In the ever-evolving field of surgery, innovations that improve patient safety, comfort, and recovery times are nothing short of revolutionary. One such groundbreaking advancement is the Novel Celiac Block technique, pioneered by Dr. Sunil K. Sharma, MD, FACS, founder of New Life Surgical Associates (New Life Jax) in Jacksonville, Florida.
This innovative pain management approach is transforming the way foregut and bariatric surgeries are performed worldwide—helping patients recover faster, avoid narcotics, and return to their daily lives in record time.
The Challenge in Foregut & Bariatric Surgery
Foregut and bariatric procedures—such as gastric sleeve, gastric bypass, and hiatal hernia repair—often come with challenges in post-operative pain, nausea, and recovery.
Traditionally, somatic pain is managed with local anesthesia or TAP blocks, but visceral pain (deep organ-related pain) has been overlooked, often treated with narcotics. Unfortunately, narcotics come with significant side effects such as drowsiness, nausea, vomiting, constipation, and risk of dependency—making recovery longer and more difficult.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, when inpatient surgeries were heavily restricted, Dr. Sharma sought to develop a solution that would allow more patients to undergo surgery safely in an outpatient setting. The result was the Novel Celiac Block.
What is the Novel Celiac Block?
The celiac ganglia act as a “relay station” for visceral sensory nerves supplying the stomach, pancreas, liver, and esophagus. By targeting this relay center, Dr. Sharma hypothesized that he could stop the visceral pain cycle at its source.
He developed a unique anesthetic mixture of bupivacaine, dexamethasone, and dexmedetomidine and designed a safe technique to block the celiac ganglia during surgery. Unlike older celiac block techniques, this does not require CT scans, x-rays, or fluoroscopy, making it faster, safer, and easier to apply in the operating room.
Study & Outcomes
Between January 2021 and July 2024, Dr. Sharma applied this technique in 457 patients undergoing laparoscopic metabolic and bariatric surgery.
- 81% were women
- Average age: 43 years
- Average BMI: 38.4
- Most common procedure: Sleeve gastrectomy (67%)
Key Outcomes at 30 Days:
- Mortality: 0%
- Leaks: 0%
- Bleeding: 0%
- Pulmonary embolism: 0%
- Unplanned return to OR: 0.4%
- Unplanned readmission: 1.75%
- Hospital transfers: 0%
- ICU admissions: 0%
Compared to international benchmarks (IFSO 8th Global Registry Report 2023), these outcomes were far superior.
Recovery Times:
- Awake within 15 minutes
- Walking within 20–30 minutes
- Discharged in just 2 hours (vs 55 hours average worldwide)
- Patient satisfaction: 9.8/10 (vs 7.2 global average)
Why This Matters for Patients
The Novel Celiac Block is more than a technical breakthrough—it’s a patient-centered innovation with clear benefits:
✅ Narcotic-Free Recovery – Eliminates opioid-related side effects and risks.
✅ Same-Day Discharge – Patients go home within 2 hours instead of days.
✅ Faster Mobility – Walking and resuming daily activities within 20 minutes.
✅ Cost Savings – Reduced hospital stays lower healthcare costs dramatically.
✅ Superior Safety – Near-zero complications, with outcomes exceeding global standards.
✅ Better Quality of Life – Less pain, faster healing, and higher satisfaction.
Dr. Sharma’s Vision for the Future
Dr. Sharma continues to refine this technique, including developing a specialized injection probe to make the block safer and easier for surgeons to adopt worldwide. His vision is to make outpatient foregut surgery the new standard—safe, efficient, and narcotic-free.
With over 25 years of experience and more than 6,000 successful surgeries, Dr. Sharma has built a global reputation for innovation, compassion, and patient-first care. His Novel Celiac Block is another step toward making surgery not just a treatment, but a life-changing, empowering experience.
The Novel Celiac Block pioneered by Dr. Sunil K. Sharma is redefining the future of foregut and bariatric surgery. By eliminating narcotics, reducing complications, and allowing patients to go home within 2 hours, this technique is setting new global benchmarks for surgical safety, recovery, and patient satisfaction.
At New Life Surgical Associates, we believe in more than just performing surgery—we believe in transforming lives. Dr. Sharma’s innovation is proof that when expertise meets compassion, patients experience not only healing but also hope, dignity, and a new life.