Skilled surgeons in Grimsby carry out shoulder surgery with patient awake in first for hospital trust

Jun 13, 2023

John Drinkell said 'I was chatting to the staff, and I think I even had a cat nap at one point'

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A surgical team at Grimsby's hospital has earned praise from a patient for performing shoulder replacement surgery while he was wide awake.

John Drinkell, 65, of Grimsby, injured his shoulder two years ago after a fall. However, his surgery to mend the damage had to be put on hold after he was diagnosed with throat and tongue cancer.

He is now in remission after undergoing surgery, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy.

Read more: Grimsby's Hospital At Home team up for national award

The surgical team at Diana, Princess Of Wales Hospital were given the green light to carry out the shoulder replacement he needed but were concerned about passing an anaesthetic tube down his throat following his cancer treatment which had led to severe narrowing of his oral cavity which would have made for a very challenging anaesthetic and operation.

The solution they proposed was that John would be given a local anaesthetic and have his shoulder replacement surgery done while he was wide awake and sitting up in the theatre - though it had never been done before at a Northern Lincolnshire & Goole NHS Foundation Trust hospital.

John said: “I got to the stage where I couldn’t lift or move my arm as the pain was so bad and it was really affecting my life. I have had two hip replacements, and one of those was while I was awake, so I just thought why not, let’s go for it.”

Orthopaedic consultant, Mr Aravind Desai, specialises in shoulder and keyhole surgery and was the first person to do a shoulder replacement as a day case at Grimsby's.

After speaking to his team, and with anaesthetist Dr Zafarulla Mohmed, he offered John the option of having his much-needed surgery using a ‘nerve block’ and a local anaesthetic while sitting up.

Mr Desai said: “It is the first time here at our hospitals we have performed a shoulder replacement while the patient was wide awake.

“John was sitting up chatting to myself and the rest of the team, having a laugh and a joke while I carried out the procedure in just about an hour. Teamwork was key in keeping him calm and comfortable.”

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John said: “They numbed my shoulder and I have to say I didn’t feel a thing. They put a screen up so I couldn’t see what was happening. I was chatting to the staff, and I think I even had a cat nap at one point.

“I would certainly recommend this to anyone else, as I felt fine after the operation as I didn’t have to come round after a general anaesthetic. I went to a ward and had my physiotherapy later that day.”

Mr Desai now hopes, where appropriate, the team can carry out more keyhole operations and shoulder replacements using a nerve block and local anaesthetic as post recovery is so much quicker.

Mr Desai added “It is a win-win for the patient as any anaesthetic carries a risk.

"It also means we can perform the surgery quickly, mobilise the patient early, start physiotherapy soon after surgery and they can be home and in their bed in a relatively short time. It is so much better for the patient's recovery.”

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