SA Doc flies patient to Miami...

I am left utterly uninspired and will wait to see what Lufthansa's onboard medical was like...

The taste of medicine…

Medicines have always inherited the somewhat unfair rep of being so vile tasting, that not even hungry dogs would go close. Why? Safety? Maybe

I am a doctor that likes to taste things before I prescribe them to kids (need to know if there’s a chance they’lll take it - or I’ve lost the battle before it has even begun – and Mom has gotta force feed).

I’m here to reassure you. They’re not all that bad.

Kerry, a previous commentor on the nose suction wonderment is right is right though, pharmaceutical companies really need to think about the taste of syrups before they make them for kids. If it’s going to taste KAK - make them in suppositories! And deal with the consequences.

But since we won’t be getting a horde of bum tablets from the pharmaceutical companies any time soon, here are examples of winners and losers in the taste category:

Winners:
Stopyne (berry flavour, yummy!)
Erythromycin (always my favourite)
Original Augmentin (bubblegum flavoured)
Prozef (strawberry flavoured – a clear winner from the kids)
Orelox (banana flavoured)
Lotem (better banana flavour)
Calpol (strawberry – the kids love this one, I personally hate the after taste!)

Losers:
Buscopan (the most vile tasting concoction! Why did they even bother to make it! I just tell mom’s to crush the tablet into their food.)
Prelone (yuk!)
Viral guard (what were they thinking?)

SA Doc stuck in a WHIPPLE...

Hehe. Just phoned SA Doc, only to have a scrub sister (I think they're called that) answer the phone. SA Doc, apparently, has her hands so deep inside someone the phone would surely get lost. It's a whipple... that's been going on for 8 hours.

I don't even know what a whipple is! Sounds dangerous.

When in doubt, Google it. As long as its not a symptom, remember...

The Whipple operation was first described in the 1930’s by Allan Whipple. In the 1960’s and 1970’s the mortality rate for the Whipple operation was very high. Up to 25% of patients died from the surgery. This experience of the 1970’s is still remembered by some physicians who are reluctant to recommend the Whipple operation.

Today the Whipple operation has become an extremely safe operation in the USA. At tertiary care centers where a large numbers of these procedures are performed by a selected few surgeons, the mortality rate from the operation is less than 4%. Studies have shown that for good outcomes from the Whipple surgery, the experience of the center and the surgeon is important. At USC, Dilip Parekh M.D. has performed more than 100 consecutive Whipple type of procedures over the past 9 years with good outcomes.

What is a Whipple operation?

In the Whipple operation the head of the pancreas, a portion of the bile duct, the gallbladder and the duodenum is removed. Occasionally a portion of the stomach may also be removed. After removal of these structures the remaining pancreas, bile duct and the intestine is sutured back into the intestine to direct the gastrointestinal secretions back into the gut.

Shudder. I hope the poor guys duodenum isn't useful! More info here.

PS. Took a flyer on the picture. SA Doc can confirm the gory truth tomorrow.

Scrubs & the Floating Head Doctor.

Floating head doctor at Baragwanath has a slightly different meaning. Rolling head doctor. Nah, I'm joking. That's just the political side of it.

Enjoy some Scrubs - and the Floating Head Doctor scenes...

Monty Python Hospital Sketch.

They just look so... professional.



Har. Har.

A nose aspirator?!

Again, I am obviously going through an ignorant phase. I saw this pop up on one of the comments and immediately ran off to the resident doc, citing possible child abuse, sex toy alert or crazy kid shoving tube up nose.

Once again, I was met with staid response: "Uh, Andy, that's a pretty common medical tool". Ja. Like Freddy Kruger's playkit.

So, for the people out there like me - presenting the nose aspirator.

Nosefrida is a doctor recommended nasal aspirator that removes mucous from your child’s nose. It was invented in Sweden by Ear, Nose and Throat Specialists, and has been used by Swedish Moms and Dads for years.

When your child has a cold with a runny stuffed nose, it can be frustrating when they can not blow their own nose. Congestion interferes with sleep, feeding and makes for an overall cranky child, and parent too.

Nosefrida is a plastic tube with a filter that the parent uses with their own mouths to get the mucous out of their children’s noses. WITH THE FILTER IN PLACE, THE PARENT DOES NOT COME IN CONTACT WITH THE MUCOUS FROM THE CHILD. There is no risk of bacterial contamination, in other words, you will not get the cold your child has.

Compared to the bulb aspirators on the market, Nosefrida is better and safer, since you never put anything inside the nose, and you control the amount of suction you apply. It does not irritate the sensitive lining of the nose.

Your child’s nose will be clear and she or he will be able to breathe, sleep and eat better.

Apparently, young children are obligatory nose breathers (THAT I didn't know). ie If you block their nose, they can't breathe. Useful tool in those cases.

Pretty hectic that they have an entire site dedicated to this wonderment! Get one here!

Med student dissecting kit. Buy now!

I'll never understand these bloody med students. They're quite serious about selling you the following piece of hardware. And I say hardware because, well, you kind of expect this to come out in a movie like SAW.

Feast your eyes on the cold steel available for just under $30!



AMA-approved anatomy dissection kit for first year medical students!

The American Medical Association (AMA), America�s most prestigious medical organization, worked in conjunction with DR Instruments, professors, and medical students to design this kit for first year medical students. The 10GSM kit contains the most widely used dissection tools for first year anatomy classes.

DR Instruments offers over 125 dissection tools including a wide range of dissection kits for medical school anatomy classes.

To purchase additional or replacement tools, please click on the part number for more information and to place your order!!

10GSM kit contains following tools:

- Teasing needle bent with metal chuck | Part # 38|
- Teasing needle straight with metal chuck | Part # 37 |
- Iris scissors fine point 4.5" | Part # 9 |
- Surgical scissors 5.5", one point sharp and one point blunt | Part # 5SB |
- Cartilage knife | Part # 26 |
- 1 x 2 Teeth tissue forceps 4.5" | Part # 13-T |
- Scalpel handle # 3 | Part # 27 |
- Scalpel blade # 10, pack of 10 blades | Blades for handle # 3 |
- Mall probe chrome plated | Part # 36 |
- Hemostatic forceps 5", Curved | Part # 45CD |
- Ruler 6" plastic ( Part # 30)

Buy it here, if you dare.

Where every treatment has a happy ending!

Isn't it good to know that in a country ravaged by HIV - the spread of other nasties hasn't abated. What the hell kind of advertising is this (on William Nichol nogal)!?

"Finally a place where gentlemen can relax, knowing that every treatment has a happy ending."

What makes it even funnier for any local followers of billboards - is that this one is a direct adaption of the "Little Holland Escort Club". Same pic. Same sultry white panties.

Tut tut.

Gravity... what happens when you hit rock bottom?

Hey Doc.



Har Har.