient in a somewhat upside down position so that gravity helps free up everything. Therefore, with all the pressure being put on the lungs there is no way that the lungs could expand as well and so I have to use general. I will tell you that I have been intubated several times in surgery and have never had a problem with my singing voice. I don't sing like you do, but I do sing at church every now and then. If I were you, I would check into my options with the type of anesthesia you can have. If a block is out of the question, then talk to the anesthesiologist on the day of you procedure and explain you reason for concern. Being in the medical field I know that it all depends on how "gentle" the person is who does the intubating. I would voice that I don't want a student doing the procedure. I know that they need to learn, but in your case, I wouldn't want to be the one practiced on.



for you

i was told with my lsh that general anesthesia was required for the surgery. i dont know if things have changed since then though.

Be sure to talk to the anesthelogist about your concerns and the reason for them. Mine took a lot of time with me and was very responsive.

I am also a singer, and I opted for a general. Honestly, I don't know if they used a tube or not, but if they did, there were no after-effects. No scratchy throat or anything.

I don't really think that having a tube lay against your vocal chords will be an issue. Other than a temporary dry, scratchy throat, I think it will probably be OK.

But as the others have said so well -- this is a great question for the medical team! My final decision came when I asked my doctor if I could just have a spinal for the surgery and she said, "Do you REALLY want to be awake for this?" That pretty much made up my mind! But that's just me.

Oh my gosh, I just had a TVH May 6 with a spinal block. Being awake was not a problem for me at all. However, I got a terrible headache & vomiting because of leaking spinal fluid within 24 hrs. postop. I ended up back in the hospital twice last week to have blood patches done. Blood patches clot in the area where the spinal block was done and stop the leaking. Don't know if this possibility was mentioned to you, but it should have been.

I had a spinal block before 15 years ago & didn't get the headache. I liked it that you're awake so much more quickly, but let me tell you if you are unlucky enough to have this happen to you you'll regret not going with the general. Never, never, never again will I elect for a spinal block. That headache was one of the worst experiences of my life!

Best of luck to you whatever you decide!