nightly news sort of dramatic surgical intervention? No, it was a simple inguinal hernia repair... Still, there is something very satisfying about hernia operations. Not too techinal or difficult, but straightforward, requiring a modest amount of skill. There is a clear and defined problem and a well studied and straightforward way to remedy the problem. With modest skill you can perform competantly and with above average skill you can actually do it rather elegantly. Either way, problem is fixed. It does not take too much time, the patient goes home, all is well...
I see more and more in medicine that there are so few problems we can fix. For most, we alleviate the consequences and suffering for most problems. Hernias we can fix. So, although I did not get to perform this last operation I did assist quite a bit. I have performed most aspects of this surgery at different times with different MD's. It would be nice to have gone from A-Z on one before I left, but it is nice to know that if I were in a pinch and I needed to fix some one's hernia, I think I could do it safely and competently.
With that, I am happy to say that the surgeon's have not talked me out of emergency medicine. Although surgery itself is quite fun, there is a LOT of baggage that goes along with general surgery, none if which would I enjoy carrying around. I have learned a lot, as always, and hope to retain 20-30% if possible. Although I will likely scrub in on numerous surgeries before medical school is out, they will all be elective. I have no more "required" surgery as a student and that means no more required surgical call nights! Hallelujah! One more day of hard book work and a final exam and then back to Seattle! Thanks for tagging along...
