Tuesday, February 17, 2009

EMILYS FIRST DAY IN THE OR

Emily has started her OR rotation. She was a bit worried. She chose to work with a surgeon who had a reputation for liking working and teaching students.

Most of the time they are there to observe. Emily said "YES" when they asked if she wanted to scrub. When you scrub for an operation you have to scrub for ten minutes. The first one of the day that is, after that the scrub can be shorter. Guess with the initial scrubbing with a brush is enough to kill germs and the top layer of your skin.

She scrubbed, gowned and gloves while maintaining sterile technique. The scrub tech showed her the instruments, and explained what were their use.

The surgeon explained the procedure, which was a laparoscopic cholecystectomy (aka Gall Bladder Removal) He asked her if she wanted to hold the camera. I had given her a tutorial on the procedure the evening before. You have to watch the operation on the TV camera and follow the procedure with the camera. She did well, I said it was the fact she could read music and play the viola that she had the fine motor skill and coordination. The surgeon said she had a steady hand, she helped with the stapling of the skin. Emily said it was the most exciting thing she had done since she had gone white water rafting.

Tomorrow she will see an Assisted Laparoscopic Vaginal Hysterectomy. If the surgeon permits she will scrub again. Very Good Emily.

2 comments:

  1. Well done for Emily!!! I had no idea you had to scrub that much. Well now she has the big first out of the way, she can breathe a sigh of relief now and it sounds like it went quite well.

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  2. So glad she really liked her first day in OR. Doesn't it make you feel good just to know your daughter did well!! I commend her!!!! Lucy

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