Surgical High

I have achieved what I sought out when I first entered O&G and thought, "Since I'm here might as well take as much as I can." I can now perform the lower segment Caesarian section. Yesterday was my tenth solo.

Thank you, Angela for the pic :)

It might not be a big deal to others but it's a personal achievement for myself as it is the first surgery that I was able to perform on my own after tagging and tutoring with my seniors and specialists. It is a procedure that a medical officer is expected to be able to perform in the district. I am not perfect in the art of surgery but I feel that I am improving bit by bit. I started out with a virgin ab and 'presumed' fetal distress (baby came out with APGAR 9 in 1), yesterday was a first advanced labour case which the baby's head was deeply engaged.

I am finding that each C-sec that I perform is always different from the ones I did prior to that and requires different approach, techniques and creativity that I may only be able to gain with time and practice and more learning from others.

I have also realized that we are not just performing surgery. We are not even trying to save lives. We are only helping out. And that comes back to the old medical saying, "Do No Harm." And in surgery its inevitable to do iatrogenic harm. What needs to be done is just damage control and prevent further life threatening harm and in some cases, 'aesthetic' harm.

What frightens me and I am very sure of other surgeons is the possibilities after the abdomen is closed and the skin shut tight. Will healing take its course well? Is there something I missed? A bleeder that may not seal on its own? A viscus I perforated and did not realize? Germs that I accidently left in the tissues that may accumulate and pus? The postoperative complications is what frightens me. I should be afraid as that would and should make me more vigilant. Nobody wants to open up a patient twice.

A successful surgery is not just being able to perform what needs to be done, whether its taking the baby out, taking the appendix out, taking the whole bowels out, fixing bones, amputating. A successful surgery is one that is done so that after the surgery, the patient walks out alive and able to live as near a normal life before she had undergone surgery or before she was sick. It's not about cutting, it's about healing. And not just healing of the body but also of the mind and soul.

As I cut more and more, I also hope to suture also those cut pieces back together. Essentially as I go through more surgeries, I'm also dissecting myself. And I hope I can piece myself together more perfect than before.

Thanks to all whom have brought me this far. Please guide me to bring me further.