i like CT surgery.
i like the people there.
I like that they're letting me do things.
I like that the things get to be more and more each day.
I like that I'm learning copious amounts of information, in and out of surgery.
I like that Dr. Swanson made a comment about something I don't remember, but it went something like this...
"It's like suturing farts to moonbeams."
I like it all.
Thursday, August 28, 2008
Thursday, August 21, 2008
attack! heart...
it's a sabbatical of sorts that I've been on... for the first two weeks of August anyway.
The first week was spent on a midwest tour with friends and family, which was jam-packed full of fun.... and went by too quickly. The second was spent with my classmates here in Portland, and too, went far too quickly. Both were quite enjoyable.
In stark contrast, for the past week i feel as if I'm living in the hospital. I suppose, for me, there would be worse places to live. Unlike most people, (normal people), I like the hospital. I don't mean that I enjoy being in one myself, sick or injured, or visiting a loved one... but for a place to work... it's great.
I love a big hospital, one you can get lost in.... it's simply wonderful. Cafeterias are open practically all night, the crew that is up late with the cafeterias is even more cool than getting a burger at 4 AM. and the nurses.... OOOOOOOOO.... beautiful. Is it a requirement? I'm not sure... but I approve.
The big hospitals are always so new, clean and modern. You can walk around just about anywhere when you're wearing scrubs and a white coat.... it's amazing. You'd be surprised at the areas that you can get into by just dressing and acting the part. I guess it's kind of scary. I think though, it's just the white coat that affords me such range in the hospital.... Nurses thell me things about their patients as if I'm some sort of authority. I'm not.
It's great.
well... whatever the reason is, I like my new domain. I feel at home.
So it was in this domain that I've been roaming the past 4 days. Doing rounds at 6 AM until 7... then in Surgery from 7 until around 5 PM, then more rounds until about 6 or 7.... I'm getting the hang of things now, in and out of the surgical suite. And so far, people have been great. The PA I've been working with is a smart guy, and a good teacher. The Surgeon is appoachable, friendly and sarcastic. And best yet, he's a Packer fan. He was born and rasied in Madison Wisconsin, where I just so hppened to go toundergrad. (it's nice to have something in common with your preceptor.)
So, everyone there has been in good spirits the past week, despite being awfully busy... jokes are constantly being cracked during surgery, even by the surgeon. I suppose a happy, even relaxed work environment is a good one, even if you are operating on someone's heart. Though, the juxtaposition of the gravity of heart surgery with the levity of off color humor, that comes as easily as at your favorite bar's happy hour, well.... it's interesting. I don't know how to describe the scene, and the feeling that accompanies it. To the person who is not in the medical profession, it may seem crass, but it's not. Maybe it's how we distance ourselves, maybe it's just a different breed of people who end up in surgical gowns for a living, or maybe it goes to show that no matter what carreer you create for yourself (even one as consequential as heart surgery)... there will always be room for dirty jokes, to break the silence and repition of the day to day routine. Because even with heart surgery, there is routine, there is boredom, there is repitition and there is a need for a laugh.
It's odd that this type of silliness can occur during such a serious, delicate and life threatening surgery, but it does.
It was on day three where I, almost unwillingly.... or maybe, well.... my mouth was ahead of my mind when i jumped in neck first. For it could have been my neck that was on the line if my comment didn't fly with the surgeon.
I was assissting with an AVR (aortic valve replacement), and at one point there are about 36 sutures, or long strings being tied and thrown over the open chest cavity where they will wait to be cut by him upon finishing all the knots. So I was at one of three spots where these groups of ties would be flung. Somone will corral the tosses (which are usually dead on, the surgeon has done this hundreds of times, if not thousands) and then give them back to the doc when he is ready. So, just as he's about to toss the first suture my way, he asks...
"Did you play any sports, Chris?"
"Yeah..."
"What did you play?" he asks as he flings the first suture towards my open hand. It lands perfectly in my palm. I fold my thumb over the sterile white thread that would hold this man's new valve in place.
"Baseball and football," I reply.
He flings another thread at me, which misses my motionless hand.
"Well why didn't you catch that one?!?!" He shoots sarcastically.
'Mess with the newguy huh? Well two can play at that game sir! You may be a surgeon, and he's only a PA student, and this may only be his third day.... and, sure, you hardly know him, so maybe this will crash and burn... but I am Chris' BRAIN, and sometimes I work quickly (not often) but today, possibly to Chris' dismay... I will defend him! I will show you how witty I can BE! I won't take your Tom-Foolery lying down! If you wanna fling one my way, I'll toss one right back I'll just go ahead and bypass Chris' good sense here..... and take THIS!'
Now, I didn't hear this going on in my head, I didn't even think it.... All I heard was what came out.... and I remember thinking, mid sentence.... 'oooooooohhhhhh, maybe shouldn't have said that... hope it goes over well.'
............
"Well why didn't you catch that one?!?!" said the lifelong Packer fan.
"It was a classic Brett Favre underthrow!" I bite back, quickly (too quickly.)
It seemed like forever from when the first word left my lips, to the terrifying thought of the surgeon slicing my heart out in less than 4 strokes, to the burst of laughter that came from not only the surgeon, but the rest of the crew.
WHEW!
It didn't take forever, and the only akward silence was in my mind. In actuality, I think he liked the bantor, and realized I was just zinging him back for zinging me. It's all in good nature, and we all know it. At least, I knew it for sure after the Brett Favre comment.
Meanwhile, during the stand-up comedy going on, the patient's heart is completely stopped, as well as their lungs... Their chest is spread open about 8 inches, they're hypothermic, they have tubes going in and out of their heart, face, neck, wrist, and urethra, and the biggest artery in their body is sliced wide open. By all means, they shouldn't be alive... and they kind of aren't.
It's like a mullet in reverse.
All business down low, and a party up front. Strange.
anyway...... that's all for now, I'm tired, and I'm hungry, and I need to learn more about heart surgery.
see you all later rather than sooner, and this is something i regret.
cn
The first week was spent on a midwest tour with friends and family, which was jam-packed full of fun.... and went by too quickly. The second was spent with my classmates here in Portland, and too, went far too quickly. Both were quite enjoyable.
In stark contrast, for the past week i feel as if I'm living in the hospital. I suppose, for me, there would be worse places to live. Unlike most people, (normal people), I like the hospital. I don't mean that I enjoy being in one myself, sick or injured, or visiting a loved one... but for a place to work... it's great.
I love a big hospital, one you can get lost in.... it's simply wonderful. Cafeterias are open practically all night, the crew that is up late with the cafeterias is even more cool than getting a burger at 4 AM. and the nurses.... OOOOOOOOO.... beautiful. Is it a requirement? I'm not sure... but I approve.
The big hospitals are always so new, clean and modern. You can walk around just about anywhere when you're wearing scrubs and a white coat.... it's amazing. You'd be surprised at the areas that you can get into by just dressing and acting the part. I guess it's kind of scary. I think though, it's just the white coat that affords me such range in the hospital.... Nurses thell me things about their patients as if I'm some sort of authority. I'm not.
It's great.
well... whatever the reason is, I like my new domain. I feel at home.
So it was in this domain that I've been roaming the past 4 days. Doing rounds at 6 AM until 7... then in Surgery from 7 until around 5 PM, then more rounds until about 6 or 7.... I'm getting the hang of things now, in and out of the surgical suite. And so far, people have been great. The PA I've been working with is a smart guy, and a good teacher. The Surgeon is appoachable, friendly and sarcastic. And best yet, he's a Packer fan. He was born and rasied in Madison Wisconsin, where I just so hppened to go toundergrad. (it's nice to have something in common with your preceptor.)
So, everyone there has been in good spirits the past week, despite being awfully busy... jokes are constantly being cracked during surgery, even by the surgeon. I suppose a happy, even relaxed work environment is a good one, even if you are operating on someone's heart. Though, the juxtaposition of the gravity of heart surgery with the levity of off color humor, that comes as easily as at your favorite bar's happy hour, well.... it's interesting. I don't know how to describe the scene, and the feeling that accompanies it. To the person who is not in the medical profession, it may seem crass, but it's not. Maybe it's how we distance ourselves, maybe it's just a different breed of people who end up in surgical gowns for a living, or maybe it goes to show that no matter what carreer you create for yourself (even one as consequential as heart surgery)... there will always be room for dirty jokes, to break the silence and repition of the day to day routine. Because even with heart surgery, there is routine, there is boredom, there is repitition and there is a need for a laugh.
It's odd that this type of silliness can occur during such a serious, delicate and life threatening surgery, but it does.
It was on day three where I, almost unwillingly.... or maybe, well.... my mouth was ahead of my mind when i jumped in neck first. For it could have been my neck that was on the line if my comment didn't fly with the surgeon.
I was assissting with an AVR (aortic valve replacement), and at one point there are about 36 sutures, or long strings being tied and thrown over the open chest cavity where they will wait to be cut by him upon finishing all the knots. So I was at one of three spots where these groups of ties would be flung. Somone will corral the tosses (which are usually dead on, the surgeon has done this hundreds of times, if not thousands) and then give them back to the doc when he is ready. So, just as he's about to toss the first suture my way, he asks...
"Did you play any sports, Chris?"
"Yeah..."
"What did you play?" he asks as he flings the first suture towards my open hand. It lands perfectly in my palm. I fold my thumb over the sterile white thread that would hold this man's new valve in place.
"Baseball and football," I reply.
He flings another thread at me, which misses my motionless hand.
"Well why didn't you catch that one?!?!" He shoots sarcastically.
'Mess with the newguy huh? Well two can play at that game sir! You may be a surgeon, and he's only a PA student, and this may only be his third day.... and, sure, you hardly know him, so maybe this will crash and burn... but I am Chris' BRAIN, and sometimes I work quickly (not often) but today, possibly to Chris' dismay... I will defend him! I will show you how witty I can BE! I won't take your Tom-Foolery lying down! If you wanna fling one my way, I'll toss one right back I'll just go ahead and bypass Chris' good sense here..... and take THIS!'
Now, I didn't hear this going on in my head, I didn't even think it.... All I heard was what came out.... and I remember thinking, mid sentence.... 'oooooooohhhhhh, maybe shouldn't have said that... hope it goes over well.'
............
"Well why didn't you catch that one?!?!" said the lifelong Packer fan.
"It was a classic Brett Favre underthrow!" I bite back, quickly (too quickly.)
It seemed like forever from when the first word left my lips, to the terrifying thought of the surgeon slicing my heart out in less than 4 strokes, to the burst of laughter that came from not only the surgeon, but the rest of the crew.
WHEW!
It didn't take forever, and the only akward silence was in my mind. In actuality, I think he liked the bantor, and realized I was just zinging him back for zinging me. It's all in good nature, and we all know it. At least, I knew it for sure after the Brett Favre comment.
Meanwhile, during the stand-up comedy going on, the patient's heart is completely stopped, as well as their lungs... Their chest is spread open about 8 inches, they're hypothermic, they have tubes going in and out of their heart, face, neck, wrist, and urethra, and the biggest artery in their body is sliced wide open. By all means, they shouldn't be alive... and they kind of aren't.
It's like a mullet in reverse.
All business down low, and a party up front. Strange.
anyway...... that's all for now, I'm tired, and I'm hungry, and I need to learn more about heart surgery.
see you all later rather than sooner, and this is something i regret.
cn
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