It was a usual start to the day again, today. Woke up and got into my formalish clothes, then went down for breakfast. We were anticipating our medical rotation for this day - our first operating room shift. We were picked up by the taxis, and taken to the same hospital that we did our shift on pediatrics. Instead of turning left and seeing the already born babies, we would be heading straight into the operating rooms where the doctors would usually perform natural births and C-sections. We got into our scrubs and looked pretty professional before going in. When we entered, it turned out that we were kind of out of luck - there were none going on. There was one woman in a different room in labor, but she would be a little while. We checked out her case - she had some kind of heart condition and needed to deliver her baby asap, so they were giving her a drug that would induce this. I found it weird though, that there were a bunch of med students in her room, talking about everything that was wrong with her in front of her. Apparently, they figured that she wouldn't understand the medical terms they were using. Afterwards, we hung out a little bit and waited for something to happen - it wasn't too long before someone was rushed in for an emergency C-section. We were allowed to be right in the operating room to watch this - but just two at a time so we alternated. They used a spinal anaesthesia that would remove all sense below the head, except for heart function, and thus not depriving the baby of blood. It was a really cool surgery to watch and it is amazing to see a baby exactly at birth. I thought though that the surgeons must find it tedious to perform a successful surgery, then have to put all that time into stitching the patient up. Anyway, once this was finished, the three of us and our tutor basically hung out and talked the rest of the time. This hospital wing was dead, so all we could really do was tell stories and such. Much later on when we knew nothing else would happen, we tried to check out the ultrasound room quickly, however they wouldn't let us in. Apparently, if this one specific guy isn't in the hospital, we don't get any special privileges at this hospital. Anyway, we grouped up with the pediatric group (which was kind of bored today too), then we walked to lunch. We had it at the nearby mall, then got a much needed coffee at the ecuadorian version of starbucks. I was surprised when they actually asked for ID when I wanted to use my visa - that was a first for me. They took it anyway. We got a bit of a break at the hotel when we returned. It wasn't long though, before we were back in the taxis and heading to our evening shift hospital. Well, it was kind of long, since the taxis never show up on time for one reason or another. We made it late, but they waited for us. Today's lesson was on tying stitches. Turned out, we wouldn't be cutting ourselves open to practice - instead we would use thin slabs of pork. Not thin enough though - the technique was eay enough but the pork was so tough that when i tried, i literally bent the hook out of shape. After another try at a thinner section of the meat, i finally got it through and tied. It's a pretty simple procedure and was really neat to learn how. Finally, we finished off the night with dinner. We walked to a nearby indoor food court and got to choose what kind of food we wanted. I went with a couple others to get pizza at a nice restaurant there. Keep in mind, the food courts here are nothing like back home - they have actual sit down restaurants with good food. Again, they asked me for ID for my visa, but just like the other, they accepted it without. Maybe if my card had said Diego or Juan they may have been a little more suspicious, but I can't imagine anyone in this country would be named Trevor. We were set up with taxis to take us back to the hotel this night. Of course, they worked out a price beforehand but no matter where you go in this world, taxi drivers are crooks. The whole way back this driver was demanding double. We just told him to take us to the hotel and the money was there. When we arrived, the person in charge of paying him gave him the correct amount and he was a little pissed but took it. We finished off the night by preparing for our case study presentation. We really didn't know what the presentation would entail, but weren't worried at all. Nothing would happen to us if we couldn't answer all of the tutor's questions. And we felt prepared enough anyway. Many of the other groups didn't share the same sentiments though, I'm sure many of them were up late into the night. I instead, was able to pack my bag for our departure tomorrow and get some good sleep.
A newborn baby "burrito"
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