Local anesthetic doesn’t work on me, how to get a vasectomy?
Feb 17th 2008adminGeneral questions & Worries about the procedure
I have had very poor luck with local anesthetics. When an ENT tried to shrink my turbinates (with an RF probe), I felt it (10/10 on the pain scale, maybe even established a new high-water mark for pain).
I’ve been interested in a vasectomy for a long time (my wife has had a bout with lupus nephritis in the past and a pregnancy carries a big risk for her), but the fact that I have had spotty responses to local anesthetics (dentist experience + two procedures) makes me quite nervous. I seem to be especially susceptible to heat sensations while under local anesthetic (I can’t feel a needle poke, but that RF probe hut a LOT). I know this sounds like an odd reaction, but it is par for the course for me. I also seem to metabolize local anesthetics quickly. The cauterization that I’ve read is used for vasectomies really scares me because of my odd reactions to local anesthetics.
I’d like to know what my options are. Are vasectomies ever performed under general anesthetic? I know this negates a lot of the safety of a vasectomy vs. tubal ligation. If the vasectomy starts under local anesthetic, what are the options once an incision has been made and pain is felt (more local won’t do it for me)? Can a vasectomy be “combined” with another surgery that is done under general anesthetic (as long as the vasectomy will not interfere with the other surgery)?
Thank you for taking the time to read this.
Every person has a different pain threshold and every person can respond differently to local anesthetics. Vasectomy can be performed under general anesthesia if it is necessary. Since the procedure is usually done in the doctors office and general anesthesia is not available, an attempt at vasectomy under local anesthesia can be made. If the patient is unable to tolerate the procedure it can be stopped and finished at a later date in the operating room. This does not change the outcome for the patient, it is only a small inconvenience for the patient. Alternatively, the vasectomy can be scheduled in the operating room with general anesthesia standby if the need arises. Vasectomy under general anesthesia is still safer than tubal ligation since it avoids the risks of any intra-abdominal injury that may be associated with tubal ligation.
