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I got to see two CABG/Valve surgeries in school only because I walked up to the surgeon and asked him . Way cool. Best vantage point is gonna be anesthesia. If you got some nice docs that will let you up at the head of patient. The table is too crowded either side with Doc/PA/assists for each. I was looking right down on the heart from the anesthesia step stool.
I was actually quized about the coronary arteries... I had studied the night before but was surprised to be asked.
Oh, some surgeons want absolute quiet during an open heart. So, be prepared for that. I was asked a question or two on closing.
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4,267 Posts
don't tell your patients what an awesome noise and smoke occurs with the bone saw used to split the sternum. they don't want to hear it.
but you can explain why it feels as if the sternum is unstable postop... even though it's wired, it is, until it heals.
yeah- the cabg i saw in school was ok- and they dragged us into the theater after the bone crunching (thank god- still get the willies with bone noise)..... afterwards, we all went to pizza hut to discuss it (hipaa not an issue back then- and we didn't use names, hospital, etc) and cleared the place:d
xtxrn, ASN, RN
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