Going Under the Knife, With Eyes and Ears Wide Open

The New York Times—March 25, 2017

The New York Times interviews anesthesiologist Stavros G. Memtsoudis, MD, PhD on patients choosing to stay awake with regional anesthesia during surgery, rather than being sedated.

Dr. Memtsoudis stated that patients sometimes overestimate their ability to handle the unfamiliar stimuli of an operating room.

"The patient will keep asking, 'What is my heart doing? Is that beep normal? Is this normal?'," said Dr. Memtsoudis.

To soothe any anxious patients who are awake, Dr. Memtsoudis provides items such as headphones, a variety of music and video glasses.

Read the full article at NYTimes.com. This article was also featured on the front page in the March 26, 2017 print edition.

Watching My Surgeon Cut Into My Knee

Reporter Jan Hoffman also writes on her patient perspective on having meniscus surgery for her knee and choosing to stay awake with regional anesthesia.

She narrates her experience with Robert G. Marx, MD, MSc, FRCSC, sports medicine surgeon at HSS.

Read the full article at NYTimes.com.