As consult resident for the surgical service, I get called on average 3-10 consults daily. But of course, there's always the exception. Today was one of those exceptions, not only did I not get any consults, but the 0298 didn't even go off after 12:00. I ignored it, and kept busy, so as to not jinx the situation. For the second you acknowledge the state of calm, the pager will go off with minimum three consults in a row. Literally, the second. From my perspective, it's always a welcome break from the typical hurried hecticness. Unfortunately, I currently have three students assigned to my team. One sub-intern, and two 3rd years just starting their clinical year (brand new babies!). And with days like today they don't get to see all the amazingness that surgery can be. We spent time going over past consults. An esophagus, completely structured shut after being burned with oven cleaner. Do we take it out and pull up the stomach? Can we even use the stomach? Should we interpose colon in its place, and does that mean the voice box has to go too? A breast cancer beyond control, infected and eating away at the patient's chest. More discussion on patient denial there, than actual treatment of breast cancer itself. That's one good thing about medicine, there's no end to topics for study, and we've kept busy despite no consults today. The students haven't complained yet.
Much Love.
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