2 weeks of GYN surgeries

After a great week of night float on my Ob-Gyn rotation, I was due to spend 2 weeks in the OR helping with gynecological surgeries. I was very excited about this. One of the big decisions you make in medicine is whether you want to go into a "medical" field or a "surgical" field. I have yet to make that decision, mostly because I haven't had enough exposure clinically. The 2 weeks of Gyn would be a sneak peak into surgery.

Despite passing out in the OR during my first C-section, I wasn't too nervous about being in the OR. I had already been in on a few more C-sections and was getting used to that atmosphere. Scrubbing into the OR was becoming more of a habit. This includes scrubbing our hands and arms for 5 minutes to make sure that we are completely clean and maintain sterility in the Operating Room. The harder part is gowning up and gloving up while remaining completely sterile. Thankfully, most of the nurses were very helpful with this, and by the end of the two weeks, I felt more competent with the art of scrubbing. This is not me below but we looked something like this while getting ready for the surgeries:


Most of the surgeries lasted anywhere between 30mins - 2 hours and were really enjoyable! I got an opportunity to scrub in with residents who were accompanied by teaching faculty members as well as private attendings (highest on the totem pole in medicine). I was pleasantly surprised by how much almost each and every one of the surgeons was interested in teaching. They took the time to show me anatomic structures. They took the time to ask me questions about the anatomy. The really good ones took the time to get to know me better and give advice on how to go about the 3rd year of medical school, and how to balance personal lives with careers. I was also very lucky to work with excellent residents who had a wonderful attitude towards their patients and showed great skill.

One of the final year residents especially sticks out in my mind. Her laparoscopic technique was simply brilliant. I would say that her skills were so developed that they would probably rival most attendings' skills. Not only that, but she knew how to make laparoscopic procedures interesting for me as a medical student. We don't get to do the actual procedure so it can sometimes be hard to stay focused looking at a video screen for 2 hours. However, this particular resident described each step as she did it, engaged me throughout the entire time and really made the time fly by. I am very thankful for seeing her teach and hope to emulate some of her techniques once I am on the other side. (of course, that is if I end up going into a surgical field)

As the two weeks went by, I got to see a large variety of cases (listed in the next post). I would be very excited to wake up every morning to be in the OR. I had a lot of fun talking to my patients before the procedures. Although they were nervous and scared, they had this faith. Faith in their surgeons that whatever problem they had would be fixed after the procedure. Faith in their anesthesiologists (whom they only met for a few minutes), that once they went under, the anesthesiologist would take care of their breathing and their basic physiology.

I did not expect this. I absolutely LOVED being in the OR for the 2 weeks. Whether it was the adrenaline of being there and seeing awesome procedures done for the first time, or whether it is a sign that a surgical field is calling my name - only time will tell.