Grey's Anatomy episode

[Randy & Robyn]

This is a bit late but I was just wondering if anyone else watched the episode of the new series Grey's Anatomy a week ago with the storyline of a seventeen year old girl undergoing valve replacement surgery?

They twisted the facts a bit to favor the plot.

Randy

 

[Birky]

Grey's Anatomy

Grey's Anatomy

I watched it had to agree that they twisted the facts a little. If I remember correctly, they made it sound like a piece of cake. I think this is a really good show. Hope they keep it on in the fall. The last episode really left you hanging.

 

[Harpoon]

I caught it. It's one of maybe four TV shows my wife and I ever watch, along with Medium, Fear Factor (we need stupid TV to unwind) and Friends reruns.

(She also watches two CBS soaps and I'll clue in enough to follow along, but don't pay that much attention to them so I'm not counting it here....)



I guess I'm not as up as I probably should be on "natural" valve replacment options, that is opposed to artificial metal and plastic valves like what I have, but I wasn't bothered too much with their story line, if only because they've got to use at least a LITTLE dramatic license to move the story along.


It poses an interesting (if not far fetched) question though. If you have an "aversion" to using a particular form of prosthetic for a neccesary, life saving procedure simply based on the prosthetic's composition (animal, bovine/pig/cadaver/etc vs plastic) what would you do?


I don't think the "restrictiveness" of anticoagulation therapy was really serious enough to make such a fuss over, but again, dramatic license. The story needed a dramatic element, a conflict or antagonist that serves to drive the story. That was it.

Perhaps they could have done a more thorough research job and set up circumstances where a pigs valve would be the ideal choice but undesirable because of the patient's religious beliefs....



Is there ever a circumstance where you couldn't possibly use an artificial valve but could still use something biological???


Both that and Medium's finale have us hanging at the edge of our seats just a little bit. =)

 

[Randy & Robyn]

We watch Medium too. Another great new show. Fear factor is a bit much for me. Amazing to see to what extent people will demean themselves for money.

If I recall correctly,the girl in that episode of Grey's Anatomy couldn't tolerate anti-coagulant therapy because she had a blood clotting disorder. Therefore a mechanical valve would not have been viable. That much was medically feasible.

However, there were three major distortions of medical facts:

1. Bovine valves have only been around a couple of years.

2. The insinuation that most surgeons are not aware they even exist.

3. Bovine valves are much more difficult to install than porcine valves.

All far, far from the truth. But like you said, they needed to bend the facts to fit the plotline. To be honest, how many people who watch the show would ever be aware of these falsehoods?

It's a good enough show that I can overlook it.

Randy

 

[Birky]

Grey's

Grey's

I really enjoy the show and I think they have some very good actors. Can't wait to see what happens in the fall when return with the Dr. and the medical student. Do you think Drs. watch these shows?