Knives and Forks

   A surgeon is like an artist, instead of using a paintbrush to create art, they use knives, a ten-blade (as you keep hearing them call out for in grey's anatomy, or ER) to help mold the human anatomy and restore function or aesthetics to their 'Art'.

   I think in every reference of surgeons in general, you can say they are the 'jock's ' of the medical field. If not i, they themselves consider surgeons the 'jocks' of the medical social scene. They walk tall, full of confidence, no fear, and just reeks of an aura i can only describe with words.

   I used to think that it would be cliche'; but being in my 3rd week of surgical rotation. I just have to say it. Surgeons are uber-cool. :P

  Of course, there are moments when i can hate them in an instant, but still marvel at their meticulous skill. Some are neurotic perfectionist which can be hard to bear, maybe even IMPOSSIBLE to bear but still.
Being in the ER for 2 weeks, i got to see first-hand, how the doctors deal with the most gruesome of situations. Imagine watching Grey's Anatomy, where they wait by the door in gloves and aprons for the ambulance that would bring i n anticipated patients? well, over here it's quite different.
We wait inside the hospital, with only our gloves as the protective barrier for us to handle the mess.

    Left right and center are patients with obstructive ileus, stab wounds, head trauma, multiple fractures, open, closed, you name it. But the worse is not the big bloody mess of a patient. But the seemingly normal one, walking in in a sarong covering a 2 year old tumor that is bigger than the patients head, oozing pus and necrotic tissue (dead skin). Oh wow, the smell will push you out of this world. And sticks on you- for days (maybe thats just my paranoia).

   And my job as the junior doctor? There are no nurses in the ER. we check the patient in, assess his/her A,B,C (Airway, Breathing etc), plug in the infusion needle, urine catheter and NGT if required.Any wounds, we get the liberty to be the ones cleaning it and suturing.

     It is tiring; but once you're in the heat of saving that patients life...it just feels worth it.
I was posted in Akademis Hospital last week on my own to assist 2 Surgical residents there. I was in charge of all operation prep procedures, clerking patients in the ER as well as rounds every day at 5   am and 4 pm in the wards.

    The best part of each day was the operations i get to see. If i was lucky, and the Attending is somewhat excited to teach, i get to scrub in and assist. (Photo of an OREF i saw, i assisted an ORIF repair on a fractured femur. but no photos. :( )

I never knew i could feel so excited about holding a clamp. Maybe its the air in the operation theatre. Maybe its the fact that sometimes you get to close up the patient. Maybe its because all is well so far.

8 weeks to go. This photo is a photo of a trepanase procedure, where Burr holes are made in the skull to release trapped air that caused an increased intracranial blood pressure.

Can't wait.