This weekend my darling wife went away interstate for a training conference. Some Infectious Diseases clever doctorish stuff. Things we surgeons just do not understand, or even wanna try to understand. I always think, there are only 3 antibiotics in the world anyway, so why spend a beautiful weekend attending conferences on those 3 antibiotics?… Read more
Tag: Medicine
Of Phones, Pagers and Positions
I still remember carrying my first pager as a medical student. It was such an honour. I almost felt like I was finally someone important enough that people need to call me. Funny I felt that way, because the pager was really there just in case our tutors needed to change our tutorial times or locations.… Read more
Epistaxis: Stop it like a kid.
What a lovely word! It comes form the Greek word epistazo which means to bleed from the nose (duh!).
Most of us will have nosebleeds at one point in our lifetime (if you haven’t had that experience, try vigorously digging your nose, or call someone ugly).… Read more
7 Things ENT Surgeons Can Learn From the Hairdressers
I’ve been to the hairdressers many times in my life time (that’s an indication that I’m not balding, yet). I’m mostly a drive-through type. I go when I have a free 18minutes and 30seconds from my schedule, and make my way to the nearest hairdresser/stylist/barber/butcher, or anyone with a comb and a pair of scissors.… Read more
First Impressions: How Do You Introduce Yourself?
In this world of instant image management and quick intro snippets, your first impressions do last. As a doctor, you are patient-inundated, nurse-interrupted, time-limited, ego-conscious and sociably-challenged. Hence the way you introduce yourself may determine whether or not you start on the right footing with your patients.… Read more
7 Reasons Why You Should Be an Anaesthetist (or Anesthesiologist, if you don’t speak proper English)
WARNING: This post, like the rest of my blogposts, is best enjoyed with a glass of wine and a good sense of humour. THIS IS NOT A SERIOUS BLOGPOST! I love anaesthetists and have family members who are anaesthetists. We laugh at and with each other.… Read more
10 Things A Surgeon Can’t Say Out Loud
1. What is that?
2. Does that part go here?
3. Oops.
4. What happens if I cut here?
5. Hmmhh, not sure if I can fit it all back in again.
6. Could you please google up this procedure?
7.… Read more
An Ode to the Mighty Bloody Surgeons
When erythrocytes are spilled
Many a surgeon would go “S%$IT!”
But not the Mighty Vascular Surgeon
Who smiles and says “Come on!”
Since young he dreams of balloons
Till old he plays with balloons
Poke, poke here, and pump, pump there
Let’s get those vessels flowing with flair
With a cheeky smile, and a twisted mind
With a thick wallet and a stent behind
The Mighty Vascular Surgeon walks the ward
Thinking everyone’s in awe
The smokers fear him
The diabetics adore him
The multi-toed worship him
And the toe-free pays him
Whether you are ischaemic, or haemorrhagic
Or just plain aneurysmic
Whatever the bloody specific
Fear not, The Vascular Surgeon is here to fix
Aaah… The Mighty Vascular Surgeon
Once they get you, they ain’t letting you go
They start from them toes
And up to those groins, going, going, goes
From A to Z they wield their control
Abdominal Aneurysm to Zenith Endovascular control
They have the power
They have the money
They love to strip
Veins, that is
They love to disimpact
Arteries, that is
The Mighty Vascular Surgeons
No vessels they can’t unblock
If they can’t, they’ll divert
Or to open they’ll convert
The Mighty Vascular Surgeons
Their lives are simple red and blue
If it’s white, they’ll turn them pink
If it’s black, they’ll amputate to nothing
This ‘piece of work!’… Read more
7 Reasons Why You Should be a Surgeon
I’ve been asked many times why I chose the path of surgery. The esoteric, philosophical, mightier-than-thou answer would be “Well, I didn’t choose surgery. Surgery CHOSE me.” Somehow the conversation falls flat after I say things like that. So for practical reasons people can understand, here are some reasons why:
1.… Read more
Duty, Discipline and Delight
Surgery should be built on a bedrock of duty and discipline. Otherwise one will not enjoy the delight it offers.
As a trainee surgeon, doing long hours in the hospital is a necessary evil I wil have to endure. There has been many a times when I’ve not been able to reach home at night, or that I hit the doorsteps of the home, only to be called back to the hospital.… Read more