Croakies, stat.

OK enough about the destination. Despite my assessment of this town and my unending search for the perfect place, this rotation is actually about surgery.

Lots of gallbladders, hernias, breast biopsies, and colonoscopies. First part of the week it was a lot of watching. The HR people were not convinced that my negative TB test from May meant that I didn't have tuberculosis. They wanted to feel no induration for themselves. Once they did, I was allowed to "touch patients", as the lady put it. That's good, I thought. While shadowing this whole time, I have been breathing on them. But never mind that TB is transmitted by air droplets. As long as I don't "touch" them.

Once I was allowed to scrub in, TB-free, things got more interesting. I basically act as the first assist on all surgeries. I stand across from the surgeon and hold retractors, suction fluid, and cut knots. Only once did I contaminate the entire sterile field and the patient by having my completely unsterile safety glasses drop off my head onto the patient and the drape. I followed this with a short expletive and a thorough apology. I was glad to not get kicked out of the OR and they told me they would get me some croakies.

Other fun moments:

• Holding a gallbladder in my hand
• Totally sucking at the subcuticular suture
• Watching the surgeon sort through small intestine, like so many sausages
• Eating PB and crackers for lunch as I chase the surgeon through 13 cases in 12 hours
• Having today off, after a really fun weekend with Audrey, exploring all the places from the previous post (a trip that may deserve it's own dedicated post, and may be found soon at chipandaudrey.blogspot.com)