Regional anaesthesia

We use regional anaesthesia to provide pain relief during and for the hours after an operation. It involves anaesthetising (or 'blocking') a specific region of your body with local anaesthetic rather giving a general anaesthetic (GA), which acts on your whole body.

This means you can stay awake but free from pain (although in some cases you will be sedated or have a GA as well). Having your operation awake tends to mean you won't need such strong painkillers, and you can often go home sooner if you haven't had a GA.

Using regional anaesthesia also means we can offer operations to some people who can't safely have a GA.

You can find out more in the below patient information leaflet provided by The Royal College of Anaesthetists on nerve blocks for surgery to the hand, arm and shoulder.

Watch the video below to find out about regional anaesthetic block for arm and hand surgery.