Dr Harsh Shah
MS, MCh (Surgical Gastroenterology), DrNB (Surgical Gastroenterology)
Registered with Gujarat Medical Council, Reg. No. G-38738
Robotic Hernia Surgeon · Apollo Hospital, Bhat, Gandhinagar · Gota OPD, Ahmedabad
In short
People worry more about the anaesthetic than about the operation. That is reasonable, and it is worth knowing how the choice is actually made.
It is not made by preference alone. Two things decide it: the route the repair needs, and the state of your heart, chest and airway.
General anaesthetic. You are asleep and your breathing is supported. This is needed for keyhole and robotic repairs, because the belly is filled with gas and you have to lie still and flat.
Spinal. An injection in the back numbs you from the waist down. You are awake, or lightly sedated. It suits many open groin repairs.
Local block. The surgeon numbs the area directly, with sedation if you want it. It works well for a small open repair on one side.
You will see the anaesthetist before the date. That visit covers your heart, your chest, your airway, your medicines and any trouble with an anaesthetic in the past.
Bring the actual medicine boxes or a written list. Blood thinners, diabetes medicines and inhalers all change the plan, and a half-remembered name is not enough to work with.
Which anaesthetic goes with which repair
| Repair | Usual anaesthetic | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Robotic repair | General | The abdomen is filled with gas and you must lie still |
| Keyhole repair | General | Same reason. A block will not cover it |
| Open groin repair, one side | Spinal or local block, or general | All three are workable. Your chest and heart decide |
| Open umbilical repair, small | Local block with sedation, or general | A small field can be blocked well |
| Large ventral or incisional repair | General | A long operation with muscle release |
| Emergency repair | General, usually | Vomiting and an unprepared stomach change the choice |
The anaesthetic is settled at the pre-anaesthetic visit. Bring your medicine list and any heart or chest reports to it.
The usual instruction is no solid food for six hours and clear fluids up to two hours before. Clear water in that window is encouraged now, not forbidden.
The reason is simple. An empty stomach at the moment you go to sleep is what stops stomach contents reaching the lungs. Your own times are given to you the day before.
After a general anaesthetic, expect a sore throat, a groggy hour or two, and sometimes some sickness. All of it settles.
After a spinal, your legs stay numb for a few hours and you cannot walk until that has worn off. A small number of people get a headache afterwards, which is treatable.
No. The abdomen is filled with gas and the table is tilted, which a spinal will not cover comfortably or safely. Robotic repair needs a general anaesthetic.
Age alone rarely rules it out. Heart and lung reserve matter far more than the number. The anaesthetist assesses that and offers the lightest option that will do the job.
You should feel pressure and movement, not pain. More local can be given at any point, and sedation is available if you would rather be drowsy through it.
Usually six hours for solid food and two hours for clear fluids. Your own times are confirmed the day before, and they matter, because a late meal can postpone the operation.
The anaesthetist, with you and with the surgeon. The repair sets what is possible and your health sets what is wise. You are told the plan before the day.
The main page on this site is robotic hernia surgery in Ahmedabad. These cover the neighbouring questions.
Where to find us
Dr Harsh Shah, MS, MCh (Surgical Gastroenterology), DrNB (Surgical Gastroenterology)
Shah's Gastro, Cancer & Robotic Surgery Centre
Apollo Hospital, Bhat, Gandhinagar
Gota OPD, Ahmedabad
Bring your reports. Second opinions are welcome.
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