Gorakhpur: In a groundbreaking medical achievement, doctors at AIIMS Gorakhpur successfully performed a fracture surgery without putting the patient under general anesthesia. Junior resident Dr. Neeraj employed a nerve block technique to treat a fracture in the patient’s humerus, allowing the patient to remain fully conscious and observe the procedure firsthand. This pioneering approach is creating new hope in the medical field.
Patient Fully Awake During Surgery
Typically, fracture surgeries require general anesthesia, rendering the patient completely unconscious. However, Dr. Neeraj’s research focused on using only a targeted nerve block to perform humerus fracture surgery. In this technique, only the nerves in the affected area are temporarily numbed, while the patient remains awake. Remarkably, the patient felt no pain throughout the procedure, witnessing the surgery in real-time.
Safe, Cost-Effective, and Faster Recovery
This achievement is particularly significant because general anesthesia can pose serious respiratory or cardiac risks for obese or critically ill patients. According to Dr. Santosh Kumar Sharma, Head of the Department of Anesthesia at AIIMS Gorakhpur, the nerve block technique is safe, economical, and facilitates faster recovery. It also allows for targeted anesthesia, making surgery accessible to high-risk patients.
National Recognition
For his innovative work, Dr. Neeraj received third prize in the Poster Presentation category at the national STACC conference held in Bengaluru. Major General (Retd.) Dr. Vibha Dutta, Executive Director of AIIMS Gorakhpur, described this accomplishment as a matter of pride for the institution. The success marks a significant advancement in “awake and safe surgery,” offering a new ray of hope for patients and the wider medical community.
