Finally looking at surgeries first hand!

This second week at King’s Shadowing comprised of us witnessing an array of surgeries. However, for good reasons, we weren’t allowed to document anything inside GOT (General Operation Theatre).

The first surgery I saw was TURP (Transurethral resection of the prostate) wherein a small section of prostate was cut by a rectoscope for proper urination and for properly emptying the bladder. Before the surgery itself, we were expected to wear sterilized hospital srub and a scrub cap to mitigate spread of any transmittable diseases inside the operation theatre and to prevent the patient from developing any hospital acquired diseases. The highlight was how there was an elevator between the changing room and outside the GOT area, exclusively for the staff and authorized personnel. I felt a sense of pride, giving me that doctor vibe. The purpose behind the elevator was so that people working at GOT don’t expose themselves to outside microbes.

The second type of surgery also took place in GOT, for only this time it was the Endoscopic treatment for kidney stones. We were made to wear a heavy 10 kg shield to protect us from the radiations that were going to be utilized in the X-Rays while performing the surgery. I saw the doctor using a manual lithotripter to break the kidney stones into smaller pieces, and then later extract it outside using endoscopy. It was cool to see how CT scan played in a role, in initially diagnosing that the patient has kidney stones. The doctor also briefed us on how he condemns the modern school of thought on using artificially laser technology in treating all types of kidney stones, since it’s not effective in terms of getting rid of stones, and even very expensive (causing affordability issues).

The third surgery I attended was a laparoscopic cyst removal surgery. It was, without a doubt, the most fascinating of all the surgeries since it involved the operating on the abdominal cysts without even having to cut open the stomach. The use of endoscopic technique was quite riveting, in the sense that not major blood loss happened.

These surgical experiences allowed me to get a grasp of various aspects of a surgeon and the surgeries performed in the medial field. It resonates with the 3rd learning outcome, wherein I was able to acquire new skills related to the field of medicine and the intricacies involved in an operation.

Learning outcome

This program allowed me to collaborate effectively with my fellow interns Sharuckshi and Laisha, and even the nurses and doctors present at the hospital. It corresponds to LO 5, in which we worked as a team and acquired skills collectively.