OPEN appy
got called to theatre again tonight. just an appendix. but an open appendicectomy, as opposed to laproscopic (ie key-hole surgey ~ which is standard for uncomplicated appendicectomies nowadays). Why open? good question. i asked the surgical registra that and was told it was cos he doesn't know how to do lap appys. and i knew he wasn't joking cos this reg's been working as a reg for years and is not training to become a consultant surgeon ie went thru his surgical training in the days when there was no laproscopic surgery!! He's so old-school that he still goes around wearing a white-coat!! well, i didn't care (initially). I'd never seen an open appy and so appreciated this opportunity (although i couldn't help feeling sorry for the patient who came in at the wrong time of the day and ends up getting a 5cm scar rather than 3 or 4 1cm scars which are much less noticable.)anyway, i digressed. this post is about ME, not the patient. i had to make a point that it was an open procedure because i thought about wearing 2 pairs of gloves (instead of 1) but dismissed the idea since i was only told it was an appy which is usually laproscopic. What difference does that make? good question again! because in a lap procedure, my hands will be at least 1/2 meters away from the site of surgery/needles/scissors etc ie NO risk of needle-stick injury.
so i walked in with one pair of gloves on, realising too late that i needed two (cos i was already scrubbed) and got a needle-stick injury. the surg reg stuck a needle into my gloved finger. it happened when we were closing up (the wound) and ppl started chatting (interestingly, someone mentioning that they knew of a girl named Malina, or is it Melaena?
Everyone was immediately concerned. told me that the patient has a overall good background and offered me support. Why are we talking about the patient again? well, cos if the patient has Hepatitis B or C or HIV then i am at risk of receiving the same thing. What is it again? if the patient's Hep B positive then i've 1/3 chance of getting that. if Hep C positive then 1/30. if HIV then 1/300. so, it's not that bad! i'm not worried at all. Besides the prick is soooo tiny. i can't even see it 10hrs later. (mind you, i did feel the pain and there was a tiny red pin-point spot.)
got my blood taken for baseline at the ED by a intern friend who was more nervous about taking blood from me than me about the whole business. fortunately was given a category 3 so i didn't have to wait. will also have to have follow-up bloods to see if i have contracted anything.
But all that hassle! just cos it was an OPEN appy!
Well, at least that gave me something to blog about.
posted by zhinger @ 4:05 am
<< Home