Skip to content
  • About
  • Contact
  • Contribute
  • Book
  • Careers
  • Podcast
  • Recommended
  • Speaking
  • All
  • Physician
  • Practice
  • Policy
  • Finance
  • Conditions
  • .edu
  • Patient
  • Meds
  • Tech
  • Social
  • Video
    • All
    • Physician
    • Practice
    • Policy
    • Finance
    • Conditions
    • .edu
    • Patient
    • Meds
    • Tech
    • Social
    • Video
    • About
    • Contact
    • Contribute
    • Book
    • Careers
    • Podcast
    • Recommended
    • Speaking

In the OR during an appendectomy, an unexpected visitor

Jim deMaine, MD
Physician
October 8, 2012
Share
Tweet
Share

It was Trevor’s first weekend to relax since moving to Seattle.  He was out in a park walking Bailey, his year old lab, when his pager unexpectedly beeped.  He called in to the operating room office, where the frantic head nurse told him he had to come in.  The scheduled anesthesiologist was very ill with the flu, and no one else was available.  He had to come in for at least two cases, perhaps more.

Trevor pleaded, “Can’t you find anyone else, it’s my first weekend off, and I doubt if I can find anyone to watch Bailey.”

“Sorry, we need you – now!”, came the curt reply.

Trevor called his only friend so far but got no reply.  He hadn’t had much contact with neighbors yet, so didn’t think he could ask them to take care of Bailey.  So having no other choice, he packed Bailey along with water and dog food into his Subaru hoping that Bailey wouldn’t mind hanging out in the car.

Bailey barked annoyingly as Trevor parked the car in the shade, cracked the windows a bit, and headed for the OR.  The case was easy and lasted about an hour.  Trevor headed quickly out to the car finding Bailey trying to dismantle it.  There were scratch marks on the door and a tear in the seat cover.  This just wasn’t working.

So Trevor walked Bailey, now happy around to the back of the hospital, entered the service entrance and took the back service elevator which came up just outside the anesthesia call room.  He stayed with Bailey making sure he had water and food and a comfortable pillow, then was called in for the next case.  Bailey seemed content to wait for him.

The case was an appendectomy.  The patient was anesthetized in the usual fashion and Trevor settled in to watch the monitors and patient while the surgeon went to work.  Strangely he felt pressure and a cold wet sensation on his left leg.  Looking down with dread he saw Bailey looking up with a happy face and wagging tail.  The OR nurse screeched, “Where in the hell did that dog come from?  Get him out of here.”

The surgeon didn’t miss a beat, “At least give him a mask and dog booties.”

The patient, of course, was peacefully oblivious.

The dog was watched by security, who cared for him until Trevor could leave, red faced and worried about repercussions.  I’m happy to report that the unsuspecting patient did well, Trevor kept his job, and that Bailey probably wondered what the fuss was all about.

Of course the  hospital administrators had their fur ruffled, but were happy that no one leaked the story to the press.

Jim deMaine is a pulmonary physician who blogs at End of Life – thoughts from an MD.

Prev

What if the patient’s choice is frustratingly ill advised?

October 7, 2012 Kevin 7
…
Next

Watch team based primary care in action

October 8, 2012 Kevin 3
…

ADVERTISEMENT

Tagged as: Surgery

Post navigation

< Previous Post
What if the patient’s choice is frustratingly ill advised?
Next Post >
Watch team based primary care in action

ADVERTISEMENT

More by Jim deMaine, MD

  • When “do no harm” is no longer textbook

    Jim deMaine, MD
  • a desk with keyboard and ipad with the kevinmd logo

    Ezekiel Emanuel’s wrong ethical view of aging

    Jim deMaine, MD
  • a desk with keyboard and ipad with the kevinmd logo

    Brittany Maynard: It’s more than death with dignity

    Jim deMaine, MD

More in Physician

  • The shocking risk every smart student faces when applying to medical school

    Curtis G. Graham, MD
  • The physician who turned burnout into a mission for change

    Jessie Mahoney, MD
  • Time theft: the unseen harm of abusive oversight

    Kayvan Haddadan, MD
  • Why more doctors are leaving clinical practice and how it helps health care

    Arlen Meyers, MD, MBA
  • Harassment and overreach are driving physicians to quit

    Olumuyiwa Bamgbade, MD
  • Why starting with why can transform your medical practice

    Neil Baum, MD
  • Most Popular

  • Past Week

    • Who gets to be well in America: Immigrant health is on the line

      Joshua Vasquez, MD | Policy
    • Why specialist pain clinics and addiction treatment services require strong primary care

      Olumuyiwa Bamgbade, MD | Conditions
    • Harassment and overreach are driving physicians to quit

      Olumuyiwa Bamgbade, MD | Physician
    • Why peer support can save lives in high-pressure medical careers

      Maire Daugharty, MD | Conditions
    • When a medical office sublease turns into a legal nightmare

      Ralph Messo, DO | Physician
    • Addressing menstrual health inequities in adolescents

      Callia Georgoulis | Conditions
  • Past 6 Months

    • Forced voicemail and diagnosis codes are endangering patient access to medications

      Arthur Lazarus, MD, MBA | Meds
    • How President Biden’s cognitive health shapes political and legal trust

      Muhamad Aly Rifai, MD | Conditions
    • Why are medical students turning away from primary care? [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast
    • The One Big Beautiful Bill and the fragile heart of rural health care

      Holland Haynie, MD | Policy
    • Who gets to be well in America: Immigrant health is on the line

      Joshua Vasquez, MD | Policy
    • Why “do no harm” might be harming modern medicine

      Sabooh S. Mubbashar, MD | Physician
  • Recent Posts

    • The shocking risk every smart student faces when applying to medical school

      Curtis G. Graham, MD | Physician
    • Clinical ghosts and why they haunt our exam rooms

      Kara Wada, MD | Conditions
    • High blood pressure’s hidden impact on kidney health in older adults

      Edmond Kubi Appiah, MPH | Conditions
    • Deep transcranial magnetic stimulation for depression [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast
    • How declining MMR vaccination rates put future generations at risk

      Ambika Sharma, Onyi Oligbo, and Katrina Green, MD | Conditions
    • The physician who turned burnout into a mission for change

      Jessie Mahoney, MD | Physician

Subscribe to KevinMD and never miss a story!

Get free updates delivered free to your inbox.


Find jobs at
Careers by KevinMD.com

Search thousands of physician, PA, NP, and CRNA jobs now.

Learn more

Leave a Comment

Founded in 2004 by Kevin Pho, MD, KevinMD.com is the web’s leading platform where physicians, advanced practitioners, nurses, medical students, and patients share their insight and tell their stories.

Social

  • Like on Facebook
  • Follow on Twitter
  • Connect on Linkedin
  • Subscribe on Youtube
  • Instagram

ADVERTISEMENT

  • Most Popular

  • Past Week

    • Who gets to be well in America: Immigrant health is on the line

      Joshua Vasquez, MD | Policy
    • Why specialist pain clinics and addiction treatment services require strong primary care

      Olumuyiwa Bamgbade, MD | Conditions
    • Harassment and overreach are driving physicians to quit

      Olumuyiwa Bamgbade, MD | Physician
    • Why peer support can save lives in high-pressure medical careers

      Maire Daugharty, MD | Conditions
    • When a medical office sublease turns into a legal nightmare

      Ralph Messo, DO | Physician
    • Addressing menstrual health inequities in adolescents

      Callia Georgoulis | Conditions
  • Past 6 Months

    • Forced voicemail and diagnosis codes are endangering patient access to medications

      Arthur Lazarus, MD, MBA | Meds
    • How President Biden’s cognitive health shapes political and legal trust

      Muhamad Aly Rifai, MD | Conditions
    • Why are medical students turning away from primary care? [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast
    • The One Big Beautiful Bill and the fragile heart of rural health care

      Holland Haynie, MD | Policy
    • Who gets to be well in America: Immigrant health is on the line

      Joshua Vasquez, MD | Policy
    • Why “do no harm” might be harming modern medicine

      Sabooh S. Mubbashar, MD | Physician
  • Recent Posts

    • The shocking risk every smart student faces when applying to medical school

      Curtis G. Graham, MD | Physician
    • Clinical ghosts and why they haunt our exam rooms

      Kara Wada, MD | Conditions
    • High blood pressure’s hidden impact on kidney health in older adults

      Edmond Kubi Appiah, MPH | Conditions
    • Deep transcranial magnetic stimulation for depression [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast
    • How declining MMR vaccination rates put future generations at risk

      Ambika Sharma, Onyi Oligbo, and Katrina Green, MD | Conditions
    • The physician who turned burnout into a mission for change

      Jessie Mahoney, MD | Physician

MedPage Today Professional

An Everyday Health Property Medpage Today
  • Terms of Use | Disclaimer
  • Privacy Policy
  • DMCA Policy
All Content © KevinMD, LLC
Site by Outthink Group

Leave a Comment

Comments are moderated before they are published. Please read the comment policy.

Loading Comments...