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Who had general anasthesia for their biopsy?

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Posted 2/5/2011 4:15 PM (GMT 0)
My younger brother is a fraud investigator for a major northeast medical insurance company. They have identified (he won't and can't tell me who) a NYC area urologist who claims all his biopsies are done under general anesthesia with an anesthesiologist present.

Obviously, the reimbursement rate is massively higher but I have never heard of anybody going nity-nite for this procedure.

Thoughts?
Posted 2/5/2011 5:15 PM (GMT 0)
There are guys on here who have had general. I think compiler did because of a scheduling quirk.

One guy on here referred to biopsies without a general as "barnyard medicine ".

For me it was no big deal. Wiped the goop off my butt, pulled my pants up, and went back to work.
Posted 2/5/2011 5:30 PM (GMT 0)
I am not sure what constitutes "general anesthesia".  For my biopsy I had an IV injection that someone described as "super valium".  I gently went to sleep and then woke up after the procedure.  This is the same thing that was used on me during the four colonoscopies that I have had.  They were all administered by a 'nurse' technician.

So maybe the doctor overspoke, as I consider general anesthesia more like what was used during my surgery. I remember that a doctor who identified himself as the head of anesthesiology did the work during surgery, so I assumed it was different. Same result though, went to sleep ...woke up...

 My brother had only a local anesthesia during his biopsy and complained of some discomfort.

 

Posted 2/5/2011 5:54 PM (GMT 0)
While I had mine under a local, I would have welcomed a little conscious sedation, like for colonoscopies, as mine was pretty painful on the last 8.

To answer the question, that option isn't one available at my doc's practice, which is the largest and most active in our area.
Posted 2/5/2011 5:56 PM (GMT 0)
A few men here did have biopsies under GA, can't remember whom. I had 3 done, only 1 with a local and it hurt the most. The other 2 were minor events for me.
Posted 2/5/2011 6:03 PM (GMT 0)
My biopsy was done with IV sedation like is used with colonoscopies.  My urologist does that with all of his paitents.

Tudpock (Jim)

Posted 2/5/2011 6:10 PM (GMT 0)
I had two biopsies, both with just a local, and both were fairly mild in the pain department. Went back to work after both of them. I wasn't even given the option of conscious sedation.
Posted 2/5/2011 6:16 PM (GMT 0)
i tried to get a general but my doctor wouldn't do it.  i asked him to refer me to another doctor and he agreed to IV sedation which really was pretty half-ass.  i found the biopsy to be much more tolerable than my mind had led me to believe.  something to take the edge off is all i really needed.

ed

 

Posted 2/5/2011 6:47 PM (GMT 0)
As someone who had has four biopsies only the 3D 45 pin saturation biopsy required IV sedation. The three other 12 core ones were no big deal. Not fun but I would never even consider asking to be sedated for. It sure isn't worth needing someone drive you home afterwards, IMHO.
Posted 2/5/2011 7:20 PM (GMT 0)
My doc wrote in his biopsy report that the procedure was not well tolerated, should consider general anesthesia if procedure it repeated. However, that was the first and last time.

DJ
Posted 2/5/2011 7:27 PM (GMT 0)
No sedation, no pain relief, no local anaesthetic, no general anaesthetic.
And very painful!!!!!

No way I ever want another one!

Alf
Posted 2/5/2011 7:40 PM (GMT 0)
From what I understand, any kind of general anesthesia needs to be done at a hospital. This is in the event that something serious occurs during procedure with the anesthesia, there is a staff standing by. You want to be in a place where they can quick;y revive you in a worst case scenario.

Most practicing anesthesiologists work at a hospital, unless maybe some of them "freelance" or something.

My guess is that anyone who goes for a colonoscopy and has a sedative, they are close in proximity or in a hospital. This has been my experience. In fact, this would be my preference.

What helped me was the vallium, and also getting into a better frame of mind.

My first biopsy was awful, and I did not have a valium, because of the "unknown" factor: am I on my back? on my side? will I see anything? and son. All these little ???'s drove me nuts.

Second one with the added vallium and knowing what to expect went much better, though I'd still take five colonoscopies over one Prostate biopsy!

And as mentioned above, the added cost to the procedure I'd imagine goes way up.

W-O
Posted 2/5/2011 8:24 PM (GMT 0)
if your ur wants to give you gas for the biopsy, i would question his skill. we
Posted 2/5/2011 8:25 PM (GMT 0)
if your ur wants to give you gas for the biopsy, i would question his skill. we
Posted 2/5/2011 10:53 PM (GMT 0)
Under similar to a colonoscopy. Woke up bright as a button and ready to go.
Posted 2/5/2011 11:47 PM (GMT 0)
I had one (my last) under general. Very easy. It was at my request, sort of. The doctor offered, seeing my face when told it was time for biopsy #3. And it was the biopsy that found the cancer. Maybe it helped his concentration not having me squirm and curse.
Posted 2/6/2011 12:34 AM (GMT 0)
I had my biopsy a couple of months ago with a local anesthetic injection.  My biopsy was 12 cores and took less than 30 minutes.  There was some pain but it was not a big deal.  I can't relate at all to needing general anesthesia for this procedure.
Posted 2/6/2011 12:49 AM (GMT 0)
 

I don't think that we have answered the question, What is General anesthesia?  Must it be done in a hospital by an MD to be full anesthesia?  The IV (versed?) procedure is usually done in an outpatient clinic by a nurse.

The original question seems to ask if a FULL doctor administered (anesthesiologist) procedure has taken place. So GTOdave, have your brother ask what  procedure is this doctor talking about?  Because in my opinion that should not be needed for a biopsy.   A nurse administered IV or local  is more typical.

http://www.plasticsurgery.com/breast-augmentation/iv-sedation-vs-general-anesthesia--a1722.aspx

sorry about the plastic surgery info, but it did tell the difference.  General anesthesia requires an MD and a breathing tube.

Post Edited (lifeguyd) : 2/5/2011 5:57:04 PM (GMT-7)

Posted 2/6/2011 1:16 AM (GMT 0)
My biopsy was with a bit ot lydocaine. Nothing general or IV based.

As someone else said, wiped off the goo and went back to work.

Posted 2/6/2011 1:41 AM (GMT 0)
Had my biopsy exactly one year ago this month. Was done in the local hospital O.R. with a bunch of people present doing their thing. I got the drug Propofol which was injected in the plastic line of saline solution. My research shows this to be a short-acting, intravenously administered hypnotic agent. Its uses include the induction and maintenance of general anesthesia. Had the same stuff for my Brachytherapy which I received just last May. Stuff was great with NO after effects and it totally put me "out" for the duration of the procedure plus. Maybe I'm just being a baby but I don't really want to be awake and hear all the maneuvers going on around me.
Posted 2/6/2011 2:08 AM (GMT 0)
Again, when you're talkin' general, this should be done in a hospital setting. In addition with general anes. there is also a risk!

However, don't let your brain make you nuts. There are a ton of posts here here about dudes that have had the biopsy.

My biggest hang-up about he biop. was the unknown. This same crap happened the first time I was told I needed a crown (tooth cap) and freaked out for weeks because of the "unknown".

W-O
Posted 2/6/2011 2:26 AM (GMT 0)
Mine was NOT done with what I consider general anesthesia. Mine was IV sedation, ala a colonoscopy.

That's what I wanted but the Umich urologist talked me into the non-IV biopsy. But then it turned out I would have to wait 2 weeks or if I would be willing to  do IV sedation, they had an opening in the OR room in a few days. So, I jumped at it. I think there was an anesthesiologist giving me the IV sedation (maybe it was a nurse).

Mel

Posted 2/6/2011 4:02 AM (GMT 0)
It really wasn't that big a deal. I just had a local (lydocaine?). Being snapped with a rubber band is the best description of the discomfort I've heard. I'm no tough guy, but as goodlife so eloquently put it, I too just "wiped the goop off my butt" and got on with life. I did bs the uro out of an extra antibiotic pill as I had my car loaded up for a 5 day pheasant trip and was leaving as soon as the procedure was done. Told him I didn't want the trip spoiled with an infection.

I think assuming the risks involved with general anesthesia for a mild discomfort is foolish.
Posted 2/6/2011 6:16 AM (GMT 0)
Not related to anesthesia, but since we're talking biopsy--after it was done, I left, but discovered that I could not pee. Called them up and they said come on back. So I did, and they had me drink and hang around until I finally peed out a blood clot that had been clogging the works.
Posted 2/6/2011 6:45 AM (GMT 0)
My husband had IV sedation, I think this was considered general aneasthesia, and his doctor said he preferred to do the biopsies this way. It was in a hospital where the urologost worked.

However the total cost of the procedure, including anaesthesia and hospital charges was less than Australian$2000 (US$2000) and then we got most of it back through insurance.

So it was painless, reletively inexpensive, and in my opinion, really worth it.

An
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