COM Outlook Spring 2019

NOVA SOUTHEASTERN UNIVERSITY | 25 Day two. Patients are everywhere, and the waiting area is becoming more crowded by the second. Suddenly, a pathway opens as a young man runs in carrying a child in his arms. As they enter a patient room, I see a mass of student doctors, physicians, and other patients gath- er around. I quickly enter the room to see if I can be of any use, whether it be translating for the family or making sure they had privacy. Little did I know this would end up being the greatest and most intense medical experience of my life. Gangrene. Necrosis. Sepsis. As I try to translate these words to the family members, I see worry creep into their eyes. To my surprise, however, the 10-year-old boy, Sunil, does not make a sound. He is respectful, compliant, and easily the best patient I had seen within the last two days, taking his pills and medications without a fuss. As I heard the story of how a motorcycle ran over his foot 13 days ago, and that the local hospital refused to do surgery, I quickly realized that in order to save this boy’s life, the foot would have to be amputated. Over the next hour, while I comforted Sunil and his family, arrangements were made to take him to the nearest equipped hospital for surgery. When it was time to go, the patient, his family, two physicians, and I were chosen to go to Bardoli Hospital. Two hours pass. As the team preps for surgery—a mid-tibia amputation—the surgeon asks me if I want to scrub in for the procedure. Without hesitation, and without knowing the magnitude of the question, I immediately say yes. With my eyes fixated on the surgeon, I watch as the first incision is made—muscles, blood vessels, and nerves all exposed. Halfway through the cauterization, the surgeon hands me the cautery and says, “Finish up.” Here I am, a second-year medical student, being trusted to partake in a life-saving surgery. The surgeon guides me as I cauterize blood vessels and cut through muscle fibers. Now the tibia. Someone hands me the handsaw, and the task becomes natural. Within 30 seconds, Sunil’s bone is cut in half. The physicians then step back in to finish the surgery, which is a success. As Sunil is rolled back to his room, the family touch my feet—a sign of respect to elders. I quickly stop them, and being the youngest one there, touch their feet instead. The ride back to Ahwa offers time to reflect. Through the entire experience, Sunil never fussed. The only thing he asked for was his brother. It dawned on me that these patients take everything that happens in their lives in stride. That is why helping this child was so important. Without us, he would have died within a week. This patient gave me my first surgical opportunity— and my first true hands-on experience in medicine. Sunil also gave me a realistic perspective of the profession. As educated students and physicians, we have a responsibility to help people in need. o BY AAKASH TRIVEDI From left: The attending orthopedic surgeon at the hospital in India; Niralis Patel, M.D.; Daniel Olsen, D.O.; and Aakash Trivedi Aakash Trivedi is a second-year KPCOM student. AN UNEXPECTED ENCOUNTER WITH AMPUTATION