Tuesday 19 August 2014

ELECTIVE #1: PLASTIC SURGERY


I wanted to have more opportunity to suture so I chose plastics surgery as one of my electives. Plastics surgery currently has PAs working for them. This was a great opportunity to witness how PAs function in surgery.

A normal day 

7:00am – meet with the PAs and determine the OR slate for the day 

7:30am – head to the OR and help assist the OR nurses set up the equipment needed for surgery 

8:00am – 5pm – OR assist – It was difficult to do much in the OR as there were plenty of residents to assist. I did get some good suturing practice. Practiced some dermal and running stitches






CLINICS: These were fun. They were quick visits and I was able to see the outcomes of the surgical procedures that were done. 

WHAT I SAW


- Mastectomy and breast reconstruction DIEP method – using abdominal fat to reconstruct the breast and the patient got a free tummy tuck :P. This was amazing. 

- Breast lift

- Liposuction

- Scar revision

- Traumatic hand reconstruction

- Flaps 

- Latissimus dorsi breast reconstruction 

- Carpal tunnel

- Dupuytren contracture

Plastic surgery had more possibilities and depth than I knew coming in. My perceptions of plastic surgery was what I've seen on TV ie. greys anatomy and celebrities. I did not see any cosmetic surgery on this rotation. Most cases were cancer patients that were getting their cancer surgically removed. Plastics was responsible for fixing the area and making it functional. Microsurgery was awe-striking. I never knew such surgery existed. You can literally take any part of your body and attach it somewhere else on your body. Plastic surgery are for those who are detailed orientated as it requires a lot of time and patience to attach small arteries, veins and ligaments.

Picture I found on the internet- microsurgery

I was amazed at what the PAs got to do. One PA who has been working for only 2 years was cutting, suturing on their own and was well respected by the residents. I could see the trust the surgeons have with the PAs. They prefer the PA in assisting in certain cases especially the PAs who have been working there for years. The PAs truly function as physician extenders. Here they were like residents that never leave. I recommend this elective for those who are interested in surgery. I admit it was difficult standing for more than 2 hours, my hips would start acting up :P . Some cases we would stand even up to 7 hours. 

This was a great rotation with awesome PA mentors.


6 comments:

  1. Very informative blog about elective procedures.. Thank you so much for sharing

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  3. Good post. Yeah, plastic surgery requires lot of time and patience and should salute the surgeons who make it successfully. One of my friends recently underwent it in a plastic surgery clinic in Toronto and got pretty good results. It is not actually about the time one spend for doing it, it’s all about how successfully he could bring out the outcome that one was hoping for.

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  5. Plastic surgery had a bigger number of conceivable outcomes and profundity than I knew coming in. My impression of plastic surgery was what I've seen on TV ie. grays life structures and big names. I didn't see any corrective surgery on this turn. Most cases were growth patients that were getting their disease surgically uprooted. Plastics was in charge of settling the region and making it utilitarian. Microsurgery was stunningness striking. I never knew such surgery existed. You can truly take any piece of your body and connect it elsewhere on your body.

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