Hi Everyone,
It's been a pretty hectic few weeks since I last wrote. I'm back at work now after a couple of weeks travelling around with Jennie and Alison. It was a really nice time and and we made the most of being tourists in such an amazing part of Africa. We did a trip from Durban to Swasiland, Kruger, Drakensberg visiting beaches, game parks, friends and the hospital. It was a really valuable time to just hang out together. I was reminded that in the rush of life, having moments just to enjoy relationships are really special and shouldn't be taken for granted:)
Getting back into work was a bit of a shock to the system and I haven't had a day off since i got back two weeks ago. The last 24 hrs was probably the most intense since i arrived. I didn't get to sleep at all and seemed to encounter the most challenging patients I've ever had.
The first case in theatre yesterday was a pair of breech twin requiring C-section, I was doing the anaesthic (spinal) and mother and babies came through well:)
After theatre i did an autopsy on a patient who had a stabbed heart and a chest full of blood, (killed just down the road!) and 8 stabs in the neck including a cut that had fractured the cervical vertebrae and severed the spinal cord!
Then last night I got called to treat a tragic rape victim (14) needing HIV prophylaxis, forensic testing etc. Again at 2am i got a frantic call from nurses in maternity, i arrived and attempted to resuscitate a new born unsuccessfully for 20min despite intubation, adrenaline etc. The mother of unfortunately kept bleeding heavily post-delivery. After everything failed to stop the bleeding she was rushed to theatre for an emergency hysterectomy. After 4hours in theatre she ended up arresting on the table and died despite defibs, adrenaline etc. Once i left theatre it was time to do the morning ward round fortunately most of the kids had recovered from the gastro 'epidemic' and could be discharged (although one died during the week). The electrolyte imbalances have been the most impressive i've seen - (if you're interested in electrolytes: eg Na of 100mmol in one baby, K <2>
It's been a pretty hectic few weeks since I last wrote. I'm back at work now after a couple of weeks travelling around with Jennie and Alison. It was a really nice time and and we made the most of being tourists in such an amazing part of Africa. We did a trip from Durban to Swasiland, Kruger, Drakensberg visiting beaches, game parks, friends and the hospital. It was a really valuable time to just hang out together. I was reminded that in the rush of life, having moments just to enjoy relationships are really special and shouldn't be taken for granted:)
Getting back into work was a bit of a shock to the system and I haven't had a day off since i got back two weeks ago. The last 24 hrs was probably the most intense since i arrived. I didn't get to sleep at all and seemed to encounter the most challenging patients I've ever had.
The first case in theatre yesterday was a pair of breech twin requiring C-section, I was doing the anaesthic (spinal) and mother and babies came through well:)
After theatre i did an autopsy on a patient who had a stabbed heart and a chest full of blood, (killed just down the road!) and 8 stabs in the neck including a cut that had fractured the cervical vertebrae and severed the spinal cord!
Then last night I got called to treat a tragic rape victim (14) needing HIV prophylaxis, forensic testing etc. Again at 2am i got a frantic call from nurses in maternity, i arrived and attempted to resuscitate a new born unsuccessfully for 20min despite intubation, adrenaline etc. The mother of unfortunately kept bleeding heavily post-delivery. After everything failed to stop the bleeding she was rushed to theatre for an emergency hysterectomy. After 4hours in theatre she ended up arresting on the table and died despite defibs, adrenaline etc. Once i left theatre it was time to do the morning ward round fortunately most of the kids had recovered from the gastro 'epidemic' and could be discharged (although one died during the week). The electrolyte imbalances have been the most impressive i've seen - (if you're interested in electrolytes: eg Na of 100mmol in one baby, K <2>
Cheers
Daniel
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