Three Hours of Pannus Retraction Inspires Medical Student to Become a Surgeon

 

            Previously undecided M3, Niels Beck, found his calling Wednesday while observing the first surgery in his eight week rotation. ìI was somewhat indifferent about the rotation going into it.  I thought I wanted to do emergency medicine, but I also wanted to make sure that I gave this surgery thing a fair shake.î

 

             ìI was a little overwhelmed at first.  The scrub nurse yelled at while I scrubbed in, while entering the OR, and while standing perfectly still.  Then came my epiphany.  The surgeon told me to retract the patientís pannus.  I could hardly believe my luck.î

 

            Niels Beck first grabbed for the retractor straight on with an overhand grip.  He was quickly admonished and then corrected himself to an outstretched underhanded grip with his opposite hand.  Niels remembered the incident fondly ìI was rather idiotic to think that I could just grab and pull at the retractor as I felt appropriate.  Although the grip suggested to me was immensely less comfortable, there was at least a quarter inch less of me on the operative field.  This rotation just started and I already feel like Iíve learned so much.î

 

            As the seconds turned to minutes and the minutes turned to hours, Niels fought through muscle cramps and numbness to apply the appropriate traction to the patientís burgeoning girth.  ìYou know, it doesnít bother me that I could have been replaced by a bucket of sand and a few yards of twine.  My role as pannus retractor gave me some real insight into a bigger world.  At the end of the three hour experience, I was hooked.  Surgery here I come.î

 

            ìWhen I left that day, I realized that I was a rather inept pannus retractor.  Iím not sure if I lacked the will or the strength to hold the contortion of which I was asked, but I wasnít going to let that get in the way of my future as a surgeon.î  Mr. Beck spent the better part of the next day holding normal household utensils at odd angles.  ìI even brought out my Twister game and tried making an omelet.  I think Iím at the point now that I can retract pretty much anything as long as I can reach it.î

           

            For much of the three hour operation, Niels field of vision was obscured by the surgeon, residents, and nurses.  ìI had a really great view of someoneís armpit, Iím not really sure whose armpit it was but it was such a majestic sight to have witnessed.  I could have painted the vision as a portrait.  Itís glimpses like that made me realize that I just had to be a surgeon.  I am thankful everyday for my experience as a student on the surgery clerkship.î

 

            The obscured field of vision hindered Mr. Beckís ability to answer the many questions that were posed to him.  ìThe surgeon kept vaguely pointing to something that only he could see and asking me what it was.  Iím not sure why it kept happening, but Iím sure it was my fault in some way or other.î

 

           Part of the learning experience has been Mr. Beckís exposure to an entirely new system of nomenclature.Ý ìThey kept asking for some ëTrendelenburgí or something like that.Ý I figured that it was some sort of medication, but actually they wanted to tilt the table down.Ý It sure is easier to use an obscure eponym than just to say what you want.Ý Iím researching the inventors of many household appliances so that I can begin to use my new vocabulary in everyday life.Ý For example, Iím going to start saying ëCarrierí instead of ëair conditionerí and ëSpencerí instead of ëmicrowave ovení.î

 

ÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝ The surgery clerkship has certainly been successful in inspiring the students who rotate through to consider their profession.Ý ìIím considering taking an entire fourth year elective in ëRetraction and Humiliation.íî