Oregon Health & Science University has successfully completed its first awake spine surgery without using general anesthesia.

The procedure, performed Nov. 30, is expected to pave the way for future patients.

Jasmin Felton, the first patient to undergo the awake spine surgery, described her experience as “great.”

Doctors performed a microdiscectomy on the 44-year-old to address a herniated disc.

Surgeons used local spinal anesthesia in place of general anesthesia.

Dr. Josiah Orina, associate professor of neurological surgery in the OHSU School of Medicine, led the team that performed the procedure.

“It went beautifully,” said Orina, noting that it was executed by an inch-and-a-half incision.

Dr. Kevin Blaine, assistant professor of anesthesiology in the OHSU School of Medicine, also played a crucial role in planning the anesthesia.

He said the approach could help minimize the need for traditional anesthesia drugs, which induce a coma-like state for patients.

“General anesthesia is probably more anesthesia than you need for an incision you can cover with a Band-Aid,” Dr. Blaine said. “These modern surgical techniques really have advanced that much.”

“A lot has changed over the past 20 years,” Dr. Orina said. “Technology has improved, and we can accomplish the same surgical goals through smaller incisions.”

Felton, considered a prime candidate for the awake spine procedure, embraced the idea for its benefits — which included no breathing tube, a faster recovery and reduced post-surgical pain medications.

She said she was grateful for the option to slightly reposition herself during the procedure, which would not have been possible under general anesthesia.

Recovering at her Portland-area home, Felton credits the positive experience to the hospital staff. “It was really just their energy,” she said. “Dr. Blaine is really positive, communicative and made sure that I was clear on the process well ahead of time … I felt like I was in really good hands.”

The surgical team is optimistic that the advancement will open new possibilities for future procedures and offer future patients a more comfortable and efficient path to recovery.