Preparing for Surgery

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Hello I'm a first year resident starting out on podiatry service. I was wondering how the other residents are preparing for surgery. I've heard from other residents that reading McGlammery and watching surgeries on Youtube is a great way to prepare for surgery the next day. Anyone else do anything differently?

 

[ldsrmdude]

Hello I'm a first year resident starting out on podiatry service. I was wondering how the other residents are preparing for surgery. I've heard from other residents that reading McGlammery and watching surgeries on Youtube is a great way to prepare for surgery the next day. Anyone else do anything differently?

Congrats on starting residency. I can only comment on my experience this past year as a new resident. I personally prefer reading a more step-by-step book the day before a surgery such as Chang or Easley. I used Coughlin and Mann more than McGlamrys personally, and I used those for more background and in depth type stuff. I think the videos are a pretty good idea if the videos are decent quality.

 

[dtrack22]

I personally prefer reading a more step-by-step book the day before a surgery such as Chang or Easley.

Hasn't failed me yet. Much better text than Chang. Indications, C/I, Pimp questions, step by step instructions, post op protocols, etc. The few times I've been allowed to do parts of, up to a majority of a procedure as a student, reading Easley the night before has been a big help. Really only second to seeing the case done before by the resident/attending (so a video if you can find one of the same procedure you'll be doing).

 

[PMSIII]

Hasn't failed me yet. Much better text than Chang. Indications, C/I, Pimp questions, step by step instructions, post op protocols, etc. The few times I've been allowed to do parts of, up to a majority of a procedure as a student, reading Easley the night before has been a big help. Really only second to seeing the case done before by the resident/attending (so a video if you can find one of the same procedure you'll be doing).

Good topic -

McGlammry's and Coughlin/Mann are great texts for references and fundamentals. I am a fan of Easley's text but I often refer to Sig Hansen's foot/ankle surgery text.

Here's my take on this topic - I think preparation for cases is a must and the first step is always contacting the attending prior to the day of the surgery (not the morning of and not in the locker room). The only exception would be if the case was added the day of, but even then, you should make an effort to call the attending first. If you have some time, I'd even recommend going to the attending's office to review the radiographs, charts, MRI, etc. Go in with a game plan and show up prepared.

How do you prepare for your cases? Use different sources/approaches:

1) Textbooks - The aforementioned textbooks are great. I think you should approach tm from two prespectives:

a) Theoretical - understanding the principles, basics, and art of surgery.
b) Practical - Surgical anatomy, different approaches, techniques

2) Journal articles - Personally, I like variety because I read articles by topics not by Journal. JFAS -> great Podiatric-based source, FAI -> Great F/A journal in general. Other journals - Clinics of Pod Med and Surg, Clin Orthop Rel Research, JBJS, JAPMA, JAAOS, Plastics journals. Types of articles to use for cases:

a) Case studies - Great theories, concepts - I recommend using JFAS, FAI for those.
b) Techniques - Those are great sources and you'll find them more in Techniques in Foot and ankle surgery, JFAS. They go in to details of approaches as well.
c) EBM - More reliable levels of evidence -> They typically don't go into approaches but more for background information.

3) Bone saw workshops - This can be arranged with the help of industry reps and there's no reason why you can't have that set up on a quarterly basis at least.

4) Cadaver dissections - Probably the best resource from a practical basis - You'll find this resource again available through industry or if it is through your own hospital resource.

Hope this helps

 

[ldsrmdude]

Good topic -

McGlammry's and Coughlin/Mann are great texts for references and fundamentals. I am a fan of Easley's text but I often refer to Sig Hansen's foot/ankle surgery text.

Here's my take on this topic - I think preparation for cases is a must and the first step is always contacting the attending prior to the day of the surgery (not the morning of and not in the locker room). The only exception would be if the case was added the day of, but even then, you should make an effort to call the attending first. If you have some time, I'd even recommend going to the attending's office to review the radiographs, charts, MRI, etc. Go in with a game plan and show up prepared.

How do you prepare for your cases? Use different sources/approaches:

1) Textbooks - The aforementioned textbooks are great. I think you should approach tm from two prespectives:

a) Theoretical - understanding the principles, basics, and art of surgery.
b) Practical - Surgical anatomy, different approaches, techniques

2) Journal articles - Personally, I like variety because I read articles by topics not by Journal. JFAS -> great Podiatric-based source, FAI -> Great F/A journal in general. Other journals - Clinics of Pod Med and Surg, Clin Orthop Rel Research, JBJS, JAPMA, JAAOS, Plastics journals. Types of articles to use for cases:

a) Case studies - Great theories, concepts - I recommend using JFAS, FAI for those.
b) Techniques - Those are great sources and you'll find them more in Techniques in Foot and ankle surgery, JFAS. They go in to details of approaches as well.
c) EBM - More reliable levels of evidence -> They typically don't go into approaches but more for background information.

3) Bone saw workshops - This can be arranged with the help of industry reps and there's no reason why you can't have that set up on a quarterly basis at least.

4) Cadaver dissections - Probably the best resource from a practical basis - You'll find this resource again available through industry or if it is through your own hospital resource.

Hope this helps

Great advice. I've found attendings really appreciate it when you show up to a case prepared. It's a great way to show an attending that they can trust you. If they trust you, they'll probably let you do more in the case than if you show up unprepared.

 

[txlioness]

I don't know why I haven't heard of the book by Easley. But I ordered it & just received it today. It is AWESOME! I def like it better than Chang. This will be a big help before going into the OR 👍

I really hope to get my own copy of McCoughin & Mann...save the pennies.

 

[ldsrmdude]

I don't know why I haven't heard of the book by Easley. But I ordered it & just received it today. It is AWESOME! I def like it better than Chang. This will be a big help before going into the OR 👍

I really hope to get my own copy of McCoughin & Mann...save the pennies.

You can get all of the books you mentioned through the Synthes Resident website, if you participate in that. I know not all programs can participate in it. That's how I got Easley. Makes saving the pennies easy 😀

 

[txlioness]

unfortunately I am at a program that doesn't participate 🙁

 

[dtrack22]

Does the program as a whole have to do something special to participate? I thought you just needed a synthes rep to start the process, or is not having a rep/using their products the reasons some programs can't enroll?

 

[ldsrmdude]

Does the program as a whole have to do something special to participate? I thought you just needed a synthes rep to start the process, or is not having a rep/using their products the reasons some programs can't enroll?

I can't speak for txlioness, but I don't think VA programs can participate. Every time you open up the resident store on the website it gives a disclaimer that includes something about VA hospitals only allowing employees things less than 50 bucks a year.