Organ transplants require recipients to be given a general anesthetic so they are unaware of the surgery which usually takes a long time. But there are some individuals who are afraid of being "sedated" and a small number cannot accept general anesthetic. As a result, this group cannot accept donated organs to save their lives.
A group of doctors from Northwestern Medicine in the United States managed to make history when they successfully performed the first kidney transplant with a conscious patient last May. The patient named John Nicholas was simply given a local anesthetic through the spine similar to the epidural that mothers who want to reduce pain during childbirth receive. News of this world-first surgery was only announced by Northwestern last month.
Even during the operation, Nicholas could see the new kidney donated by the record entering his body. Even more amazing is that he was discharged after only staying overnight in the hospital as opposed to three days if he underwent the conventional procedure.
Northwestern Medicine's success proves that kidney transplantation can be done safely using local anesthetic and the patient is conscious. It opens the door to other organ transplants using the same procedure and allows those who are afraid of being operated on unconsciously to receive the organs they need.