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a surgeon tale!
Surgeons may have done tons of similar aching back, scrambled neurons you rehearse
surgeries in the past. But if you are experienced the salient points of the surgery to them and
enough, you would know - not one is identical reassure their loved ones. The warmth, the
to the other. affection, the gratitude you see in their eyes,
Depending on the complexity or novelty of reciprocation of how you have proved your
the procedure, surgeons can spend hours worthiness of returning their loved ones back
preparing/rehearsing, sometimes scrolling in good health…… this is what you have trained
through imaging endlessly to get a feel of for all your life to become a surgeon…. Then
‘being there before actually being there’. This explodes a phase of ‘euphoria’…you unleash a
is the phase of nervous energy that surgeons hidden reserve of adrenaline (reserve tank)…
go through before and in the initial phases you are once again ‘invincible’, a little different
of the procedure. Most surgeons are able to this time around, because you are not faking
mask this phase pretty well and still appear it. You know you deserve the red carpet. Deep
‘invincible’. Consenting a patient with realistic inside telling yourself ‘enjoy it till it lasts as the
expectations and worst possible outcomes tank is running in reserve mode’. Soon reality
while appearing ‘invincible’ and ‘transparent’ strikes, the body is still aching, your brain is
is an art every surgeon should strive to master. still scrambled…do I get to rest? do I have time
to grab lunch? You look up to to the OR board….
Once in the body and the anatomy is there your next patient is ready to roll into OR….
to be seen and felt, the nervous energy of
anticipation turns slowly to control mode You glance at the clock; you have just enough
where the surgeon is relaxed and operates time to grab your loupes and talk to the patient
at his/her best. Complexity of the procedure and family before rolling in… may be grab that
is directly proportional to the adrenaline packet of biscuit lying around too??? you look
drive. Surgeons literally undergo a ‘stress up-to the heavens and tell yourself… I have
test’ every surgery they do, sometimes done this before, I can do it again…
several times during a procedure. Towards
the end of a complex lengthy procedure, the Your mind can be your best friend or
adrenaline tank is mostly empty, fatigue sets “ your worst enemy.
in the brain as much as in the muscles. There ”
is a sense of satisfaction/despair depending Train it with the right attitude !!!
on how well you have matched your own
expectations. You scrub out, thank your
colleagues, anesthesia and nursing teams and Adarsha
head to talk to the patients family. With an
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2K1 MBBS, Trivandrum Medical College 2K1 MBBS, Trivandrum Medical College
