There is a surgeon who comes to our hospital who performs only one type of surgery. Nothing unusual about that, is there?
He actually is on staff at several area hospitals, doing surgery at each one about once a week.
But what distinguishes this surgeon from all the others is the nature of his business. He is known as the […]

Read Full Post »

 
The sun goes down, but the OR lights do not go out. Most people pursue a break in the action on the weekends, but no so for the Operating Room. The unexpected and uninvited operation can occur ANY time, and usually does! Surgery after hours . . . .
Buckeye Surgeon knows all too well what […]

Read Full Post »

 
Thank you for all of your responses so far. And just a reminder to anyone else interested in submitting an article: this edition’s theme will be called ”Operating After Hours,” and, as the title implies, please share any stories you have about surgical experiences that have occurred after normal operating hours.
 Everyone is invited to contribute. Please send […]

Read Full Post »

 
On call this past weekend, I was paged to the post-partum floor to evaluate a young woman who had vaginally delivered a healthy baby boy 16 hours ago. Her chief complaint? Intractable back pain.
[Background: She had delivered 2 babies aided by an epidural block in the past, and complained of back pain during this pregnancy, which […]

Read Full Post »

Not the best news for the New Year, but something that we all need to be aware of and get a little outraged over, just the same.
I have already written before about how Propofol is your friend and mine. Now, some insurance companies have determined that its use is medically unnecessary for colonoscopies. This is […]

Read Full Post »

 
It’s that most wonderful time of the year, and I am gearing up for my annual Christmas call marathon. I go in to work at the hospital on Christmas eve day, and go home the morning after Christmas. Yeah, yeah, it’s about 48 hours, give or take, but it’s a worthwhile thing to do, and […]

Read Full Post »

 
This past Saturday I was covering obstetrics, better known as OB, attending to the needs of women in various stages of labor and delivery.
A woman in the throes of labor is a force to be reckoned with. In between contractions, she is an expectant mom, filled with worries and concerns, generally cooperative and conversant. During […]

Read Full Post »

 
There is nothing more instantly gratifying for an anesthesia provider than relieving someone’s pain. This can be both the lure and the catch that reels in so many nurses and physicians that go into this specialty.
When patients are asleep for surgery, we deliver some of their analgesia proactively, in anticipation of the expected pain; and […]

Read Full Post »

 
Yesterday, like most days, my patients came in all different shapes, sizes, and situations.
Patient #1 was petite and frail, in her early 60’s, and only 5′ tall. She had the body habitus that we who work in the OR always love to see. Light as a feather, and easily lifted and re-positioned. Which we needed to do […]

Read Full Post »

There is a lot going on “out there” right now that has really captured my attention, and I would like to take this opportunity to share it with you.

Starting with some great blog reading. I try to keep up with it all, but sadly, life rudely gets in the way .
I am totally captivated by […]

Read Full Post »