Second day in neurosurgery

Tweet

So many may know I am a medical student and my interests lies in neurosurgery. Last week has been the first time I have dedicated time to find out how I really feel about the course, and to tell the truth I like it. I like it a whole lot. I, however, can see why many persons might actually hate to actually do such a course. So let me take you through my second day. Doesn't make much sense I speak about the first day because all really happened was that I was introduced to the other doctors and surgeons on the firm. I started to the day just grabbing a sufficient breakfast. Just an egg sandwhich. I must make it known that breakfast was eaten around 5:45 am. I was scheduled to reach there at 6:30 am to start the ward rounds before the surgeries actually began. I was excited but at the same time felt lazy and tired. Didn't like the idea of getting up so early to go somewhere. It is fine for me to get up that time to actually study, but to go somewhere was an actual bother. The slight excitement gave me the energy to reach and I did in fact reach on time. We went through the patients seeing how they are doing and if they had any complaints. We also created the plan of what we will do for the day for them. If they needed antibiotics they got it, if they needed just supportive care they got it. If it was just fluids that they needed they got it. It took us around 45 minutes to go through those patients, and by 7 o clock we were in theatre waiting on the patient to come up for surgery. We waited some while in surgery and at about 8 oclock the patient finally arrived. I scrubbed in ensuring the keep my hands above my waist level and to put on my sterile gown and gloves all keeping sterile to reduce the risk of infections. The first incision was made and the surgery started. I do not like the idea of discussing the actual diagnosis of a patient even if I am not sharing the person name but all I will say is that this surgery was the longest of my life. Because of how delicate the brain is, everything has to be done perfectly without rush and it was so intriguing. At around mid day we were no where close to be finished and my belly was grumbling so badly. Was hungry as hell. I had the sensation to itch all over, and knowing that I couldnt relieved those itches was killing me but i pushed on. We eventually finished around 3 o clock or a little bit after. It was long surgery indeed and I was very curious what the patient status would be after he/she wakes up. I grab a bun and cheese to relieve the hunger as the next surgery was about to start, luckily this one was not that long and by 6 pm we were finished. Usually when I am in other surgeries, the longest they take is 3 hours and on average 2 hours. Neurosurgery is different, a 3 hour surgery is short, and average surgeries are about 4-5 hours. I was tired, my legs were killing me, I could hardly stand any longer but I was still excited. The other day I met the patient after she woke up, and the smile on his/her face really melted my heart. To me this is the best I have seen patients feel after surgery. I think when patients have a neurological disorder they become depress and feels like they will not be the same, but after they are actually treated, and their symptoms go away they feel like their was a miracle or something of the sort. I can't really explain it but all I can tell is that the way they are happy is just unbelievable. and it makes me happy to see them happy.