Surgery Arcade

After finishing rounds and writing countless orders on our patients, my resident took me to the holiest of holy places for the surgery residents, the Simulation Lab. Only surgery residents are allowed in to practice laparascopic skills and techniques in this roomful of arcade-like games. I felt as if I should take my shoes off before entering.

So, he described to me the different laparoscopic "games" including dropping a bean into a cup, running the "bowel" (which is actually a rope), and the ultimate challenge loading a needle, suturing, and tying, all laparascopically. And, yes, I went for the granddaddy of all challenges.

Surprisingly enough, I owned it. Within 20 minutes, I had finished a knot from start to finish. This is something that 3rd year surgery residents still have trouble with. Now, I realize that this was mostly beginner's luck (because it then took me another 40 to merely throw a second knot without all the suturing), but hey, at this point in my career, I'll take luck.