An obstetrician can extract a baby by C-section in a matter of seconds. It’s an unexpectedly rapid and brutal surgery even when medically indicated and scheduled, like for this mother. She had the time to have an epidural line placed into her spinal canal so she could remain awake during the procedure. They checked by ultrasound the baby was head-down, laid the mom down gingerly, doused her abdomen in brown betadine cleaning solution, and draped her in blue. They invited in the husband, dressed in an absurd blue-scrub jumpsuit, and he stood on the other side of the drapes with the anesthesiologist to hold his wife’s hand during the surgery. He seemed anxious, but the mom seemed quite at ease lying on the table considering what was about to transpire. Continue reading Cesarean Section
Tag Archives: surgery
Operating Room Conduct Hints
The OR is a sensitive place filled with so many unspoken rules, ranging from blatant to subtle, that you must follow. During this week, my first actually being part of the OR team, I’ve received guidance from surgeons, residents, and scrub techs in the form of helpful suggestions and gentle scoldings. First, the basics: Continue reading Operating Room Conduct Hints