Im supposed to be studying for my examination, but Ive got this memory in my head and I gotta write it down to ease my mind. It is kind of a funny story during GMGS year in dentistry whereby I had to attend the operating theatre for the ENT course. Entering the theatre is like a dream come true for me even though I did not do anything else except watch haha
Before going to the theatre, we changed into the purple scrub and black scarves. Then, we walked to the theatre and listen to the briefing (and warning obviously). So, the only interesting available case for that day was Pleomorphic Adenoma removal of a young man and tongue cancer removal of an elderly man.
For the young man, it was quite straightforward with the disinfection and isolation of the operating site. The patient was already anaesthesized beforehand. Then, marking of the operating area was done as a guide. The doctor also kept asking his master students some questions so that is where we gain some extra knowledge aside.
After making the incision based on the marking made, they start to search for the ending (?) of the mass. This is also when they start to use this cool instrument to detect the nerve to avoid damaging it and cause problems. They also use this electrocautery instrument to seal the blood vessel and prevent some huge bloody mess during the surgery.
There were also music being played on the speaker to lighten the situation which was kinda nice, I guess. It was supposed to be an easy surgery but the nerve and muscle makes it slightly difficult and it was so satisfying to see the whole mass being removed from the patient's cheek (?). I did not watch the whole surgery for a full three hours as I need to alternate with colleagues which was a bummer haha
Oh, just an interesting fact, this benign pleomorphic adenoma mass if left untreated can lead to its cancerous form so he was definitely lucky to have his mass detected early as it might not be that obvious from the outside but the mass continues to grow on inside. Scary isnt it
Then, for the next alternative patient that I watch (honestly Im beginning to think that this might not happen on the same day haha but whatever ). This elderly man had a huge tongue cancer and had to have almost half of his tongue removed for survival :(
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one of the first tell tale sign of cancer especially if it last for more than 2 weeks (the other picture as just to gory to be shared haha) |
The surgery as usual requires the use electrocautery and the nerve detector. Oh, the tongue is also a muscular organ that can still move even if you have been anaesthesized. It wasnt easy to watch as the procedure happens in the mouth but it was also a lengthy procedure but it wasnt as long as the previous patient. There was also a time when there was a sudden spurt of blood as they accidentally cut the main blood vessel. I was so thankful that I stayed in the safe zone pheww but the doctors were only wearing goggles and mask, so just imagine guys. Wait, now Im not so sure whether this incident happen to this patient haha...aaa bencinya dah lupa
Once the resection finished, the doctor showed it to us with the tongue hanging from a piece of thread. Then, suddenly the thread slips from his hand and it fell onto the floor. Again, I thanked God the tongue is still quite far from me. The tongue does not wiggle obviously but it is still euww haha.. Suddenly, this nurse look at me into the eyes and said "why didnt you pick it up?" and I was like "what the hell? How am I supposed to pick it up? There isnt any glove and it is like a mass. You must be nut" (obviously this is silent monologue).
She picked it up and put it into the specimen bottle and put it onto the shelves. I look at that mass and think the mass used to be someone else's tongue and I simply shivered by the thought of it haha. Then, I was reminded of my brother's brain tumor specimen. I was just searching for some medicine at a cupboard when I found this weird looking thing in some water. It seems like a trophy after a long battle, right? Because, my aunt also displays her kidney stone in her cupboard.
All in all, watching a surgery is a memorable experience on its own and I love it (if and only if Im wearing a full PPE) and I cant wait to experience it again during my fifth year but in the dental field. However, I am definitely not looking forward for the missile of questions being thrown later haha... Thank you for reading my story till the end. I have many stories to be told but I still havent got the time and effort to rack my brain and write it