Page 47 - CASA Bulletin of Anesthesiology 2019 Issue 1

control. We usually give patients midazolam for sedation in US prior to our block. However, because of the short duration of action of this medication, we explained to our patients that they would be awake for the block and surgery (if spinal is successful, patient would stay awake during the surgery). Instead of whining about pain and discomfort, our patient was extremely compliant with whatever we asked her to do. All she said to us was Gracias. After a successful block, patient sat up, and we placed the spinal anesthesia for the surgery. While we struggled with our very limited Spanglish, the hospital staff came into our OR, and explained to the patient for the position to receive spinal. As soon as it was done, patient was placed supine again, and being prepared for the surgery. Incision was then made! An advanced surgery was brought to this third world country OR. Surgery went very smoothly as what it was planned by Dr. Fracchia.
After the implants went in, and the knee capsule was closed, the second patient was brought into our second OR to be prepared for the surgery. We repeated what we just had done for the first patient and started the second case. Another 20 minutes passed by and first patient came to recovery room (PACU). Our first patient couldn’t be happier that she had her surgery done. It would allow her to walk again without pain in the near future! Our PACU nurses already set up their station to recover our first patient. Our physical therapist had also prepared to start first therapy session as soon as the spinal wears off.
The success of our first surgery and the smile of our patients strongly just made everyone’s day! It might be another routine surgery for some of us, a routine surgery on any given day. However, to our patient, it was different. It meant that they could be pain free afterwards; they could stand straight again; could walk without limping, or they could resume their normal life! It made us feel all the work and sacrifice were totally worth!
While we were finishing our second case, what we had expected finally happened. Central sterile started picking up processing volume from hospital schedule cases; therefore, our instruments were delayed. There was absolutely nothing that we could do but waiting. After
an hour of waiting time, our trays were done. The surgeries resumed. Meanwhile, our first patient recovered from spinal anesthesia, and her physical therapy session started with simple stretch and improving range of motion. When her full strength returns, she would be on her feet walking with a walker.
Between preparation, surgery, delay, and preparation again, our first day went by and we did a total of 6 operations between the two ORs. Not only it was a first time for Blanca’s House
but also for the local hospital to do 6 knee replacement surgeries in one day. By the time we dropped our last patient in PACU, it was already past 10 pm. We met the GYN team at the hotel. They did four hysterectomies and a couple small procedures. Luckily, they had minimum
Vol.6, No.1,2019
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