Day 5-7 Fixing Broken Hearts

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September 24th 2008

Published: September 30th 2008

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Nadjana

Setting Up Day 1

Days 5-7: 24th September-26th September (Wed-Fri)

We spent the afternoon of the 23rd gathering all of our supplies to ensure they were adequate enough to perform the necessary surgeries. Wednesday morning was when the challenges began! The patients have to buy all of their necessary drugs prior to their operation. They basically go to a pharmacy with a list, pay for them & show up with a box of drugs. Not just post-op meds... I mean every drug they could possibly need during the surgery -- from anesthesia to perfusion!

Our supplies and resources are limited. I have become know for my Macgyver like skills for piecing together random items and making them work for certain parts of the procedure. The instruments are sterilzed in a very thick linen, and to be cost effective, they sterilize a huge crock-pot looking pan for items such as drapes, gowns and lap sponges (compresas). To remove these items individually they grab a long ring forcep clamp that has been sittling in disinfectant and grab what they need out of the bin. Very interesting. I freaked out on the nurse the first time she grabbed a sterile item with the forcep... but then

Teaching

Many observers wathing a central line placement

realized that this was there practice... & accepted it for what it was!!

It was extremely hot in the operating room. There was a fan located on the back wall behind one of the surgeons. This provided some relief.. but I know that I was sweating so much because I never felt the need to pee!! The first day we didn't finish until after 5pm. They only run one sterilizer load per day (3pm), so I had to make a special request to process the instruments so they would be ready for surgery the next day. They said they would be ready by 10am. After a team meeting and a quickie dinner, I went straight to bed!

Thursday (24 Sep):
I went with Dr. Marath (head of Cardiostart) to grab some supplies that we were missing (heart valves) and then headed to Honorio. We did not start surgery that day until after noon & we finished around 830pm. I was very tired and the cab ride home was a little sketchy. Our cabbie got a little lost, but we made it home safe. There was a scary incident a few years ago, but I will save that story

Monica

Monica watches a learns the cardia set-up

for when I return (don't want to freak anyone out!). Same story with the instruments, they wouldn't be ready until 10am. So, it was off to bed for me.

Friday (26 Sep): Today our patient was having surgery for a Myxoma, which is basically a tumor in his heart. It literally looked like jello when it was removed. It was very surprising that none of it had ever caused him to have a stroke. The surgery was rather fast and we were done at a decent hour (4pm).

Friday night we all went to this amazing restaurant that specializes in crepes... OMG, these were the best ever. The pictures do not do it justice!

Additional photos below

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