Surgexperiences 101: Pilot (Condensed)

Welcome to Surgexperiences - the bi-weekly compendium of the best surgical-related posts in the medical blogosphere!

This week, i am proud to host the “pilot” episode of Surgexperiences.

Below will be the condensed version of this edition. The full version is available at Surgexperiences here.

The history of surgery

What cannot be cured with medicaments is cured by the knife, what the knife cannot cure is cured with the searing iron, and whatever this cannot cure must be considered incurable.

- Hippocrates (460-370 BC)

The art of surgery

Sid Schwab shares how he would dictate a post-op report with an example following a successful sigmoid colectomy.

Dr Bard Parker from Cut to Cure shares tales from the operating room, with 10 issues. The last one is particularly interesting, and graphic.

Bongi, a general surgeon from the notorious South African province of Mpumalanga, tells us about a tragic story involving a bull’s supposed “powerful” horn and his HIV patient.

The apprenticeship: New resources for trainees?

Apart from traditional resources, Street Anatomy is one example of online resources. We find out more here about medical-legal illustrations, and their role in the court today. We also learn that the Visible Human Project was possible, kudos to a criminal convicted of burglary and murder.

Over at Brain Blogger, Sudip Ghosh shares with us that expert video gaming skills might actually mean better surgical performance.

The training pathway

A short write up on the training pathways available, esp. in Australia. All are moving in the direction that USA has gone, direct specialization.

Early surgical exposure

Jeffrey, at monash medical student speaks fondly of it, here. (more contributions welcome, please.)

Craniotomy was more privileged, and was guided through a lipoma excision. Read about his first surgical experience here.

All might not be pleasant and rosy, however.

When Anthony Rudine shares on The Differential “Why do attendings verbally abuse med students?“, comments were aplenty about incidents in the OR.

Anna Burkhead also graciously shares a fainting incident in the OR she terms as “a story no one wants to tell“, and hence paved the way for many to share about similar incidents.

Apart from traditional sources of surgical training and education, it seems like a certain Dr. Preston Burke, from Grey’s Anatomy, has inspired many, including Angry Medic.
The culture of surgery

However, sometimes it seems that even a general surgeon can sometimes be a flea, “only by necessity”, as Aggravated DocSurg tells us.

Aaron Singh over at The Differential examines also, why do surgeons have such big egos, and inadvertently generates 100s of comments with regards to surgeons’ work ethics, attitudes and behaviour.

He then goes on to explain himself and gives further insight into surgery, with special mention of Mr. Philip Henman, an orthopod for the Taliban.

Over in India, the work ethic of a scrub nurse in the OR has impressed Orthodoc so much so to trust him completely, even when he asks for monetary aid.

Over on the surgical aspect of obstetrics, Midwife with a Knife shares with us “how to save lives, one rectum at a time“.

The ethics of surgery?

Dr Youn over at Celebrity Cosmetic Surgery shares with us the importance of knowing when NOT to operate. (pls be advised of potential traumatizing picture)

The future of surgery

Associates in Urology’s Robotic Surgery Blog reports that 3 experts in the field discuss robotic surgery and how it might or might not be a reality in their field of urology.

Robotic surgery has its benefits and promises for the future; mind you, robotic surgery was performed on a 94-year-old diagnosed with invasive bladder cancer.

Unbounded Medicine also alerts us as to how technology will change neurosurgery in the future, with NeuroArm.

Next edition:

I have yet to find a host. If you enjoyed this first edition, or have suggestions for future editions, kindly leave your comments.

Do check the SCHEDULE on the surgeXperiences main blog for upcoming editions of this blog carnival.

Submissions can be done here.

Also, if you are willing to host the next edition, kindly contact me.