Lots of surgeries are done this way- you can do regional blocks for limbs for example, and in high risk patients for knee replacements this is common. The main

Lots of surgeries are done this way- you can do regional blocks for limbs for example, and in high risk patients for knee replacements this is common. The main reason why it isn't used more often is 2-fold: there is a risk from spinal or epidural anaesthesia of infection or paralysis since it is an invasive procedure; and secondly an awake patient is a risk unto theirselves: they could move, they may talk (?annoying to the doctors) If you were undergoing a procedure you could very likely elect to have a regional block if you preferred. Just make your preferences known to the doctors