The panel was told Dr Vatikutti bought a Chinese takeaway on his way home and then drank vodka at about 20:30 or 21:00 BST and went to bed before midnight.
He woke at about 07:15 the next day but missed breakfast because he was late for work, with the tribunal told the doctor “did not believe that he was under the influence of alcohol or that his performance was impacted”.
The surgeon said he accepted he would not have been safe to drive but “felt OK, and no-one complained”.
After blood tests, the surgeon was found to have had a blood alcohol level of 48mg/dl.
Dr Vatikutti, who qualified in India but has been working in the NHS for the past 10 years, told the tribunal he felt “guilty” and was “very sorry that he had gone to work”.
The tribunal found his behaviour constituted very serious misconduct, adding he had shown “very little insight into the risks his behaviour posed to patients, colleagues and the reputation of the profession”.
The tribunal concluded a suspension for nine months was the appropriate and proportionate response.