Every once in a while we do things that either we have long forgotten about or never done at all. The purpose of this post is to recognize the fact that three such incidents occurred over a short span of time for me recently.
The first of these momentous moments is about a daily act that one does to groom oneself – in order that no one refers to him as a broom. I am talking about using a serrated polyvinyl chloride object to uniformly orient the keratinous appendages of the epidermis. Combing. I was invited to Veena’s parents’ Silver anniversary and thought to myself that the casual (usual) hasty hand-strokes given to my hair each morning will probably not suffice at a formal occasion. For probably more than at least 18 months, my comb has been out of sight and, certainly, out of use. The reasons had nothing to do with grooming – because I hold no reservations about the use of shampoo – but the fact that I am quite oblivious to “the way they look” and so any look is just fine. Hence, why waste time and effort with a comb when a few quick strokes with the hand are good enough? Valid, isn’t it?
The next incident occurred when I was posted in the Emergency Surgical Room (ESR) for a 24-hour shift from the 16th to the 17th. A patient had had his endotracheal tube for more than 3 days and it was time to perform a tracheostomy*. The ENT surgeon called on to perform the procedure (which is done as properly as a surgery) needed an intern (and I volunteered) to assist him. The ‘surgery’ was to happen on the patient’s bed itself, located in the ICU of the ESR. ‘Washing-up’ with Betadine-scrub at the basin nearby, I donned the variegated green gown and double gloves. Out of curiosity, I asked the ENT surgeon what the procedure is going to be like, because I had never seen a tracheostomy before. The registrar began explaining the procedure in detail, to the extent of actually instructing me on what I would be doing at all these points of time to come. Apart from feeling very important (being assigned actual work during the surgery, as opposed to the usual mopping and retracting), I also felt, for the first time in a long time, glad to learn something from a person. In medical college, there are very few people who elicit such reactions – because teaching gives very few people happiness. And my efforts were put on paper (as I am gradually realizing is the protocol) since the assisting surgeon’s name too must be recorded in the patient’s file.
The last, and the most hair-raising of the adventures, happened yesterday while I was serving time in the Minor Surgical Operation Theatre (MSOT). Serving time simply because the 7-hour shift at the place has work worth just about one. One of my juniors had come in for a dressing change on a furuncle** on his leg, which had been drained. If you are an intern, all new cases are learning experiences. Making friendly banter with the mamas*** helps one learn even more. So my friend, philosopher and guide looked at the wound and grimaced. “Sir, thoda sa shaving karna padega!” Saying that, he hands me a scalpel. My junior and I look equally bewildered at the mama; but with the helpless acceptance that we shall have to proceed with this bizarre experience. And then I started, with all the care I possibly could offer, with a razor-sharp (duh!) scalpel to raze the tender, friable skin around his wound! Soon it was done and we both heaved a sigh of relief. I had shaved a man’s leg; I could die as a content being right now and have no more demands from life!
Now this paragraph is what I call "saving the best for after the last". Actually, I had forgotten about this event and, hence, not written about it when I originally posted this article. I had been asked, by the JAM magazine chief editor, to write an article describing an intern's experiences during the recent Resident Medical Officers' (RMOs) strike across Maharashtra. That article, "Carry on (Trainee) Doctor", was published in the current JAM (March 15-29) and on their website (here) and also on my website (here).
The first of these momentous moments is about a daily act that one does to groom oneself – in order that no one refers to him as a broom. I am talking about using a serrated polyvinyl chloride object to uniformly orient the keratinous appendages of the epidermis. Combing. I was invited to Veena’s parents’ Silver anniversary and thought to myself that the casual (usual) hasty hand-strokes given to my hair each morning will probably not suffice at a formal occasion. For probably more than at least 18 months, my comb has been out of sight and, certainly, out of use. The reasons had nothing to do with grooming – because I hold no reservations about the use of shampoo – but the fact that I am quite oblivious to “the way they look” and so any look is just fine. Hence, why waste time and effort with a comb when a few quick strokes with the hand are good enough? Valid, isn’t it?
The next incident occurred when I was posted in the Emergency Surgical Room (ESR) for a 24-hour shift from the 16th to the 17th. A patient had had his endotracheal tube for more than 3 days and it was time to perform a tracheostomy*. The ENT surgeon called on to perform the procedure (which is done as properly as a surgery) needed an intern (and I volunteered) to assist him. The ‘surgery’ was to happen on the patient’s bed itself, located in the ICU of the ESR. ‘Washing-up’ with Betadine-scrub at the basin nearby, I donned the variegated green gown and double gloves. Out of curiosity, I asked the ENT surgeon what the procedure is going to be like, because I had never seen a tracheostomy before. The registrar began explaining the procedure in detail, to the extent of actually instructing me on what I would be doing at all these points of time to come. Apart from feeling very important (being assigned actual work during the surgery, as opposed to the usual mopping and retracting), I also felt, for the first time in a long time, glad to learn something from a person. In medical college, there are very few people who elicit such reactions – because teaching gives very few people happiness. And my efforts were put on paper (as I am gradually realizing is the protocol) since the assisting surgeon’s name too must be recorded in the patient’s file.
The last, and the most hair-raising of the adventures, happened yesterday while I was serving time in the Minor Surgical Operation Theatre (MSOT). Serving time simply because the 7-hour shift at the place has work worth just about one. One of my juniors had come in for a dressing change on a furuncle** on his leg, which had been drained. If you are an intern, all new cases are learning experiences. Making friendly banter with the mamas*** helps one learn even more. So my friend, philosopher and guide looked at the wound and grimaced. “Sir, thoda sa shaving karna padega!” Saying that, he hands me a scalpel. My junior and I look equally bewildered at the mama; but with the helpless acceptance that we shall have to proceed with this bizarre experience. And then I started, with all the care I possibly could offer, with a razor-sharp (duh!) scalpel to raze the tender, friable skin around his wound! Soon it was done and we both heaved a sigh of relief. I had shaved a man’s leg; I could die as a content being right now and have no more demands from life!
Now this paragraph is what I call "saving the best for after the last". Actually, I had forgotten about this event and, hence, not written about it when I originally posted this article. I had been asked, by the JAM magazine chief editor, to write an article describing an intern's experiences during the recent Resident Medical Officers' (RMOs) strike across Maharashtra. That article, "Carry on (Trainee) Doctor", was published in the current JAM (March 15-29) and on their website (here) and also on my website (here).
* Tracheostomy: A surgical hole made into the trachea (wind-pipe) in order to insert a tube to give artificial breathing. An endotracheal tube (inserted from the mouth to the trachea) causes damage to the vocal cords and surrounding structures if left in place for too long (>3 days). Since the tracheostomy tube is inserted from a hole made below the level of the vocal cords, it does not cause damage to them.
** Furuncle: A skin infection that develops a collection of pus, caused by bacteria that reside on the skin itself. The furuncle is treated by incising it to drain the pus.
*** Mamas: These middleaged guys have much to talk about, an opinion on everything and, some, are exponents of the art of using expletives. They are the OT workers who know many surgical procedures on account of their years spent watching them. They are ‘instrumental’ in helping the young interns learn the ‘ropes’ of surgery (suturing, etc.).
3 comments:
my my...after a year and a half you finally found an event important enough to actually warrant hair-combing... what can i say, i'm touched.
The joys of hair loss - no combing required - although Shamal does give me grief over it !
eye -opening historical moments mentioned here... And yup I bought the Jam magazine for 8 bucks... Why can't you write for JLT? It's only 5 bucks... :-D
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