Being part of heart surgical team :)

He walked into the operating room bringing along files and few music cds. He played a cd, and it was Bach.

The patient has been sedated to a deep sleep. The operation is about to begun. I introduced myself to the cardiologist, Dr. Lee and the anaesthetist, Dr. Lim. They welcomed me and I was astounded by their friendliness. I always thought that specialists are smugs.

I stood a metre away from the operating table. Not daring to go nearer unless invited to. Dr. Lee called my name, and he asked me to stand beside him. It was so cool!!!

He stated off with a scalpel and cut the patient's chest from the throat towards his diaphragm. He then uses an electrical rod to cut the patient's flesh and fats. As he cuts, the flesh burns and gives out a smell. I still smell it till today.

After that, he took out a surgical saw, a big saw and cut the sternum open. This is the scary part. To think that your rib cage is cut opened by a saw, really gives you the jitters.

When it was open, he cuts a thin layer of membrane that protects the lungs and the heart. The NIBP monitor (it shows the ECG, heart beat, Blood pressure, aortic volume, ventricular volume) shows everything is normal.

After Dr. Lee reaches the heart, he took a scalpel. He reaches for the Aorta...( Oh my god, you would not believe how big is the aorta!!) and cut it open. Immediately, there was a blood fountain, filling up the heart cavity. The BP was dropping.

He quickly inserted a plastic tube and connects it to a ventilator. He did the same with the anterior vena cava.

He then said " Mr Mok, would you please empty the heart?"

Mr Mok replied " Emptying the heart now.."

Mr Mok works as the ventilator operator. He controls the machine that replaces the heart function.

The heart stops beating. He did what he had to do, and may I say that he is very meticulous with his work.

After 5 hours of operating, the situation was getting more relaxed. The operation had been successful. He then allows the heart to pump blood by itself. The anaesthetist took a blood sampel and hand it over to an attendant, asking him to perfom a blood check.

Suddenly, his blood pressure drops to 46/42. Dr. Lee said, " This is not good"

" Give him 2 cc of adrenaline and 5 ml dilute 15 protamine NOW!!!"

Situation was getting tensed. His eyes was glued to the monitor...Hoping that this patient's BP would increase back to normal. The BP stayed at 50/46.

Still wasn't good enough......He was about to lose the patient. If the BP doesn't go up, the body cells would not be able to get oxygenated blood. If the brain were to be insuficient of oxygen, he could be paralyzed or even dead.

" Flush his sytem"

What the hell? I don't know what is flush. I can't tell what he did but the patient's blood pressure was increasing back to 140/82.

" Thank god" DR. Lee said. I smiled feeling grateful that I don't have to witness a death.

Blood check results was out and he examined it. Potassium level was 6.9.

" Hell, why is the potassium so high? "

" I'll give him a dose of insulin." said Dr. Lim, the anaesthetist.

"Check his ECG" Dr. Lee said.

" ECG a little bit irregular, but fine " a nurse said.

" Another dose of insulin please " Dr. Lee said to Dr. Lim.

" ECG is normal. Check his blood again" Dr. Lim instructed an attendant. The attendant rushes out of the operating room.

Potassium level was normal again. It had been a successful surgery. Everybody was happy. I wasn't involve but I shared a bit of their happiness. Feeling relieved that the surgery had finished and I can finally go out. :D

I changed the surgical clothing and heads out. As I walk out the operating theatre, there were many people waiting outside. They gave me a stare but I just walk through and smiled at them.

There was a child that was blocking my way. He didn't notice I was there but I wasn't able to walk through. So, I stood there waiting for the child to move away.

His mom said in chinese " Come here baby, doctor wants to pass through"

I was really embarassed, my face turned red. I quickly walk away leaving them behind.