How do you cope with complications?!

[eyestar]

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Ok. Had a tough case-complication. Psychologically how do you guys cope with it?
Move on... Its very demoralizing. Got another case tomorrow. Just thinking about it constantly.
Advice from practicing surgeons appreciated.

 

[taehong81]

Ok. Had a tough case-complication. Psychologically how do you guys cope with it?
Move on... Its very demoralizing. Got another case tomorrow. Just thinking about it constantly.
Advice from practicing surgeons appreciated.

Sorry to hear about your tough case. Hang in there. Every surgeon has those days where they want to forget. You play those cases over and over again in your head and beat yourself up for it. But remember we mostly remember those bad cases but forgot all the successful cases where we made a big impact in our patients lives. The work we do help return vision to the lives of others. So don't beat too hard on yourself. Also time helps heal the pains of being a surgeon. Remember also to be honest with your patient and their family as you take care of them post operatively. The best thing you can do is learn from it so that you can avoid it next time. I have practicing for two years now and I still videotape all my cases so I can review my cases and complications.

Learn to move on and refocus as you have more patients to help!

 

[MstaKing10]

Great advice taehong. The only surgeon that will never have complications is the one that never operates!! Ophthalmology is a very humbling profession and the moment you think you have it "figured out" you will quickly realize that you don't. This will keep you honest, working hard and learning for the rest of your career. Learn from your mistake and move forward. ALL surgeons have complications. What sets the best apart is how they deal with them, learn from them and avoid them in the future.

 

[Dusn]

You're right -- it's very demoralizing. From an emotional perspective, I don't know how you deal with it; especially when the patient is very upset as well. It makes you nervous about every case and it weighs on your mind in the evenings and the weekends when the last thing you want to think about is stresses from work. I don't remember most of my good outcomes but I can recall every bad outcome since the beginning of residency.

Meditating and learning to focus on the present moment may help -- but I know that's easier said that done. Also, know that this happens to everyone.

In terms of dealing with the patient, do not ignore them. You may be tempted to because seeing them just continually reminds you of the situation and frustration. But keep checking up on them and talking to them. It may not make you feel better but hopefully it'll help the patient a little bit.

 

[JMK2005]

i've been there too. i had a stretch of some difficult cases. don't beat yourself up too much. try to figure out what happened and you'll be a better surgeon for that.

i echo the others comments keep the patient in involved and informed. most patients understand complications occur. what they care more about is that you will take care of the problem and in the end things will turn out the best that it could be.

 

[eyestar]

Great points. The ones that bother you the most are the elective/not so urgent cases where the patient decides to have it done-Va drops from 20/50 to HM due to unexpected complication.