SurgExperiences 105

 Updated 3/2017-- photos and all links (except to my own posts) removed as many are no longer active and it was easier than checking each one.


"Harree! Harree! Step Right Up! Get your Handbook of Medical Eponyms at Inside Surgery.

If you are thinking about going into medicine as a career, read this post by EM Physician-Backstage Pass. She notes this regarding the specialties, "Also important is, finding a specialty that fits your personality. If you want to be an involved parent, surgery isn't for you. If you want to have a comfortable lifestyle, you might wanna rethink primary care. If you like to interact with people, radiology/pathology may not bring you satisfaction." An earlier post discusses choosing surgery as a specialty.

Pin-Chieh Chiang takes you through the experience of Getting Caught Unprepared and the grilling your surgery attending can (and often does) give you as a medical student (or resident). Anyone who has been there knows it is not fun as Anna Burkhead posts about ”Pimping” in Getting Grilled! These Signs and helpful tips in Sleeve (Up) by Dr. Schwab over at Surgeonsblog will help you find your way. And through it all, take Someonetc's advice and Don't Forget to Breathe.

While you're learning, may I suggest take you use Dr. Bruce Campbell as someone to emulate. Read his post, How to Avoid Becoming Another Ionitch, and learn how he relates to his patients. And don't be like this cardiac surgeon who falsified his expertise (courtesy of Dr. Kevin).

More from the medical students as Ali Tabatabaey argues for and against surgery as a specialty. For in Surgery is Addictive, "Once you’ve tasted it you just want more. You crave bigger cuts and more complex operations. The simple appendectomy won’t be enough anymore; Deeper cuts, more blood, bigger sutures … ha ha ha (evil laugh)! Wow! I guess it’s got all the characteristics of a true addiction." and the against in The Lure of Surgery Can Be Fleeting-- Wow! What an experience. If you feel that you’re unwillingly being seduced into mastering the art of “the Blade” instead of the science of medicine, there is nothing like a back breaking seven-hour session at the operating room to change your mind back!

Chris (I Made a Difference) in Iraq writes about the First Night as the SOD (surgeon on duty) and how he survived it. Chris you have my deep respect.

Vanessa Ruiz is a graduate student in Biomedical Visualization at the University of Illinois at Chicago, one of the few medical illustration programs in the nation. Check out her recent post, "I don't like Wearing a Helmet, it Ruins my Hair" on her blog Street Anatomy. In it, she tells you why she now always wears a helmet when riding her bicycle.

Don't you just love going to carnivals or festivals. Well, TC over at Donorcycle writes about why she enjoys being in the operating room in Why I <3 Surgery. I can relate, as can most if not all of you.

The food at festivals in the USA is not "lite" but is often tasty. We like to bless our food before we eat and Dr. Campbell has the perfect "muscular" invocation. Don't I wish I could try the brisket Doc Shazam's butcher made. This man truly knows his craft in The Butcher's Silver Skin - Part 3. ...mmm good!

Buckeye Surgeon reviews a case of necrotizing pancreatitis (NP) in Acute Abdomen and other thoughts. This kind of case seems to be the Curses of the new surgeon in town, as described by Dr. Schwab. And why Respectful Insolence "One Reason I Don't Do General Surgery Anymore". NP is one disease that "distinguishes general surgeons from all other specialties."

NP get more attention as Aggravated DocSurg writes in Dr. Phibes meets the Pancreas, Hospital stays are long, complications are frequent, and the one thing required above all else in the patient with necrotizing pancreatitis is found in very short supply in our pharmacy: patience. But it is with a hefty dose of patience on the part of the surgeon, patient, and family that we manage to get the majority of these folks back on their feet. And then, it's Hammer time for all! (image of Hammer from his post, it makes me want to get up and dance)

Any time you have a gunshot wound patient, "don't be caught out" if you don't find the expected. Keep looking, as Bongi explains-- what the hell!!! i thought. but of course all i said was "hmmm?"

Ready to cool down? Then head over to The Ether Way where Mitch Keamy discusses Deep Hypothermic Circulatory Arrest for Aortic Arch Surgery….A .Global Brain Ischemia Situation.

May need to eat some more fair food. You will certainly need the energy to keep up with MakeMineTrauma. She takes us through a night of call with an orthopedic doc in her post-Stomped, Beat Up and Whooped! Day 1, then follows up with a second edition of same Day 2. The food's not the only thing that needs a stick or IM rod in MMT's case.

More skewering as Someonetc in his post Think before you shoot... discusses the placement of percutaneous pins (K-wires).

Midwife with a Knife reminds us that the proper tools are very helpful in her post, Forceps are Your Friends. MakeMineTrauma spent part of her night looking for the proper tools. TBTAM's post In Defense of the Hysterectomy covers the correct indications and why the choice should be between the patient and her doctor. And if you are still hungry, try TBTAM's recipe for Fig and Plum Tarts.

Check out Harvest provided by Bongi at other things amanzi. Yes, TC we need to be "green and recycle", but sometimes it requires much and not all can be given--check out Dr. Oliver's post on the question "Can skin from gastric bypass surgery be donated to children for skin grafts?"

Don't get lost as you head over to Dr Wes' to read Lost in Transition. He reminds us about the side effects of drugs (Versed) given during procedures as he tells of the $400 grocery shopping trip of one patient post-procedure. Not a good time to do anything that involves your pocketbook. If you haven't had any Versed, then enjoy the carnival game.

Now pour yourself a glass of Arkansas' own Weiderkehr Wine, coffee, or tea. Relax and enjoy the reading. Or maybe you're ready for some Karaoke. If so head over to Dr. Val's (Let's pick on anesthesiology) for the words and link to a youtube video of a young anesthesiologist singing a song about what his profession does during surgery to the tune of Total Eclipse of the Heart by Bonnie Tyler. [I passed this by my friend Dr Dan the Diprovan Man who loved it. No disrespect is intended. It's just for fun.]

Thanks Jeffrey for asking me to host this Carnival. The next one will be held over at IntraopOrate, Oct 14th.