How do I rock my 2-week ENT elective?

[bomgd3]

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Hey everyone,
I'm very interested in ENT as a career. I'm finishing up my first MS3 rotation, outpatient pediatrics, and will be moving onto a two week ENT elective soon. Since it's such a short rotation, I really want to hit the ground running. I was wondering if you guys had any tips on how to do well, stand out, and also if you had any book recommendations.

I've found Pasha to be highly recommended on this forum, but my library for some reason does not have a copy. Is Lalwani's Otolaryngology a good alternative? The Amazon reviews are confusing because the 2nd edition has excellent reviews, while the 3rd edition has mediocre ratings. I was also thinking of reviewing Grey's Anatomy for head and neck, maybe spending a whole day to read the chapter.

I don't know anyone else in my class who is interested in ENT, so nobody to really go to for advice. I'd hugely appreciate any help you all could provide!

 

[AngkorWuT]

Hey everyone,
I'm very interested in ENT as a career. I'm finishing up my first MS3 rotation, outpatient pediatrics, and will be moving onto a two week ENT elective soon. Since it's such a short rotation, I really want to hit the ground running. I was wondering if you guys had any tips on how to do well, stand out, and book recommendations.

I've found Pasha to be highly recommended on this forum, but my library for some reason does not have a copy. Is Lalwani's Otolaryngology a good alternative? The Amazon reviews are confusing because the 2nd edition has excellent reviews, while the 3rd edition has mediocre ratings. I was also thinking of reviewing Grey's Anatomy for head and neck, maybe spending a whole day to read the chapter.

I don't know anyone else in my class who is interested in ENT, so nobody to really go to for advice. I'd hugely appreciate any help you all could provide!

Lots of threads on this forum about this already. For a 2 weeker, just use ENT secrets and have a good atlas (Netters, Jafanza, Lore and Medina) whatever or even just google and wikipedia.

For your 4th year sub-i, I'd recommend Myers Operative Oto, atlas and selected portions of Bailey's to supplement what you saw in clinic or what operation/pathology you saw or will see.

 

[bomgd3]

Lots of threads on this forum about this already. For a 2 weeker, just use ENT secrets and have a good atlas (Netters, Jafanza, Lore and Medina) whatever or even just google and wikipedia.

For your 4th year sub-i, I'd recommend Myers Operative Oto, atlas and selected portions of Bailey's to supplement what you saw in clinic or what operation/pathology you saw or will see.

Thanks--just ordered a 2e ENT Secrets. I searched "elective" on the forum and didn't find too much.

 

[nordr]

Your 3rd year rotation is not going to be hugely important in the overall scheme of you matching into ENT. Your performance during you 4th year SubI will determine that. For a two week rotation during your 3rd year there are a few things you should do to show up prepared. First contact the chief of your service beforehand to introduce yourself. Make sure you have access to your hospital's EMR if applicable. You will look unprepared if someone asks you to help out with a simple task but you can't because you can't access the computer. Then ask for a copy of the surgery schedule in advance if possible. It would be nice to narrow down the things you will be reading for. 90% of your time is going to be in the OR. You will impress people by being interested and knowing the very basics of what is going on. E.g. surgical indications, relevant work-up and anatomy. No one will expect you to know all the anatomy your 3rd year but for instance if you are doing a thyroidectomy you should know about the recurrent nerve and why it is important. Ask questions in the OR and don't wait for people to call on you. You may be given the opportunity to close a superficial wound. At the very least you must know how to tie.

To study for anatomy you should just know the foundation but know it cold. Much of pimping consists of an attending pointing to something and asking you to identify it. Step 1 is to categorize it. 90% of the time it will be an artery, vein or nerve.

Artery: Almost will definitely be the ICA, ECA, branch of the ECA or branch of the thyrocervical trunk. Focus on knowing those.
Vein: know about the IJ and EJ, retromandibular vein, facial vein.
Nerve: Cranial nerves!! Especially the facial nerve and recurrent laryngeal nerve.

Lanwali is one of the best basic texts in my opinion.

Aside from all of this show up early and ready to help out and be friendly and easy to get along with. Good luck!

 

[AngkorWuT]

I think the other point of a 2 weeker is to start making yourself known to the attendings and residents in the department, aka a 2 week social. You'd like to be at the point where by the time you start your sub-i, most people have a vague recollection of your name and the fact that you showed interest as a M3.

 

[bomgd3]

THANKS! These things are exactly what I've been wondering. Internal medicine --> cardiology is another path I'm interested in. Hopefully these next few weeks will bring some clarity as to whether I want to be in the OR or not.

 

[resxn]

OK, this is a list if you really want to be a gunner, rock this rotation, and standout, even though this isn't your biggest audition, the SubI is.

1 - Be prepared
a - inpts--know their vitals, their labs, their radiology, overnight issues, physical exam findings, etc. Know it so that the residents and/or attendings don't have to look it up.
b - clinic--volunteer to do anything and everything you can but not to the point you are an annoying puppy dog. Read ENT secrets as much as possible and know cold: sinusitis, otitis media and externa, tonsillitis, and the work up of a neck mass in peds and adults before you arrive on your first day.
c - surgery--know the anatomy. as above, know the carotid system, the cranial nerves, and I would add muscles. Know what innervates what and what feeds what. Know the indications for the surgery.

2 - Attitude
a - it's difficult to balance demonstrating ridiculous enthusiasm without being annoying. It's far harder for some personalities than others, but you need to figure out how to do that. It requires reading your attendings and residents. It requires knowing your own quirks and what you do that annoys others. It requires knowing when to offer answers, knowledge, or information and knowing when to STFU. If you're like most ENT applicants, you're paperwork will not set you apart, it will only make sure that you pass the minimal qualifications. Once you've crossed a particular threshold what sets you apart is not the one extra pub you had, it's how enjoyable you are to be around and to work with.