Still, for many like Gail, the thought of staying awake during a major operation can be terrifying. I didn't want to see anything that they were doing. Greengrass addresses those fears by giving patients drugs to relax them. As a result, he says, they usually don't remember much. But regional anesthesia is not risk free.
Patients can have a toxic reaction to the anesthetic.
And proper training is essential. If the anesthesiologist inserts the needle incorrectly, there could be serious health problems. But done right, experts say a regional block has few risks. Because patients typically go home earlier after regional anesthesia than under general, hospital bills tend to be lower. As a result, some fear managed care might be tempted to mandate this approach more often.