Scrubs

Last Tuesday, I spent the day in Musgrove Park Hospital, mainly with the neurology team in Triscombe Ward. I started off with consultant ward round with Dr. Fathers and his team. I saw a variety of rare neurological conditions, varying from informing a patient that he had motor neurone disease to finally speaking to a woman who had been dumb for 2 months following a neurological problem. I also saw the value of MRI scans to review inflammation, among other problems, in patients, which can damage nerves and nerve transmission. Next in the plan for the day was viewing neurological tests. However, upon arrival, I was told that there were no tests that afternoon, but one of the testing team would be monitoring a patient’s neurological observations during a spinal operation. Was I interested in watching? Of course! So, for the first (and hopefully not the last!) time in my life, I got scrubbed up, complete with pyjama-like clothes, hideous shoes, a face mask and a very attractive hat. I also donned a lead apron (which was surprisingly heavy!) and then, fully dressed, I was allowed to go into the Operating Theatre (upon my promise that I didn’t faint at the sight of blood). I was in Theatre for 90 minutes, watching rods being inserted into the patient’s back as some of the vertebrae plates had fused. This had to be done with constant checks, both radiology checks to assess position, and nerve transmission checks to ensure that no lasting damage was being done. It was epic. After the operation (and lunch) I went to watch a lumbar puncture, where I saw the time taken to perform the procedure, due to the small size of the gaps and the precision needed to avoid nerve damage. Overall, I left feeling really excited and even more committed to my dream of being a doctor.