r/surgery

In the US, we have the attending, anesthesiologist, fellows, residents, OR nurse, scrub nurse, scrub tech, device reps, 1st assist and 2nd assist in the OR. In the US, 1st assist are usually PA or NP’s, if standard orthopedic practice. 2nd assist are AT’s or techs, vary by state laws. At a large teaching hospital, it may be med students, fellow and residents doing the surgery or helping out with 1st/2nd assist duties.

In Europe OR, who do they use for 1st and 2nd assist?

My friend will be starting her Internal Medicine residency later this year, and she's dating a PGY-5 General Surgery Resident, planning to do Cardiothoracic Fellowship. Is this combination doable?

We've seen IM residents be with each other, she's just scared about the insane schedule and life for CT surgeons. Plus it's going to be long distance for a year atleast till he finished. She really likes him but she is afraid of the difficult schedule for both. Anyone know any success stories? Or horror stories?

My friend will be starting her Internal Medicine residency later this year, and she's dating a PGY-5 General Surgery Resident, planning to do Cardiothoracic Fellowship. Is this combination doable?

We've seen IM residents be with each other, she's just scared about the insane schedule and life for CT surgeons. Plus it's going to be long distance for a year atleast till he finished. She really likes him but she is afraid of the difficult schedule for both. Anyone know any success stories? Or horror stories?

On Wednesday, I had my left contact lens hanging on by an eyelash, fall into the incision as an orthopedic 2nd assist. I was wearing safety glasses. First time that has happened! Mentally thought: I am so sorry. There is foreign biohazard object in the incision.” PA 1st assist took care of it. I flagged down the OR nurse and got directions. Talked to the PA after the case.

I work at a small hospital, so it’s unavoidable for me, but I’ve had surgery a few times recently under the care of my coworkers. I don’t have any reservations about it, but I wonder if there are some out there who would choose to have procedures done away from those they work with? I can understand more sensitive procedures, let’s say colonoscopies or urology/gynecology cases, so let’s exclude those. Anyone opt to not have their cohorts operate on them?

I’m in critical care in a new system. I loved my old place and I love my new place. Surgeons were great at both, but many folks had only trained/worked at their respective locations so there tends to be a lot of institutional practice patterns (not bad - just different, I’d be happy to be a patient at either place). Both systems have similar resources (though I don’t know the specifics on surgical staffing). I’m curious about this particular practice.

Recently an re-ex-lap was done bedside in the ICU. Belly was already abthera’ed pre-procedure but it was still a proper open abdomen. It seemed (to me as a non surgeon) to go very well. Apparently this isn’t a common practice but not entirely rare. This pt was sick, but at my old place we would have packed them up and gotten them to the OR. I think I heard about one bedside ex lap at my old system. CICU bedside emergent open chests happened with some frequency….but for any abdominal issues I feel like even when folks were super unstable we went to the OR.

Clinically all of these patients are super sick, but from a resource perspective it seemed like staying in the ICU actually made a lot of sense. I did a cursory search for infection rates and didn’t see anything about OR v ICU setting. Why might a surgeon go for a bedside open abdomen procedure vs going to the OR?

matched into neurosurgery and was proud of it because spots are so limited

but after starting residency i am seriously wondering if it is worth it

in my hospital neurosurgery averages about 89 hours a week while most other specialties including surgical ones are closer to 40 to 70 and even ortho is less by 10h

what is getting to me is not just the hours but the fact that i cannot build a life outside the hospital and even when i am home i am still thinking about cases because neurosurgery feels mentally heavier than anything else i rotated through

so for people further along in training or already attendings, does this actually get better after residency or do you just become better at tolerating a lifestyle that never really improves

and if i am already questioning whether this is worth it before even properly starting, is that a normal adjustment phase or a sign i should seriously think about leaving

Hello, I'm 15 years old and I'm going to have surgery soon under general anesthesia to have pins removed following a double displaced fracture of my forearm. Even though I've already had surgery on this arm and other parts of my body, and it's a minor procedure, I'm still scared. It's not the general anesthesia or the needles that frighten me, but the idea of losing all control, of being completely and deeply asleep, that worries me. I'm also very apprehensive about arriving in the operating room: the crowd, the noise, and all the machines. How can I explain my fear and anxiety to the anesthesiologist I'll see for a consultation in a month? My surgery is scheduled for six days after this consultation. Thank you in advance for your answers.

Hey guys! I am a student in high school thinking of pursuing surgery in the future.

I want to become a spine surgeon, specifically help people with nerve related problems (example: sciatica) because I’ve personally dealt with it and know how it feels.

I thought the obvious answer was to pursue neurosurgery, but I don’t have an interest of touching people’s brains.

I’ve also seen neurosurgeon’s life is quite stressful

I see on the internet that both orthopedic and neurosurgeons both work on disc - related and nerve decompression surgeries, yet the only doctors I’ve ever talked to about my problem were neurosurgeons.

My question is, which is the best and less hard field to pursue a career of minimally invasive spine surgery? How much does it matter which route I choose?

I just watched a video about the surgical repair of truncus arteriosus (Mindblowing by the way) and was wondering why isn't microsurgery really a thing in paediatric cardiac surgery (As far as I know). In the video I watched you could tell that the babie's heart wasn't bigger than a couple of the surgeon's fingers, and even though I know they are using loupes the field is so small that it seems to me a microscope would come in handy.

I have an assignment for one of my classes, i cant get into contact with any cardiologists or cardiac surgeons to interview them, i was wondering if someone could answer my questions

1. did you originally have shaky hands or did you already have really steady hands

2. do you have a favorite procedure to do? if so what is it?

3. what made you want to become a surgeon?

4. is it true that most doctors have awful handwriting?

5. do you do a lot of paperwork?

6. how do you even get the hearts for transplants?

7. do you avoid things that caused your patients to come to you, like drinking energy drinks or eating fatty foods?

8. is medical school very competitive? if yes how to do you keep up with your peers?

9. is surgery stressful for you, or no?

10. what are some things you wish people knew to keep their hearts more healthy?

Additional questions: did you learn more while in medical school or when you are doing your residency?

I am currently at the cross road of my life and I have decided to pursue surgery as my carrier, but I have a major doubt I am fixed on going to foreign and leaving India as the working condition gets worse day by day. At first I decided and was fixed on going to US (but due to war Visa reason I am uncertain now and thought it's riskier to try), so i fixed to going to UK and get my degree and planning to go to and my speciality in surgery but now I am uncertain which pathway do I need to follow

1.Mbbs - plab1&2 - 2 years work (MRCS)- CST 2 yrs- ST3

2Mbbs - MS (MRCS)- 1 yr work - ST3 because many people in India tend to say that clinical experience and interaction with patients are much more and hand on here in India than on uk (which supposed to help me in MRCS)

3.MBBS- AMC - Australia.. FRACS. (I don't know much about) but my friend suggested that

I would like y'all help in this matter as soon as possible so I can fix on one part and start prepping for the exam which I am uncertain for and right now

Thankyou for your help in this matter in advance I am open to any discussion in other country for opportunities too..

I will be having surgery next week for the first time and I'm curious about what people recommend I do with my hair. I have long hair with a weft extension. Do I need to have my extensions removed? Is a high bun or a low braid better? Thanks!