| ’s not much that is scarier or more confusing | | | | would be an acceptable reason to have this surgery. |
| than having your doctor tell you need surgery. You | | | | So joint replacement can improve quality of life, |
| might have gone to see the doctor because you | | | | allowing a return to work and living. Worth the risk? |
| were having some pain in your belly. He ordered a | | | | Probably. |
| test called an ultra sound of the abdomen. You went | | | | You should also always ask for second opinion from |
| to the radiology department and a technician rubbed | | | | a surgeon in a practice not associated with your |
| a wand like instrument over your mid section which | | | | surgeon’s. |
| revealed that you have stones in your gall bladder. | | | | You have had a heart attack and now find you must |
| Is this an emergency? It could develop into one over | | | | have bypass surgery. You aren’t a candidate |
| the course of time. Gall stones can cause horrible | | | | for the angioplasty procedure that is done so |
| pain, necessitating a trip to the emergency room. | | | | frequently now, although you did ask about that! This |
| They can block ducts that carry important enzymes | | | | may not be an elective surgery. |
| to your digestive system. But gall stones may also be | | | | How can improve your chances of having a good |
| treated homeopathically in some cases, which you | | | | outcome? Can you reduce the chances of problems |
| won’t hear from your surgeon. A surgeon | | | | like common duct damage and joint replacement |
| may tell you that it would easier to operate on your | | | | infection? You absolutely can. |
| gall bladder before it becomes infected, inflamed, or | | | | The second thing you should know is…. |
| even gangrenous. He may tell you that done | | | | How many times has my surgeon performed this |
| laparscopically; gall bladder surgery is as safe as | | | | surgery? How often is this surgery performed at the |
| surgery can be. But there are risks involved, which | | | | hospital I am going to? Is the nursing staff familiar |
| we will talk about later. | | | | with the techniques? Do they have all the equipment |
| So what does all this mean? First of all, what brought | | | | needed? |
| you to the doctor in the first place? Secondly, is the | | | | Your surgeon is a highly trained, well educated, hard |
| first time you have complained of the problem? Or is | | | | working person. He or she sacrificed years of life and |
| it ongoing? How is this problem affecting your life? | | | | tons of money to get to this point of being able to |
| Before we talk too much about making the decision | | | | diagnose and treat you. But he is not God. He should |
| to have surgery, let’s discuss some of the | | | | be willing to listen to you and answer your questions, |
| important questions you should ask before signing | | | | one of which should be ‘How many times |
| the consent. | | | | have you done this surgery?” |
| The first thing you should know than is…. | | | | Everyone has to have a ‘first time’. |
| Is it absolutely necessary that I have this surgery? | | | | Even surgeons have to do a surgery for the |
| Will I lose my life or limb if I don’t have it? | | | | ‘first time’ An experienced surgeon |
| Will the quality of my life deteriorate if I | | | | who wants to learn a new technique will usually train |
| don’t have it? | | | | under the watchful eye of a surgeon who is well |
| As in the gall bladder discussion, there are variables | | | | versed in the technique. |
| that come into play when making the decision to | | | | Hospital operating rooms have huge capital budgets |
| consent to surgery. First of all, what can go wrong if | | | | for equipment that rapidly age and require |
| I decide to go to the operating room? | | | | replacement, upgrading and inventory maintenance. |
| Again, using Laparoscopic gall bladder surgery as our | | | | How can you be sure that the hospital you go to has |
| example, it is a commonly performed operation. In | | | | the required equipment, instrumentation and supplies? |
| the hands of an unskilled laparscopist, lot’s | | | | Total joint replacement requires hundreds of |
| can go wrong. But problems are encountered by | | | | specialized sizers, instruments, positioning equipment |
| even the most skilled of surgeons. | | | | and implants. Each patient needs different size |
| Unusual anatomy of the patient is a condition which is | | | | implants. Usually, a hospital doesn’t need to |
| usually not detectable until the patient is on the table, | | | | stock everything needed for a surgery. The |
| under anesthesia. We are similar inside as human | | | | company providing the implants sends trays of |
| beings, but there are variations. The most crucial | | | | instruments that are processed by the sterilization |
| procedure in the operation is the clipping and cutting | | | | facility at the hospital, along with hundreds of |
| of the cystic duct and cystic artery. These | | | | different sizes of implants. A knee replacement |
| structures carry blood and bile to the gall bladder. | | | | surgery, for instance, requires four different |
| Easy, right? Just two little structures. But the truth is, | | | | components. Each component may come in ten or |
| if the cystic duct is cut too far away from the gall | | | | more different sizes. All of these parts must be in |
| bladder, into the common duct, a very unpleasant, life | | | | place before the surgery can take place. If the staff |
| threatening situation can occur which will require | | | | is inexperienced, absent or incorrect instrumentation |
| additional extensive surgery. What can go wrong if I | | | | and implants can go unnoticed and even the most |
| decide NOT to have the surgery? Not having an | | | | experienced surgeon cannot do successful surgery |
| infected gall bladder removed can lead to peritonitis, | | | | under these circumstances. In many cases, |
| even death if left untreated. But a healthy gall bladder | | | | representatives from the implant companies attend |
| should be left in place. | | | | the surgeries and are there as a resource to the |
| Are the risks involved for the surgery you are | | | | surgeon and nursing staff. |
| contemplating having worth risking your life for? The | | | | Vascular implants are a concern because most |
| risks involved should be spelled out in the consent | | | | hospitals must stock a huge supply of sizes, even the |
| form you are asked to sign. | | | | unusual, rare size, just in case. Vascular surgery can |
| Let’s look at this from the perspective of | | | | be necessary in an emergent situation, so implants |
| joint replacement. Here is another elective surgery, | | | | and instrumentation sterile and in stock is crucial. |
| one fraught with risks, huge expense and long | | | | These are just a few of the possibilities which can |
| rehabilitation. Why would anyone subject themselves | | | | occur. Knowing in advance what level of expertise |
| to the risks of infection? Now we are talking quality | | | | your local hospital is functioning at can save a lot of |
| of life. Not being able to walk without intense pain | | | | frustration, and perhaps your life. |