Trust successfully performs first awake breast oncoplasty
Women who undergo breast cancer removal and reconstructive surgery at the same time will now be able to be awake for their procedures at operating theatres in Birmingham and Sandwell.
Surgical teams at Sandwell and West Birmingham NHS Trust performed their first awake oncoplastic breast surgery in November, which is when a mastectomy and reconstruction is performed during the same operation.
Patients are given a series of local nerve blocks instead of general anaesthetic, which means they are awake during the surgery.
This highly specialised procedure can reduce the time patients need to stay in hospital and can lead to faster recovery and a quicker return to normal activity.
The first awake breast oncoplasty was led by the Trust’s anaesthetic team, and consultant oncoplastic breast surgeon Ms Geeta Shetty.
Fifty-two-year-old Lisa Thacker from Oldbury was given the option of having the procedure with regional anaesthesia, and decided to go ahead with it after the benefits were explained to her.
She said: “I suffer from chronic migraines and have even ended up in A&E because of this, so I was a little worried about having general anaesthetic. I was told it was likely I would go home on the same day if I had the nerve block instead, so decided to go for it.
“I can’t praise the team, especially Dr Viraj Shah, enough. They spent a lot of time explaining the procedure and I felt reassured that they would be with me every step of the way.
“I would encourage other patients to explore the option because there is no pressure, and you can always change your mind.
“Medicine is advancing, and this will probably become the norm in the future.”
Lisa was discharged four hours after the operation and has been recovering well at home.
The first awake oncoplastic breast surgery is another achievement for the anaesthetic team and breast surgeons at the Trust, who have also successfully performed twelve awake mastectomies and lymph node removals over the last twelve months.
Consultant Anaesthetist Dr Viraj Shah said: “This technique offers a safer alternative for patients at higher risk from general anaesthesia, or those who prefer to avoid it, while providing excellent pain control during and after surgery.
“Feedback has been positive, and patients have been very satisfied with their level of comfort during surgery.
“This approach delivers clear benefits to both the Trust and patients, who are less likely to require monitoring in hospital. Not only does this reduce bed occupancy, but it also has a positive impact on our patients’ overall wellbeing, who can safely and comfortably recover at home.”
