Surgery!?!!?!??!?!?!

So...as some of you know, I've started my surgery rotation, first month at Harper, next month at DRH. I've been interested in surgery for quite some time now, and took part in a 'clinical skills course' for surgery rotations and also interned at Henry Ford over the summer in their surgery program. However, nothing comes close to the wonderful [please note that italics in this case indicates sarcasm] experiences in the OR as a third year medical student. Not only are you waking up at such ridiculously early hours in the mornings, but you're at the lowest level of the totem pole. Actually, that's a lie...a third year medical student is not even a part of the totem pole. As a third year, you're squished below others on the totem pole to such an extent that no one wants you to be seen because you're a disgrace to all the activities you attempt to do in the OR.

Ok...so that was a bit dramatic...and exaggerated, haha. But jokes aside, surgery is sooooo different from neuro and psych. There's this unique essence that lingers in the hallways of the OR. It makes you feel stronger, smarter, and better than everyone else (aka non-surgical peeps). In my 3 (yes..only 3) days on this rotation, I've felt myself being utterly intimidated, yet at the same time, wanting to fit into the field.

I scrubbed into a right colon hemi-colectomy as well as a diagnostic lap + small bowel carcinomatosis resection. Um..so what does that mean you ask? Well we have each have a small intestine and a large intestine (also called colon). So the first procedure included the removal of the right (proximal) portions of the large intestine to rid the patient cancer that was localized to that area. We ended up taking a significant amount of the patient's large intestine out, all through only 3-4 tiny incisions into the abdomen. It truly was amazing to take part in such a huge surgery and only leaving behind minimal tracks. The second was similar, but it was localized metastatic cancer of the small bowel. Metastasis is the diffuse spreading of a cancer from one localized area to all over the body. For example, lung cancer can metastasize to the bowel, or the bladder, or the brain. As you can imagine, metastasis is very complex and ultimately is one of the final stages of many cancers. I'd like to encourage everyone (over the age of 50 or earlier if you have family history of colon cancer) to PLEASEEEEE get a colonoscopy every year. Cancer is truly a devastating disease, but the earlier it is detected, the better chance of recovery!

Sorry for the very short and not super descriptive post. My eyes are literally shutting as I type. Yes I know its 9:45 pm, but I have to wake up in 5 hours. BAHHHH.

Oh also, I got to close up a patient today!!! Aka, sutures and everything! More about that later!