Alex Lenkei, a 61-year-old hypnotist, opted against using any traditional anesthetic for his recent surgery, choosing instead to send himself into a hypnotic trance for the duration of the surgery.

He was able to hear the cracking of his bones and the surgeon asking for a saw -- he could even hear the surgeon "hammering away at the bone" with a hammer and chisel. He could feel the doctor "pulling and manipulating" him, but felt no pain.

Much of the medical community is quite interested in this, as studies have shown that using less anesthetic can reduce the time patients spend in the hospital and speed healing. Additionally, many patients are nervous about using an anesthetic, and while they might not opt for using hypnosis only, it might help to calm them and allow a lower dose of anesthetic to be used.

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Join me as I search my soul for direction regarding my latest pursuit: A tummy tuck. Will I go through with it? Will I "Tuck It In?" Keep reading. Keep coming back. And you'll find out.

March 29, 2008

Florida high school senior Stephanie Kuleba just died after a fatal reaction to general anesthesia during breast augmentation surgery. Malignant hyperthermia (MH) appears to be the cause. It's a genetic metabolic condition triggered by some inhaled anesthetics and the depolarizing muscle relaxant Succinylcholine.

For a short time, before I dug into the nitty gritty of this condition, I couldn't help but worry that I'd die from this very same problem should I submit to the general anesthesia required for a tummy tuck surgery. My mom was worried too. We both feel better now -- now that it seems not very likely this will be issue for me.

I've had several uneventful surgeries involving general anesthesia in my life, which predicts I am mostly not at risk for MH. It's not for certain. It would just be pretty surprising if it did happen. I'm also not all that young -- young adults and children are most at risk -- and I plan to add this subject to my pre-op question list so I can make sure I don't receive the anesthetics that trigger this life-threatening illness.

There is always something to worry about when it comes to surgery -- any surgery -- which makes it clear I still have some thinking to do.

NOTE: Abdominoplasty is recommended for those whose skin and muscle cannot recover on their own as a result of significant weight loss, pregnancy, aging, heredity, or prior surgery. It is not a substitute for weight loss or an appropriate exercise program. For more information about this surgery, click here.

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Join me as I search my soul for direction regarding my latest pursuit: A tummy tuck. Will I go through with it? Will I "Tuck It In?" Keep reading. Keep coming back. And you'll find out.

March 21, 2008

I'm a sucker for reality TV. Usually, I get nothing more out of it than mindless entertainment. But the other day, while watching VH1's Celebrity Rehab, I heard something I've been thinking about for a few days now. It made a lot of sense to me, in the context of my tummy tuck saga, and so I'm using it to help guide my decision-making process. Here's what I heard: Don't worry about what you don't know. Just focus on what you do know.

There are many unknowns about this tummy tuck business. I don't know how I'll do under general anesthesia. I don't know how much pain I'll feel when I wake up. I don't know how long it will take me to bounce back after this major surgery. I don't know. I don't know. I don't know.

There are a few things I do know. I know I've found a skilled surgeon with a great personality – a rare find for me in the doctor world – and I know exactly how this guy will perform my tummy tuck. I know the risk factors. I know the limitations I'll face. I know how to alter my schedule to accommodate this surgery. Most of all, I know I want this surgery. I know it will make me feel more comfortable, more confident, and more successful as I continue to fine-tune my body on the inside and out.

I guess I've got all I need to know. What I don't know, I'll just try not to worry about.

NOTE: Abdominoplasty is recommended for those whose skin and muscle cannot recover on their own as a result of significant weight loss, pregnancy, aging, heredity, or prior surgery. It is not a substitute for weight loss or an appropriate exercise program. For more information about this surgery, click here.

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Join me as I search my soul for direction regarding my latest pursuit: A tummy tuck. Will I go through with it? Will I "Tuck It In?" Keep reading. Keep coming back. And you'll find out.

March 18, 2008

If I go through with my tummy tuck surgery as planned on April 23, I'll be put to sleep with a general anesthesia. There's some risk involved in this sleep business. One such risk is that I'll wake up while my surgeon is still working. Ouch.

The American Society of Anesthesiologists estimates that this wake-up phenomenon affects one in 14,560 patients. They also say it's possible to lower the risk.

A few days before surgery, patients can talk with their anesthesiologist about brain-wave or level-of-consciousness monitors. These record brain activity and alert doctors in cases when more anesthesia is needed. The machines are widely used but controversial because all doctors don't believe in their effectiveness.

As an alternative to brain-wave monitoring, patients should mention any personal or family history of surgery wakening as well as any past or current use of alcohol or drugs. These may affect how anesthesia works.

I should be OK if I choose to go under the knife in April. I have no worrisome surgery history, don't drink, don't use drugs, and am not taking any medications. Still, I think I'll put this wake-up topic on my question list.

NOTE: Abdominoplasty is recommended for those whose skin and muscle cannot recover on their own as a result of significant weight loss, pregnancy, aging, heredity, or prior surgery. It is not a substitute for weight loss or an appropriate exercise program. For more information about this surgery, click here.

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According to WebMD, hospitals are a great place for healing, but they can sometimes be places where harm can inadvertently be done. Unfortunate situations of this kind are a very real possibility, making it critical for patients to be informed of these potential risks.

The WebMD website lists the 6 most common hospital risks. A brief listing of each is as follows, including links to more detailed descriptions:

1. Hospital Medication Errors.

2. MRSA: Hospital Infections

3. Post-Op Pneumonia

4. Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT)

5. Bleeding After Surgery

6. Complications of Anesthesia

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Rigel recently talked about the phenomenon of being 'awake' during surgery -- it's an issue that has gained lots of attention due to a new movie, aptly titles Awake. It's a rare but very real event, and it's extremely frightening.

So how do you protect yourself? Truth be told, there's not much you can do -- it's mostly up to the hospitals -- but according to CNN, here are some factors that you should discuss with your doctor before going under the knife:

• Brain monitors: Are they available in the OR?
  
• Weight: It's thought that women and those who are slim are the one who experience anesthesia awareness the most.
  
• Age. The older you are, the less anesthesia you need
• Existing disease. Your risk of awareness increases depending on what conditions you have
• Medications. Tell your doctor about any medications you are on, even herbal supplements and vitamins. They can also increase your risk.
  
• Type of surgery. Those undergoing cardiac, obstetric and trauma surgeries may be at a slightly higher risk of for awareness.
  

For more info, check out Dr. Gupta's blog.

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The recent release of the new movie Awake, which tells the story of a guy experiencing "anesthesia awareness" (or waking up during surgery), has prompted some renewed attention to an issue that has existed since surgery and anesthetics were invented. The number of people that actually do experience some kind of consciousness during surgery is only about 0.1%, or about 21,000 people, in any given year. But that's still a lot of people, and thankfully it seems anesthesiologists are dedicated to getting that number as low as possible. But putting people "under" is an art really, because it's not something that can be measured specifically and the line between too little anesthetic and too much is a very narrow one.

Have you, or someone you know, every woken up in the middle of an operation? Scary!

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Are kids safe "under the gas" when surgery is required? According to the reiteration of recent reports this past week, anesthesia used in young children can cause possible brain-related side effects (due to the brain still developing in children).

Although the FDA states that they have no evidence that anesthesia and sedation drugs can cause brain damage in children, many recent animal study suggests otherwise.

Numerous animal studies find that a majority of the drugs typically used to knock out children before surgery do kill brain cells in young rats -- but does the same effect apply to young humans as well? According to a study published by FDA scientists this month, experiments on laboratory rats and other animals have shown that the drugs can lead to subtle but prolonged changes in behavior, including memory and learning impairments. Yet the FDA officially says there is no concern. Nice consistency, there.

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There is no question that getting drunk has risen in popularity on college campuses and also in high school. Teenage drinking is so common that over fifty percent of high school seniors reported drinking heavily. If you visit a college campus on Friday or Saturday night, you will find an assortment of drunks. If you attend some high school functions like ball games or dances, you will discover drinking in bathrooms, parking lots and cars. A typical example of Monday morning conversation among American teens and young adults includes these statements. "I got so drunk Friday night I blacked out." "You should have seen me Saturday night, I couldn't even walk." I put down a six-pack and three shots in a half an hour and then I puked my guts out" I got so drunk I didn't even know where I woke up but it was great."

Many people get drunk for the fun of it and many others get drunk in order to escape reality. They may have impressed their mates, but men may be in for some embarrassment in the bedroom after drinking ten beers. Researchers think they know why inebriated people sometimes pass out. When people stand up their blood pressure drops and a sober body responds by tightening blood vessels. After knocking back a few too many, this built in body system no longer works, which is why standing up to leave can induce a faint. Large quantities of drinking cause a similar effect to general anesthesia and can lead to lack of consciousness and even death. There are 155,000 alcohol related deaths annually. Is that really funny?

If you or a teen you love is having problems with drinking, a recovery center may be the solution. At Treatment Referral, there are specific programs tailored to special needs of an adolescent. Youth-tailored programs are more successful than general population treatment and show better long-term effectiveness of treatment.

Antibiotics? Sanitation? Vaccines? Which do you think is the greatest achievement in modern medicine? The British Medical Journal wants to know.

The journal has been around for 166 years and that's how far back in medical history they're willing to go back. Scaling down 100 nominations to a 15-item short list, the journal wants you and I to weigh in with our vote. So follow the link, read about each nominee, and place your vote. The ballot includes:

• Anaesthesia
• Antibiotics
• Chlorpromazine
• Computers
• DNA
• Evidence based medicine
• Germ theory
• Imaging
• Immunology
• Oral rehydration therapy
• The Pill
• Risks of smoking
• Sanitation
• Tissue culture Vaccines

It's hard to choose, isn't it? Each one has had a significant impact on health care over the last two centuries. It'll be interesting to see how people vote.

The contest ends this week, so if you're interested in participating, get over there and vote!

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