I was there!

[danielgilboa]

Hi,

I first need to apologize for not getting around very much any more. I do feel I owe this forum of great friends much much more, but I'm just usually out of time.

Well, I invited myself to see OHS. I wanted to see what it is like. I was there earlier this week. It was a bypass surgery, but most procedures are similar. I could not really see into the chest, it is quite a deep hole, and the heads and hands of the surgeons cover it up.

The opening of the chest and the whole complex procedure of getting onto bypass - heart stop - surgery - heart back - off bypass, its really amazing. You get 4 teams all synchronized and doing a great job. Reducing bypass time is a very important issue so they are all trying to be very efficient.
Although the life of this guy was virtually in their hands, there was no panic or sweat around the room.

It was an important experience for me, but it's better I did it after my surgery, rather than before.

 

[Ross]

So your saying that now you've seen it first hand, you wouldn't mind having surgery again right?

 

[SHerrin Hutt]

My oldest daughter wanted to be a Dr. SSO back in the early 90's her friend father worked for Humana and they were asked if they wanted to watch a valverepalcement when she was a JR high school . I thought she was going to watch it from a far, but she was standing at the head of the women that was having the surgery, She came home with blood on her shoes and I was schocked. After I had my surgery the NICU RN had a harder time seeing me after surgery than my daughter with no medical training. She said it was because it was her mother. I guess I understand that. After my mother had OHS and went to the room and she was on life support it made me weak in the knees too!

 

[Harpoon]

Once upon a time there was a special documentary on public television that featured a heart bypass operation. We were flipping through channels and found it and I was just totally fascinated....

My parents (I was maybe 14 at the time) were not as thrilled and after a few minutes decided to let me watch since I was so interested, but they left the room. My mom actually went to their bedroom and read for an hour or so.

At the time I couldn't figure out why they wouldn't be into somethign like that, it was just so cool! But now I know better, having been through a second surgery. That's too intense for them, too many "flashbacks" and thoughts of what their son went through, what nearly killed him.


Would LOVE to get a chance to watch a complex OHS (I think bypass would actually bore me to sleep)

In a week I start ER observations for my EMT course... Ten hours total observing (and some doing ) in a local ER.

I have the option of going to one of two trauma centers, but they're both an hour drive away and I just don't have that kind of time....

 

[danielgilboa]

Hey Ross,

Actualy, since I have these wires sticking out, I was going to ask them, after they were through with the guy on the table, to repare me! but they were exhasted...