Calgary doctor performs spine surgery on conscious patient
(A previous version of this story stated this procedure was believed to have been the first of its kind performed in Canada, based on information provided by Alberta Health Services. That belief was genuine, but incorrect – spine surgery on awake patients has been performed previously in Canada over the years, albeit infrequently. CTV Calgary has revised this story and apologizes for any confusion caused.)
A Calgary doctor who recently performed a spinal surgery on an awake patient hopes to expand this technique in Alberta to ease pressure on the health-care system.
"This is just the first step of a long journey that we have, the plan that we have to help more Albertans," said Dr. Michael Yang, a spine surgeon at Foothills Medical Centre.
Last month, Yang performed a discectomy to remove the damaged part of a herniated disc in the spine, on a patient who was conscious.
Todd Bene, the man on the operating table, got the surgery to relieve his chronic lower back and leg pain.
"I thought, well, I'll try anything once," he said. "It was kind of cool. You know, I didn't feel much. Every once in a while, you would feel a little something."
The surgery took about 55 minutes and Todd Bene was able to go home less than five hours later.
The surgery took about 55 minutes and Bene was able to go home less than five hours later. The next day, he was up cooking breakfast for his grandkids and even made a trip to IKEA.
"It was just night and day for the pain," he said. "I was just so surprised when I got up the first time after the surgery and also standing up straight."
Bene had a previous heart attack, heart failure and coronary artery disease, so Yang thought putting him under general anesthetic would be too risky.
Instead, he chose to perform the surgery without it and only with a local anesthetic — something he learned while studying at the University of Miami.
"The patients have less pain after surgery, less nausea, less vomiting after surgery. Patients are able to get up much quicker and walk around and thereby, facilitating their recovery," Yang said.
"Also, without general anesthetic, it causes less stress on the heart and lungs, so there's less risk of developing complications during the operation."
Todd Bene, who has been dealing with chronic lower back and leg pain, was wide awake for a discectomy to remove the damaged part of a herniated disc.
The surgical team and neuroanesthesiologists worked together to sedate Bene just enough so it wouldn't hurt and he'd be able to communicate if it did.
"So we minimize the harm that we could potentially cause on a patient during the surgery," Yang said. "The surgery itself is not super innovative, but it's putting a team together to be able to do it awake that is innovative."
Yang says he plans to perform more procedures, and hopes to use this method for more complex surgeries, like spinal fusions.
He says spinal fusions, surgery to connect two or more bones in any part of the spine, typically require a two-to-three-day hospital stay, but with this method, the patient could go home the same day.
"This can really help reduce health-care utilization while maintaining excellent outcomes for our patients and be able to help more Albertans get the surgery they need in a more timely fashion," Yang said.
Dr. Michael Yang hopes the surgery on Todd Bene will create opportunities to perform more complex surgeries — like spinal fusions — using this technique.
However, Yang warns "awake surgery" isn’t for everyone. He advises against doing it on patients who are obese, have anxiety or require a longer surgery because there can be more risks.
Meanwhile, Bene has been off work for six weeks and is about to start physiotherapy. He has advice for other patients:
"Just don't be scared of it. It'll change your life."
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Video shows suspect setting Toronto-area barbershop on fire
Video of a suspect lighting a Richmond Hill barbershop on fire earlier this week has been released by police.
'I have the will to live': N.B. woman needs double lung transplant
A New Brunswick woman suffering from sarcoidosis, a disease that limits your lung capacity, is in need of a double lung transplant.
The kids from 'Mrs. Doubtfire are all SUPER grown up now, and we're not OK
The adorable trio of child actors from the 1993 classic comedy 'Mrs. Doubtfire,' which starred the late and great Robin Williams, are all grown up and looking back on their seminal time together.
Police officer hit by driver of fleeing vehicle in Toronto
York Regional Police say they are continuing to search for a suspect in an auto theft investigation who was captured on video running over a police officer in Toronto last month.
Premier Legault reiterates that McGill pro-Palestinian camp must be dismantled
Quebec Premier François Legault reiterated that the pro-Palestinian encampment at McGill University must be dismantled while police remain 'on the lookout for new developments.'
A Chinese driver is praised for helping reduce casualties in a highway collapse that killed 48
A Chinese truck driver was praised in local media Saturday for parking his vehicle across a highway and preventing more cars from tumbling down a slope after a section of the road in the country's mountainous south collapsed and killed at least 48 people.
Britney Spears 'home and safe' after paramedics responded to an incident at the Chateau Marmont, source tells CNN
A source close to singer Britney Spears tells CNN that the pop star is 'home and safe' after she had a 'major fight' with her boyfriend on Wednesday night at the Chateau Marmont in West Hollywood.
Suter scores late goal, clinches series for Canucks
Pius Suter scored with 1:39 left and the Vancouver Canucks advanced to the second round of the NHL playoffs with a 1-0 victory over the Nashville Predators on Friday night in Game 6.
TD worst-case scenario more likely after drug money laundering allegations: analyst
TD Bank Group could be hit with more severe penalties than previously expected, says a banking analyst after a report that the investigation it faces in the U.S. is tied to laundering illicit fentanyl profits.