If I were an artist I would love to paint this scene on a canvas.
It was a day in Obstetrics OT during my PG days. I was on my duty, when suddenly I got a call for an emergency caesarean section.This is like an alarm call when everybody is expected to be on their toes ( surgeons,anaesthetists, pediatricians and the nursing staff).
This lady was wheeled into the theater within 5 minutes of getting the call.
We, as anaesthetists, hardly get time to prep the patient / bystanders. The indication for emergency section was fetal distress. We had time for a quick spinal as per the surgeons. The very word "quick spinal /single shot spinal" itself creates a lot of tension amongst us.
The patient was already very anxious ,her heart was beating fast. She was soon positioned and draped and luckily I could get away with a quick spinal.
In the meanwhile, surgeons were all ready to put the incision. Staff nurses, technicians were all busy doing their duties diligently. Pediatricians had also arrived and they also gloved up, ready to receive the baby.
Surgeons proceeded and finally when they were about to extract the baby, they found the baby's lie to be abnormal and they had a difficult time trying to take him/her out.
Often a screen is kept separating the mother, so that she doesn't see the surgical field and get anxious.
As anaesthetists, our primary concern being the mother, we stand with her, behind the screen trying to give emotional support. Whereas at the other end, I find the pediatrician all anxiously waiting for the baby. The more the delay, the more the danger for the baby.
In between I find the surgeons sweating and trying with all their efforts to extract the baby and minimize the problems to both mother and baby. Surgeons were still struggling while the mother's heart rate was increasing ans she was becoming nauseous. We were trying our best to keep her comfortable and stable.
Pediatricians started getting things ready for intubation and ventilation of the baby. They were anticipating a crisis.
There was too much tension in the room.
From all sides, all our eyes were focused on the surgery and the baby's birth.
Finally to our happiness, the baby was delivered and we heard a shrill cry.
That moment when you see the smile on all the faces, you could never be more happier!
But no one forgot to do their duties. As an anaesthetist ,I was supposed to give drug for contracting the mother's uterus, pacify her and give her analgesic/sedative. Surgeons proceeded with removal of placenta and achieval of hemostasis.
The pediatrician was all busy, pampering and nursing the 'much awaited baby'.
This was just one day in the life of an anesthetist. We have many such days, some days when we feel so happy and excited, some days so shattered, somedays so dull and monotonous and it's all in the game. Such adrenaline rushes keep an anesthetist live!!