Surgery, what a concept. How do you know who to go to or when to get a new doctor? Have they done this before? Are they good at what they do? Do they teach others their craft? What about the new guys, how do they learn? Here is a little story of a new doctors first time surgery...
Dad walked into the doctors office, with the intention of getting checked for a skin graft that was recommended by his personal doctor. He had been referred, so felt confident that the physician he was seeing was competent. He did the preliminary exam, and was very positive about the outcome of the procedure. The surgery was planned. Appointment made. Here we go... a new look when Dad looked in the mirror.
Now arriving at the surgery area is one of the most unnerving things to go through. Questions asked and asked again. Clothes removed, IV's started, people to talk to, more questions to answer, doctors in and out. What could go wrong? Everything.... Ok, it's time.
Dad was taken into the surgical area by a nurse and preparation was begun for the surgery to take placed. Dad's face was cleaned with the appropriate cleanser, then the area the graft was going to be taken from was preped the same way. The graft was to come from his chest, very close to the left armpit. It's time.
In came the doctor, followed by the minions that are all needed for the procedure, PLUS ONE. "Do you mind if this new fellow sits in on the procedure?" was the question from the surgeon. Of course, my father being the man he is, he said "Of course not." It began.
Off the doctors went to scrub and scrub some more.
All the scrubbing done and in came the doctors with their hands raised in the air, ready for the donning of the surgical garb. Dressing the surgeon was done first then the nursing staff turned to the "NEW" doctor.
Donning the surgical gown was easy. Then came the gloves, which he proceded to put on the wrong hands. He also did not know what size to ask for so the fingers of the gloves dangled over the ends of his fingers, the wrong direction due to the fact they were on the wrong hands... then came the mask.... OMG where did they get this guy.... mask on, the facial bra that is suppose to filter your breath and stop any bacteria the lungs may provide... that only happpens if the mask is on right... NOPE upside down so the nose kept peaking its beak out over the top... what a riot... and this guy is going to be a surgeon.
Well the procedure started and the surgeon asked his new orientee to help with mopping up any excess blood or body fluids that got in the way of proper visual access to the areas that were being surgically removed or attatched. The surgery was going fine, cutting and sewing was advancing as the surgeon had described, until the surgeon looked up and made a suggestion that the new doctor might want to take a seat on the stool against the wall... he was smiling, or that is what dad could see in the surgeons eyes over his mask. All of the surgical staff were smiling, almost giggling under their masks. The new doctor orientee was whiter than any bleached sheet dad had ever seen.... He sat there and watched from afar.
The surgery was over and all went well.. The graft looked great. The dressing was applied and instructions were given on the proper care of both of the sites. As all of this was being done, a small voice from the corner stated, "Your not going to tell anyone that this happened.. are you?" Oh course my dad said "No of course not". Lauging ensued.
When anyone asked how the surgery went, my dad proceded to tell all that had happened, especially the part about the doctor in the corner on the stool, and why he was there. Small amount of pain followed for a few weeks... The underarm graft site was the most painful of all the sites that were worked on. Now it was time for the return to the clinic for the follow up visit.
In walked the surgeon with a young man following him. The doctor looked at dad with a slight laugh the doctor made the comment "No, its not the same kid". Dad laughed and the visit went well with excellent results. First time surgery for a new doctor, what a hoot, I guess everyone has to learn sometime.... hahahaha.
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