Specialty with the most work/procedures/learning?

[Cheisu]

Which specialty has the widest variety of surgeries they do/amount of work/learning required? Would it be cardiothoracics?

---

Members don't see this ad.

 

[SocialistMD]

Probably not. Cardiac guys do
1. CAB
2. valve work
3. TAA
4. Maze (maybe)
5. Transplant

Then the thoracic guys do
1. Lung rsxn
2. Esophagus
3. Transplant
4. Decortications, other small lung stuff

Most typically operate the same number or fewer days compared to general surgeons. I'd argue there are the same number of equally difficult procedures performed by urologists, ophthamologists, general surgeons, GYN oncologists, ENTs, neurosurgeons (especially ophthamologists, ENTs and neurosurgeons when you want to talk about complexity of the cases) that can be equally or more rewarding depending on your perspective. I'd also say that general surgeons hands down have the cardiothoracic guys beat when it comes to amount of work available.

At your stage in the game, you have ample time to shadow each different type of surgeon/surgical subspecialist, so just start with the "A's" in the phone book.

 

[Blade28]

Would it be cardiothoracics?

You speak like you've been to the Brigham!

 

[bailey39]

why the brigham? Although I've heard they have a great thoracics dept.

 

[Cheisu]

You speak like you've been to the Brigham!

I don't get it...

Probably not. Cardiac guys do
1. CAB
2. valve work
3. TAA
4. Maze (maybe)
5. Transplant

Then the thoracic guys do
1. Lung rsxn
2. Esophagus
3. Transplant
4. Decortications, other small lung stuff

Most typically operate the same number or fewer days compared to general surgeons. I'd argue there are the same number of equally difficult procedures performed by urologists, ophthamologists, general surgeons, GYN oncologists, ENTs, neurosurgeons (especially ophthamologists, ENTs and neurosurgeons when you want to talk about complexity of the cases) that can be equally or more rewarding depending on your perspective. I'd also say that general surgeons hands down have the cardiothoracic guys beat when it comes to amount of work available.

At your stage in the game, you have ample time to shadow each different type of surgeon/surgical subspecialist, so just start with the "A's" in the phone book.

My stage in the game, is a sophomore in High School lol

 

[Blade28]

At the Brigham, their split CT Surg fellowship is called "Thoracics" and "Cardiothoracics" (or just "Cardiac").

Everyone else just calls it "Thoracic" and "Cardiothoracic" (or "Cardiac").

why the brigham? Although I've heard they have a great thoracics dept.

They do; tough department head though (Sugarbaker).

 

[Cheisu]

At the Brigham, their split CT Surg fellowship is called "Thoracics" and "Cardiothoracics" (or just "Cardiac").

Everyone else just calls it "Thoracic" and "Cardiothoracic" (or "Cardiac").



They do; tough department head though (Sugarbaker).

lol I heard that from dr. yang (grey's anatomy is just an entertainment show, i realize they show the rarest/most exciting procedures)

 

[Blade28]

lol I heard that from dr. yang (grey's anatomy is just an entertainment show, i realize they show the rarest/most exciting procedures)

Please don't get your medical knowledge from Grey's Anatomy (or House, Scrubs, ER, etc.)!

 

[SocialistMD]

My stage in the game, is a sophomore in High School lol

I know...

 

[Cheisu]

Please don't get your medical knowledge from Grey's Anatomy (or House, Scrubs, ER, etc.)!

Trust me, I don't. I only watch GA, and I realize that it is not the most accurate show, even though their medical adviser is an MD.

 

[Blade28]

Trust me, I don't. I only watch GA, and I realize that it is not the most accurate show, even though their medical adviser is an MD.

Doesn't matter. Any surgical resident/fellow/attending who watches that show can give you a LONG list of errors.

I think shows like ER, House, etc. have advisors too. Doesn't necessarily mean anything!

 

[Cheisu]

Doesn't matter. Any surgical resident/fellow/attending who watches that show can give you a LONG list of errors.

I think shows like ER, House, etc. have advisors too. Doesn't necessarily mean anything!

What are some errors in GA?

 

[latinfridley]

What are some errors in GA?

The social interactions, the ridiculous lack of ethical/legal enforcement, the fact that the interns last year were operating and doing complex procedures, the lack of paperwork/scut, the late time they arrive in the mornings to the hospital, etc... etc....
TV shows in terms of believable medical atmospheres:
Scrubs > ER > Grays > House

Just remember, they are for entertainment only; the DO NOT represent medicine in real life.

 

[Cheisu]

TV shows in terms of believable medical atmospheres:
Scrubs > ER > Grays > House
[/quote]
With scrubs being the least believable, and House being the most? I figured ER would be a bit more realistic than House.

 

[NDESTRUKT]

Cheisu,

Are you kidding me? Scrubs is the most believable in terms of the frustrations and "stories" of residency and post residency. The stories are all based off true stories - though extremely exagerated. It's basically like The Office is for people working in the cubicles. ER isn't that bad, it's pretty cool except few ERs are THAT busy. I've never seen people do surgery in the OR. They do, however, chest tubes and other small surgical procedures that are accurate.
House is pretty accurate in terms of disease management and problem solving though of course things are exagerated. Grey's Anatomy is the least believable. The whole interaction thing is incorrect, and all it does is glorify surgery without showing you the "in the trenches" horrible things that drive many many med students away from surgery. Their description of diseases is often incorrect too.

Bottom line - if your impression of surgery is based off these things, you're in for the disappointment of your life.

 

[Blade28]

With scrubs being the least believable, and House being the most? I figured ER would be a bit more realistic than House.

You have it backwards. Scrubs is most believable.

Don't forget that many of the procedures you see done in ER are actually done by Trauma Surgery, not ER.

 

[Cheisu]

I've never seen people do surgery in the OR.

Be very careful with the Os and Es!

Cheisu,

Are you kidding me? Scrubs is the most believable in terms of the frustrations and "stories" of residency and post residency. The stories are all based off true stories - though extremely exagerated. It's basically like The Office is for people working in the cubicles. ER isn't that bad, it's pretty cool except few ERs are THAT busy. I've never seen people do surgery in the OR. They do, however, chest tubes and other small surgical procedures that are accurate.
House is pretty accurate in terms of disease management and problem solving though of course things are exagerated. Grey's Anatomy is the least believable. The whole interaction thing is incorrect, and all it does is glorify surgery without showing you the "in the trenches" horrible things that drive many many med students away from surgery. Their description of diseases is often incorrect too.

Bottom line - if your impression of surgery is based off these things, you're in for the disappointment of your life.

I don't base my want to go into medicine off of Grey's (come on, you gotta be kidding...). I've read books, seen actual procedures done, seen actual doctors, I am in a hospital every week, read medical books and medicine fascinates me. Grey's just makes it really exciting. It's purely for entertainment, though.

 

[Cheisu]

.

 

[bailey39]

I would say that Grey's anatomy seems to represent surgery about as well as Saved by the Bell represents high school.

 

[Cheisu]

I would say that Grey's anatomy seems to represent surgery about as well as Saved by the Bell represents high school.

I've never seen Saved by the Bell... o.o

 

[smq123]

I've never seen Saved by the Bell... o.o

I'm not a huge fan of the show, but - come on. Not even one episode?

(Oh, I forgot. You're 16. Never mind.)

 

[Blade28]

I'm not a huge fan of the show, but - come on. Not even one episode?

(Oh, I forgot. You're 16. Never mind.)

Saved by the Bell ended in 1993. He was 2 years old then.

 

[Winged Scapula]

Saved by the Bell ended in 1993. He was 2 years old then.

Its on TBS in reruns.

 

[bailey39]

Ok, so maybe not the best comparison...

 

[Cheisu]

.

 

[Cheisu]

Kind of off topic, but do you guys think I would ever be able to perform an open appy in the future?

 

[Winged Scapula]

Kind of off topic, but do you guys think I would ever be able to perform an open appy in the future?

Assuming you graduate from college, medical school and get into a surgical residency, yes. As I stated in another post, I am finding it hard to believe that procedures will all become laparoscopic without knowledge of how to do the corresponding open procedure.

What happens if you don't have good exposure laparoscopically, if you injure an organ, etc.? You have to be able to do both open and lap procedures, IMHO.

 

[Blade28]

What happens if you don't have good exposure laparoscopically, if you injure an organ, etc.? You have to be able to do both open and lap procedures, IMHO.

Exactly.

Same reason we can't do VATS-lobes on all patients needing a lobe whacked out for lung CA. You have to be able to do a thoracotomy sometimes.