Has anybody gotten to witness a surgery?

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#1 Post by **chicago29** » Sat Sep 25, 2010 10:13 am

Hi,

I was wondering if anybody has actually gotten to witness an actual surgery - live and in person?

I casually said something to my OS about wanting to do this, and he said once I'm all healed up and everything that sometime in 2011 he'd get it set up so I could actually WATCH an entire surgery.

I'm really psyched! Of course, I would never do this prior to surgery and he explicitly said no way until I'm healed, but how cool is this??!!

Thanks
Chicago29

#2 Post by **BaliGirl** » Sat Sep 25, 2010 3:00 pm

Very cool indeed!

I watched some surgeries on youtube but it would be waaaaay better to see one in person.

#3 Post by **VikingGirl** » Sat Sep 25, 2010 4:47 pm

Saw it on youtube and read this blog where the former patient got to watch it

Do it! It's so cool! Would love to see it myself

#4 Post by **iBorg** » Tue Sep 28, 2010 10:01 pm

Not sure if I would. I saw part of a surgery on the 'net prior to surgery. I knew if I watched much more I'd bailed out on it.

Mike

#5 Post by **lfwood** » Wed Sep 29, 2010 3:42 am

One of my surgeons assistants watched my surgery and talked about it excitedly to me when I next saw her. Made me feel very secure with my choice of surgeons and positive about my recovery because my surgery went so well.

Definately not something I could witness and once I was told the basics about what the surgery invovled I didn't want to know anything further about it really.

#6 Post by **chicago29** » Wed Sep 29, 2010 6:06 am

Just a reminder, this would happen well after I've recovered. Under no circumstance would I consider this PRIOR to surgery. And, I can't imagine any surgeon in their right frame of mind would let a patient do this BEFORE their own surgery.

I've heard of those videos on YouTube and I've purposely avoided them. I know exactly how these surgeries work, so I've personally avoided all the gore. However, I do admit that once I'm healed, my curiosity is going to peak and I'm going to want to see one in action. Maybe I'm crazy

-Chicago29

#7 Post by **Marisama** » Wed Sep 29, 2010 7:44 am

Chicago, you said exactly what I was going to reply. I avoid the online videos like the plague! I know that if I saw a surgery, I'd chicken out. After my surgery, I'm sure I wouldn't mind watching one. So no, you're not crazy.

#8 Post by **cvn** » Wed Sep 29, 2010 10:40 am

I'd be pretty unhappy if someone not associated with the surgical team watched my surgery without my knowledge. Seems like a privacy violation and pretty shaky territory ethically. Are they going to have you sign a release and have the patient sign a release so you can watch? I'm genuinely curious as I signed releases for all the visiting doctors who observed on my case and they were legitimate medical personnel.

#9 Post by **Marisama** » Wed Sep 29, 2010 10:44 am

Good point cvn. I guess I wouldn't want people gawking at my surgery come to think of it.

#10 Post by **iBorg** » Wed Sep 29, 2010 10:57 am

Knowing what I'm seeing WAS done to me, I'd be afraid my puke would cause a problem for the surgical team. The operating room so much smaller than the ones I'd seen on TV. Although you've got me curious, I'll have to go to Youtube and see if I can find it. Halloween is coming and I'm sure it beats most slasher flicks.

Mike

#11 Post by **chicago29** » Wed Sep 29, 2010 12:25 pm

cvn...I think that's a fair point. I honestly don't know how that would be handled. My guess is that I wouldn't know the first thing about the patient, or the patient would be advised that I would be in the OR and I would need their permission.

That being said, I had a medical student in my surgery. I actually met him right before I went into the OR. I guess that's different than a non-medical person such as myself, but personally I wouldn't care who was in the OR as long as they weren't doing anything to me...

I really don't know how this works...All that I can picture is like the Seinfeld episode with the Junior Mint

I don't know if there is a "theatre" area or what.

#12 Post by **caschill** » Thu Sep 30, 2010 5:48 am

Hey Chicago,

For everyone that is curious, this blog was done by a nursing student that had surgery and later was able to view one. Pretty interesting, but still not something to read if you think it will upset you before your surgery time comes.

http://sjpjawsurgery.blogspot.com/searc ... -results=7

#13 Post by **iBorg** » Thu Sep 30, 2010 3:53 pm

I read this but unfortunately she didn't finish it. Funniest thing is I'm 99.99% sure she had the same surgeon as I did. Let's see surgery at University of Kentucky and surgeon's initials are V.S. Pretty sure I know that gentleman. He's seen me in ways I hope no one else has.

Mike