Hi, Im considering becoming a surgeon, The Royal College of Surgery (probs got that wrong lol) states on a PDF your GCSEs in your A-level subjects should be C+ (5+). Could you become a surgeon with grades 6 in Chemistry and Biology? Do you also need a 6 in Math and Physics?

I assume its competitive so probs even higher than that.

Thanks

Hey everyone, I’m a quiet PGY-1 surgery resident at a non-malignant program who is struggling and need some help and motivation. To give some background, I got in trouble in my third month because when a 5-0 needle tip broke in a patient’s dermis, I couldn’t find it and only mentioned it after I handed the needle back. I got justifiably raked over the coals for that and have been under the microscope since. I also have to redo my peds surgery rotation next month.

Since then, I have felt like I have been working very hard, spending time in our skills lab, studying hard, and trying to prepare for cases well, but just recently got told by the chiefs in a closed door meeting that I’m still not doing well and that I come off as tired and not passionate. The chiefs gave me some feedback about showing a bit more initiate and energy. But they also said I need to be more social and they weren’t happy that I didn’t go to a social event (I have a wife and kid at home too). They were saying if I don’t improve, I might be at risk of being held back a year.

I’m making a running list of tangible things I can work on to improve based on attending feedback, and am writing down procedure steps as I go, but my motivation and energy is just being sucked away. I still love being in the OR, doing bedside procedures and getting better each day. But I just feel so helpless and scared. My co-interns are great and super supportive, but I just feel dead inside.

I’d welcome any advice. Thanks

Hello.

I have a dream of becoming a neurosurgeon, however I am not good at mental rotation (which is visual spatial ability). How important it is in your everyday job? Would you consider not pursuing it in my situation?

Thank you.

Has anyone had the ballon spacer implant for massive irreparable rotator cuff?

I am interested in hearing from anyone with experience with or knowledge of this surgery. I went to one surgeon and was told that it really would not work for me. I went for a second opinion and was told this is the surgery I should get. I have been trying to get information about both surgeries as I am too young for a reverse shoulder procedure. I haven’t been able to find information about how long the pain relief and ROM improvements last. So far searching the web I have read the spacer provides temporary relief- how temporary?

Thanks for any information you are able to provide.

Unmatched img, did a prelim year in surgery and now my program doesn’t give a shot about what I’ll be doing or what I should do. Feeling used and like there’s no point in carrying on as everything is lost. As an img I need a visa. Any advice? Why do program take prelims if they can’t help them. How is this ethical? All I feel like is like that twin whose purpose in life is to donate organs to the other twin. What do you guys rec me doing? What have you done In the past?

How have you changed from before medical training and getting adjusted to your profession, to after? As someone with no education on anything medical, I’m curious from the outside looking in.

I'm sure at some point you become numb to everything, but damn. The intense pressure of having lives in your hands, the long stress of medical school and training, and the gruesome sights. It's one of the most important jobs in the world depending on which field.

My institution is very strict about the mandatory smoke evacuators during any case requiring cautery. I just don't see how were supposed to follow the policy during cases where smoke isn't deductable. So what is used at your place? Or is it ignored?

Female surgeons in the subreddit with parenting responsibilities - how do you manage the demands of a surgical career and family? What strategies do you utilize to effectively manage both aspects of your life? Additionally, at what point in your career did you decide to start a family, and what influenced that decision? How did pregnancy affect your professional life and ability to maintain your previous work intensity? I am currently in the planning stages and would greatly appreciate any insights or advice! TIA 💜

Howdy, folks. I had just gotten surgery yesterday in my right hip at 21 years old. When my surgeon got finished he said it’s the worst he’s seen in his career and that my bone spurs had completely ground my labrum to the point that I don’t have one anymore. He shaved down the bone spurs and relieved my snapping tendon as well as got rid of my impingement. I’m in the army and was dealing with pain for 3 years before finally getting it looked at and getting surgery because leadership wanted me to train. So I put it off.

With that being said, how different will life be without a labrum? What kinds of things do I have to be careful of now? Is there a surgery to put a fake labrum in?

Being that minimally-invasive surgeries on the heart are becoming more and more famous, are open heart surgeries still happening in the future?

I’ve got two crap knees and the time has come to address the issue. I have the choice of getting them replaced at the same time, or splitting the surgeries up over the next year and a half. Wondering if anyone out there has had this choice before?

This is not for advice just knowledge I guess but how hard is it actually to perform surgery with someone with CTD such as marfans/vEDS?

Hi, I have an interview for FY1 in general surgery. I was wondering what kind of questions should I expect and any advice or tips.

I’ve been to a few panel discussions with physicians from various specialties, and it always seems like the surgeons on the panel embellish the least, and are concise with their words.

Is that a product of their training? Or is it because surgery attracts those personalities?

My uncle is 92 and we were in the ER awaiting a room for him and a nurse entered the room adjacent to our hallway gurney. Next came in a doctor and must have been new resident. The nurse called me over to hold up a leg while she rapped something around the leg.

The whole time I was wondering why she didn’t ask the resident for help and instead asked me who was not a medical professional but simply sitting by my uncles side. The nurse thanked me as she ran off. I still think about this from time to time as I work cyber security.

The resident seemed scared to jump in but I felt comfortable. I’m 30 years old and work at a desk. I believe I picked the wrong career. Here’s my question:

What’s it like being a Surgeon’s First Assistant? I want to know the real feel. Education I believe it’s an associates in surgical tech, one year on job experience, and 1 year surgical first assistant certification. But, what’s the real feel years down the road?

My other option at 30 is to get accepted into a premed undergrad, med school, then some ER residence if lucky.

Thoughts on my situation? I’d appreciate your input.

I will be having an endoscopy tomorrow, April 1st, I want to have fun with them for a light April fools joke. What's something appropriate that would help lighten their day? Thanks :)

My son (21 months) recently had an inguinal hernia surgery. He was diagnosed only on one side but they found one on the other side during surgery so that got corrected too. We have a follow up appointment in April with the surgeon for a check up. Would it be weird to bring a thank you card to the surgeon? Maybe with a paint handprint from my son? I wanted to do something nice since this was so nerve wracking for me and the surgeon had the most calm demeanor and it helped me out as a parent. I don’t want to do anything that isn’t considered professional though. What is the communities thought on this?

MS3 here. So idk if I’m just not the right fit for general surgery or if these kids in my class are just crazy. I like surgery, I like scrubbing in and being able to participate in the OR. Of course I don’t love the early mornings, long hours, and endless brown nosing i saw in my surgery rotation but I liked being able to participate whenever I could. I’m thinking about applying for gen surg but I of course have doubts. Most gen surg residents in my program are tired and I’ve heard more times to stay away from gen surg (to be fair from non-GS residents) than I met enthusiastic GS residents who are ecstatic about their field (literally only 1).

Now we have only a handful students my year planning for GS but at least two I’ve spoke with say that while they don’t love the hours either, they feel this rush in the OR and would gladly stay after scheduled cases for any add ons to just be in the OR. I like the OR , idk if I love it. If after back to back cases it’s 4pm and you give me the option of going in on a 3-4 hr add on case or go home, best believe imma go home and sleep. Does this not bode well for me if I continue with GS?

Hey guys where can I get research paper Infographics for surgical papers and trials?plz let me know thanks

What features of each GS subspecialty is attractive to applicants. What qualities do a majority of these applicants have?

1. ACS / Trauma

2. Burn

3. MIS / Bariatrics

4. Colorectal

5. Surgical Oncology (including Breast, Endocrine)

6. Transplant

7. HPB

8. Pediatrics

9. Cardiothoracic

10. Plastics

11. Vascular

I review medical denials and there are HEAPS and HEAPS of hospitals that support the use of kyphoplasty to treat traumatic fractures among Medicare patients (mostly age 65 and older). Often times, the trauma is noted as the only cause of the fracture and there’s no evidence of osteoporosis.

But Medicare (mostly*) doesn’t consider “trauma” alone to be medically necessary. In those cases, I’ve seen hospitals still proceed with kyphoplasty even if they know Medicare will deny because they feel the patient really needs it. I am wondering if I should draft a letter of reconsideration to CMS to expand medical coverage.

**I’m not using absolute language because there is one Medicare contractor that does cover kyphoplasty for traumatic fractures.

Idk if this is the right sub, but I had a CCAM in utero at CHOP before I was born. I was looking for resources pertaining to CCAM’s in the mid nineties just to curb curiosity.