Hello again! Week 7 has come to a close, and as always, I have learned so so much. This week I saw multiple patients we had seen before, and had the interesting experience of offering them the survey and them saying no, as they already completed it!
An interesting visit I haven’t written about yet that we had this week was a pre-operative visit. The exact content of these vary based on the type of surgery it precedes, but the gist stays the same. We review an EKG, order labs, run a urinalysis (UA), review current medications and discuss the procedure.
EKGs are run to make sure the patient’s heart is stable and healthy enough to handle anesthesia. The labs check liver and kidney function (by measuring levels of compounds like creatine) to make sure these organs can as well can function properly with anesthesia. Labs also ensure the patient has the proper amount of blood cells, hemoglobin, iron and more (and thus won’t bleed out or clot on the table). The UA checks for any signs of current infection, as any standing infection puts the patient at risk for sepsis (a surgical complication that causes a severe infection of the bloodstream). Then medications are checked as some need to be stopped a week before surgery, especially those that thin or thicken the blood (i.e. Aspirin).
And finally, perhaps the most important part of the visit: we discuss the surgery with the patient. We reviewed the physical procedure, as well as preparation for and recovery from surgery. As someone who just had surgery a couple months ago, I can confirm being able to ask questions and have them fully answered is the most important part of pre-op. It makes a daunting medical procedure manageable. This is just another time Dr. Barker’s fantastic bedside manner and ability to communicate with patients comes into play.
Although our patient this week was calm going into her procedure (as she had had it before and it was low risk), lots of patients are not. This is a crucial time when being a down-to-earth, empathetic human-being is critical. Interactions like these are another that so strongly draw me to the medical field.
So that’s this week’s highlight! I’ll be back for Week 8 on Monday, ready to learn more and keep reading surveys. Thank you all for reading as usual, and have a great week!
Hey Julia! Amazing post as always (I have to admit I am super jealous of your internship haha). Lab work is very much not my thing (last time I had blood drawn, I fainted three times... not an experience I look fondly upon). Quick question, sorry if this is a silly one: how come when you get your wisdom teeth out and they use general anesthesia do they not do the lab work you mentioned here? Is it too small of an operation to require such tests? Thank you, and I can't wait to hear more about the surveys soon :D
ReplyDeleteHi Saleena! And oh no... three times?? I'm so sorry! Great question! It is a very low risk procedure that does not interfere internally with any other body systems. Additionally, most people who get their wisdom teeth out are young, and thus pretty healthy! In general, young adults have low risk for simple surgeries. Thanks for reading!
DeleteHey Julia!
ReplyDeleteI think this is my favorite post so far. I love the fact that you went into detail about the pre-op procedures. I'm so glad you got to interact with a patient going into surgery. I think this is very important, especially fi you are planning to go into a surgical field. I hope you have a good week!
Shivalee Nigam
Hi Shivalee! I'm so glad your enjoyed it. It was a great experience, and thanks for reading!
DeleteHey Julia,
ReplyDeleteIt's so nice to hear that you had a great week! Watching Dr. Barker work with her clients must be so inspiring, especially in regards to how she treats her patients. Also, how do the questions and procedures differ based on what procedure it is? Shouldn't all procedures have the most in depth knowledge about the patient? I look forward to reading your blog next week!
Julie Loison
Hi Julie! Yes all procedures require some information, but procedures like fixing a joint issue versus cardio-bypass surgery just have such different risks and influences that different characteristics of the patients health need to be known. For example, heart surgery patients need more extensive testing done on the structure and function of their hearts before they can be approved for surgery. Thanks!
DeleteHi Julia!
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed this blog post as I am really interested in surgeries and I'm even thinking about pursuing this career! It must have been really interesting to be able to relate your own experiences with those of patients you see now! What happens if patients are unable to handle the effect of anesthesia? I'm assuming that major surgeries cannot be performed without having the patient asleep, so are there any alternatives to general anesthesia? Thank you! Can't wait for your next post!
Bhumika K.
Hi! If a patient cannot tolerate a certain anesthesia, alternatives can be used, as in other forms of anesthetic drugs. If the problem can be altered, a state of better health is aimed for in the patient. If not, a non-surgical alternative is sought after. Thanks!
DeleteHi Julia! It's so nice to hear you had yet another eventful week! In regards to your experience with pre-op patients, what kind of questions do they ask/are asked prior to their procedure? I can't wait to read next week's blog! Good luck!
ReplyDeleteSophia Vaidya
Hi! Many patients ask about recovery in detail, and when they'll be able to resume certain aspects of their life. They are in return asked about many aspects of their health. Thanks!
DeleteHello Julia, as always, I enjoyed your tasteful choice of gifs that you put into your blog each week. It sounds like you had another week full of learning opportunities to discover more about the medical field, I'm sure that from a patient's perspective the pre-operative visit would be very important to ensure that they feel like they are in the right hands before an important operation. As always I enjoyed reading this week's blog and until next time good luck!
ReplyDeleteHi! Thank you so much; it was truly another amazing week. I am glad you enjoyed reading!
DeleteHi Julia! Great post! It is good to see that you oversaw the personal interactions that are so important in the field of medicine. I have one small question. So for a patient, if the EKG shows that they are not healthy enough to be given anesthesia, what are some alternatives, or would they postpone the surgery altogether? Thank you! Can't wait to read more about your research!
ReplyDeleteHi Sri! So if a patient has a heart issue that would prevent them from handling anesthesia they often see a cardiologist to fix said problem before surgery, especially if a non-operative approach is not possible. Thanks!
DeleteHi Julia, really enjoyed your post as always. I have a small question. What do the EKG specifically target in the heart to confirm if they are strong enough or not? I know as you told in the blog it sees if the heat is stable enough but what does it really do to acheive that material. Thank you in advance and good luck until next time.
ReplyDeleteRegards,
Hari
Hi! EKG reads heart rhythms to ensure they are regular and not causing any pooling of blood in the heart that could clot. Thanks for reading!
DeleteHi Julia!
ReplyDeleteGreat job this week! Thanks for explaining the medical lingo. Could you elaborate more on your interactions with the patients? Can one learn good bedside manners?- Or are good doctors just naturally kind and helpful people?
I actually had an operation done on my jaw which I broke over the summer, so I got to experience surgery for the first time. I remember my surgeon and anesthesiologist explaining to me what they were going to do, and it definitely reassured me. I love how doctors are not only able to save lives but can also calm a patient and make them feel cared for. This post really gave me a new perspective on the medical field. Thanks again!
Best,
Gabby W.
Hi Gabby! Thanks so much. Bedside manner can definitely be learned! It may be harder depending on one's personality, but it is basically like learning new social cues, as one does as a child. Thanks for reading!
DeleteHey Julia! So so sorry for the late comment: my laptop has been giving me a world of trouble, and I think I finally fixed it so that my comments would actually stay on the blog. Anyway, this was such an interesting post, especially because I don't know much about surgeries at all. Quick question: you mentioned aspirin in some of the medications that people have to stop taking in that week before surgery. What does aspirin do to our blood, and why does it do that to our blood? Sorry if this is a horrible question; you can feel free to ignore it and move on if you don't want to answer it. Anyway, so sorry again for the late comment (blame my laptop) and can't wait for the next post!
ReplyDeleteHi Korina! Aspirin thins blood, making it more easy for patient to bleed out. This is one of the effects of the drug based on its composition. Not a dumb question! Thanks for reading!
DeleteI'm glad you've started seeing the same patients! It's nice to have a sense of continuity as well as an idea of how often people come through the office.
ReplyDeleteKeep it up!
-Ms. Cooney
Hi Ms. Cooney! Yes-- it is also amazing to see the progress in their health and lives. Thank you!
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