Anesthesia vs Surgery

[Ronin786]

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I dont mean to rehash this topic, and I've gone through the previous threads and they've been very helpful.

I've just got one tiny question if you guys don't mind. I know there are many Anesthesiologists who contemplated a career in Surgery and I'm wondering if the urge to cut things open and sew them up goes away?

I really hate almost everything about Surgery. I don't like the culture, the hours, the overall crudeness and I really don't like the fact that its more or less GI. On the other hand, I love the culture behind Anesthesia, the rush when things go wrong, the physiology, and I really like the people and the hours are excellent as well. My only problem is I'm enchanted by the idea of opening up a human and sewing them back up.

I realize how that may sound stupid, and it could be something that goes away after doing a proper surgical rotation, but I'm wondering if anybody that has gone into Anesthesia had/has that urge and how thats affected them. Did you find that its something that makes no difference in the end because of how hands-on Anesthesia is? Or is it something that just goes away after you do it a couple times?

Anesthesia as a specialty really matches my personality and interests, so this has been something bugging me for a while. Thanks in advance for any replies.

 

[countingdays]

When the patient asks you if the doctor is going to talk to her before surgery because the podiatrist (!) isn't there yet, anesthesia kinda sucks. When you have to apply for jobs and opening a practice isn't really an option, anesthesia kinda sucks.
Other than stuff like that, anesthsia is great and i'm not at all jealous of the people sewing for hours.

 

[RT2MD]

Disclaimer: I'm just a 3rd year medical student, but I have some thoughts on this...

I started my 3rd year out with surgery. I have to admit that it took me the full 8 weeks of my surgery rotation to decide that I don't want to do surgery. I too was fascinated with performing surgery on people. The "shiny object" power of surgery was strong for me… but to be honest, by the end of my rotation, it all seemed the same:

"Dissect, dissect, dissect… whoops, nicked a bleeder! Tie/clamp/bovie/etc. Dissect, dissect, dissect… Is that a nerve? Better stay away from it…Dissect, dissect, dissect…"

I'm not trying to degrade surgery, and I completely understand that there is a lot more to it than that. My point is that once the "newness" of actually cutting/sewing (more sewing than cutting) wore off, it got boring to me… then I overheard discussions of how to treat certain lab values coming over the drapes and I totally nerded out on anesthesia again. 😎

I would be willing to bet a rather large sum of money that the answer becomes brutally clear during your surgery rotation… best of luck!

 

[IDBasco]

I met many anesthesiology residents last year during interviews who were previously surgery residents. None seemed to miss anything about it. (yes, anecdotal)

 

[foley12]

I met many anesthesiology residents last year during interviews who were previously surgery residents. None seemed to miss anything about it. (yes, anecdotal)

Yup. Anesthesia if full of former surgery residents who realize that surgery blows.

 

[partydoc]

I read this quote somewhere, and if my memory serves me correct it was written by a PD.

"If you would rather be in the OR than any other place in the world, go into surgery. If you like the OR better than any other place in the hospital, go into anesthesiology."

 

[gasblaster]

I read this quote somewhere, and if my memory serves me correct it was written by a PD.

"If you would rather be in the OR than any other place in the world, go into surgery. If you like the OR better than any other place in the hospital, go into anesthesiology."

Love it.

 

[Reciprocity79]

I read this quote somewhere, and if my memory serves me correct it was written by a PD.

"If you would rather be in the OR than any other place in the world, go into surgery. If you like the OR better than any other place in the hospital, go into anesthesiology."

A thousand times this.

 

[Ronin786]

I read this quote somewhere, and if my memory serves me correct it was written by a PD.

"If you would rather be in the OR than any other place in the world, go into surgery. If you like the OR better than any other place in the hospital, go into anesthesiology."

Great quote. After reading more about the types of procedures done by Anesthesiologists, especially those in Pain management, I've definitely grown more comfortable with the "cutting" idea. Seems like it mixes the best of being in the OR without the headaches of Surgery.

Now just got to hope I can match into a decent program 😉

 

[gasflea]

Awesome quote!

I had the same feelings... As a medical student I was REALLY gung-ho about neurosurgery for about 3 years, then realized there were other places in the world (like home) that I liked more than the OR. I was really confused right before ERAS apps were due. I chose to go into IM because I would learn good medicine, have sub-specialty opportunities, and also because I knew that a medicine background would serve me well even if I ever switched into something else later.

2.4 years later (yes, counting down!), I do really miss the action of the doing specialties. I don't think I was born to be a flea. I decided to switch into anesthesia for many reasons. Part of that decision was a need for more action - crashing patients, tough intubations, minute to minute phys/pharm, etc. And all the other procedures that go with Anesthesia.

I am pretty sure that my need for action will be satisfied, as well as my need for Medicine. And I should still have a decent lifestyle...

 

[G-Man82]

I read this quote somewhere, and if my memory serves me correct it was written by a PD.

"If you would rather be in the OR than any other place in the world, go into surgery. If you like the OR better than any other place in the hospital, go into anesthesiology."

I don't remember where that quote comes from either, but I use it for some of the medical students who rotate through the specialty, either electively, required, or if they just peek over the drapes during their surgery rotation. It's 100% true. I hated my surgery rotation, but I loved my anesthesiology rotation. During anesthesiology, the OR was no longer this evil, windowless room where I had to retract for 3 hours worth of lysis of adhesions. Now, I like the ICU too, and am 99% sure that I will apply for a fellowship, but irregardless, when choosing a foundation specialty, it's still true.

 

[imfrankie]

"regardless"