Big Teams = Shorter Operations

Just a quick note. We had an ISAF casulty come in the other day with pretty bad injuries to all extremities and to the face.
The picture tells the story. There are 10 surgeons working on this one patient. Truly amazing. An no one is fighting lol.  Two ortho on each leg. Two on each arm and two on the face. And don't forget that essentially two OR Techs are taking care of those 10 surgeons on 5 different parts of the body. What this does is allow for a pretty definitive first operation in the minimal amount of time. I would like to see that happen back at home????"? BTW I am sitting on the left working on the right hand with the Ortho Reg.

Moving on UP

We have just moved in to Tier 2 housing (luxury condos???)..which has kept us pretty busy with all else that has happened. Def a step up from 10 man tents but still not home

British Vigil

We just had a Vigil for 5 Brits killed within a week. It has been a very tuff week for the Brits.  The service is....I don't know the word...impressive and moving...I wish I could show a picture but for obvious reasons can't. The whole of Bastion assembles in the Parade Square to honor them (I can't even estimate how many that is).  I think in many ways it is harder for the Brits when they lose someone...since in a much smaller population it seems to effect more. Americans. Brits, Danes, or any ISAF, whoever it always seems hard when one of these young men dies.

Surgeon Generals Day

So yesterday we had visits from not one...but...3 surgeon generals!!! and all the support staff. One from the Army, Navy, and Air Force. When you finished counting all the "STARS" (generals, admirals have stars for rank) there was a reported count of like 18 total (surgeon generals are 3 star). It was..well kind of a zoo...
Fortunately I was in the OR with a good portion of the OR staff and surgeons working on an injured casualty. When the SGs and all their staff came into the OR they saw the scene in the pic. Basically there were 7 surgeons and all the support staff working on this one patient.  It was pretty impressive.

The best part of their visit though was when the whole "troop" went to the ITU and visited a pretty injured US Marine. He had recently been extubated and was sleeping and was gently woken only to see a "sea" of generals and admirals..i am pretty sure under his breath he said "holy shit"...but can't totally confirm it. Each admiral/general gave him their "coin" (long story to explain that tradition but suffice it to say in the average Sailor/Marine's life time it would be pretty lucky to get one of those coins). It was pretty nice, and it definitely boosted the morale of this one marine. For that alone I count the visit as worthwhile

Pancake Day

Ok so yes...Yesterday was Pancake day.  Long story but the jest of it is one of the Drs ordered a griddle and we got some pancake mix, some dried blueberries and strawberries and FRESH EGGS and made some really awesome pancakes...sometimes it is just the little things!

Rain = Mud

It has been pouring rain all day today...and I thought it was the desert. And of course...all that rain just makes it one big mud pile out here.  It has keep the activity low though which is a good thing I guess

Multi Team Approch

What is very amazing about the surgery on these multi injured casualties is that there is usually 3 or more surgical "teams" working on the patient at the same time. You can have 2-3 general surgeons working in the abdomen, 4 ortho surgeons working on the lower extremities and the plastic surgeon working on the face or upper extremity.  The scrub tech definitely works FULL time.  Sometimes we have two scrub techs. It can get pretty crowded around the table so if you are into "YOUR SPACE" well you are out of luck

Pic shows ortho team and general surgery team working. Upper extremity has already been completed.

The Dr Team Part II: The General/Trauma Surgeons

Ok so this is the MOST IMPORTANT part of the team...just kidding..had to say that since I fall into this group.  We have usually 5 general/trauma surgeons as part of the group and it seems to work fairly well with that number.  Arranged in teams of 2, with the first time taking primary casualties and if more than one it goes to team two.  Currently we have 6 general surgeons getting one from the US marine side of things.  The Brit surgeon is usually here for 7-8 weeks then rotates out.  Navy surgeons are here for 6-7 months (yes our det has the honor of the 7 month rotation)

Pic is of surgeons at start of my stay. The 3 Gibleteers as we are know in the Army uniforms on the outside. The OIC of the Navy det, and one of the Marine surgeons on "loan" to Bastion. Brit is second from left.

Some of the "Team": The Plastic Surgeon

One of the Team Members here at Bastion is a Plastic Surgeon, a Brit. You might think why the heck a plastic surgeon. in fact the plastic surgeon here is probably the busiest of all the surgeons.  He operates on almost all the cases that come in...does the eye stuff, all the upper extremity injuries esp forearm and hand (this can be SO important for casualties that have lost lower extremities ie: for rehab) and all face: fractures, and especially facial wounds.  And he seems to help out on a bunch of other areas too whenever he is free! So no there shouldn't be a plastic surgeon here, the probably should be two! Pic is of plastic surgeon (on left) repairing facial injuries on one of the casualties.

Whats a Hero?

How do you define HERO: Yesterday was again bad day for the 3/5 and its support. 4 casualties two very bad. But that is not the story. The Corpsman (Navy Medic) with them also got hit by the IED and pretty badly injured with frags and a concussion. But STILL managed to get to his injured and place tourniquets on them saving their lives.

Rain in the Desert

Well yes..it rained..and I mean it rained all day. The end result is well....MUD.  Somehow I don't think this rain is going to make for alot of green grass and flowers.  Pic is of part of the "crew" heading to mess today in the rain.