Completing an Important Job

Week 1 of surgery is done. 7 more weeks to go.

Within the first few days of this surgery rotation, I realized I had entered an entirely different medical culture. The structure of the day, the language, the clinic and the operations all represent eleements of a completely new experience.

One thing is for sure, I'm getting used to going through the entire day without seeing the sun shine. I wake up at 4:30 AM to make it to the hospital by 5 AM. I pre-round on my patients and help prepare for rounds, which start promptly at 6 AM. We round as a team on over 20 patients from 6 AM to 7:30 AM to make it in time for the first OR cases, which start around 7:30 AM. At this time, most other teams are just beginning to arrive at the hospital. We move fast and quick.

Then we spend the day in the OR, operating. As a medical student, you scrub in and wait for instruction.

"You have the most important job. We rely on your precision," said the attending surgeon during a laparoscopic gastric bypass surgery. Surprisingly, he was addressing me- the camera driver during a laparoscopic case.

I was able to admit my first patient from the ED. A 60-something year-old gentleman, who presented with diffuse abdominal pain localizing to the right lower quadrant. He had the classic presentation of acute appendicitis. Once he was admitted to our service, I stayed and scrubbed in on his case--a laparoscopic appendectomy. Within his abdominal cavity, we found the worm-shaped structure, inflammed and engorged, covered with white pus.

Friday was a special day. The third year surgery students from all the different sites congregated in the skills lab and learned the basics of knot tying and suturing. With the guidance of a plastic and reconstructive surgeon, our group learned how to close skin and layers of deeper tissues. We made incisions on pig's feet and sutured the wounds closing, using a diverse set of suturing techniques. Hopefully, these skills will be put to good use during the rest of the rotation.

The week has been busy. The hours have been long (the longest of any rotation so far). Time to study has been scarce. The pace has been rapid. And the learning enviroment has completely transformed.