MAR VII

JONATHAN MALABANAN M.D.

Surgery Resident

Ospital Ng Maynila Medical Center

MEDICAL ANECDOTAL REPORT

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Making the Best of What We Have

(August 2007)

Narration

It was one of our ordinary duty days. My friend called me that his husband had been experiencing RLQ pain for 3 days which was persistent and increasing in character. I told her that I will pass by their house so I can examine him. Physical examination was done suggestive of acute appendicitis. I then told him to prepare his things and I will refer him to my senior residents. We then admitted the patient and schedule him for emergency appendectomy.

While at the Operating Room, things were running smoothly when suddenly the OR light busted. There was no spare OR bulb that time and the OR light from the other room is being used for the CS. We then make use of the available head light. I realized that it was really hard operating with your head light as the sole source of light. It was painful on the neck area and causes eye strain. It took us almost two hours of operation instead of the usual less than an hour. My senior resident was even present during the operation. The operation ended smoothly.

Insight: (Physical, Psychosocial, Ethical) (Discovery, Stimulus, Reinforcement)

Being a surgeon in a public hospital is indeed difficult. We have to cope with the availability of materials and equipments. For some materials, if the hospital cannot provide them, we allow the relatives to shoulder the expenses. I guess everything in this hospital starting from the procurement of medication down to the classification of patient is part of the training. Making the best of whatever we have and patience is the key for a successful operation. In one way or another, it will help me someday.

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