Are surgeons really humans?
We all know how exhausting the lifestyle is for anyone working at a hospital or any clinical based environment. There is a constant flow of a high volume of patients being admitted from diverse backgrounds with various health concerns. But the most common question is: how do surgeons concentrate for hours? Especially with some surgeries that can last 12+ hours!
With health professional not operating, it is an easier concept to grasp on how they can remain for hours in their clinical environment because the surrounding environment fluctuates - patients come in and leave very often. Yet with surgeons, there is little change in their surroundings, which is what seems like to an outsider. I was amazed myself for how the surgeon focused during the radical prostatectomy surgery, that I was lucky to watch live, for a bit over three hours. So how do surgeons achieve this?
Every surgeon differs. But one common theme that I noticed was the relaxed atmosphere that is maintained in the operating theatre. If a member of the surgery team is stressing out, then they have the immediate responsibility to leave the room to destress. If a staff member cannot play their "A game" then they scrub out and others take over. The surgeon doesn't get stressed out and allows all the other health professional to play their "A game" so the patient does not suffer. It simply ensures everyone's safety.
Surgeons retain attention through a number of factors: comfortable clothes and shoes; a convenient, adjustable chair on wheels; background music; regular breaks for food and staff discussions. It is typical for members of the surgery team to rotate with others, it is less typical for the the surgeons to be replaced. Consistency in the medical profession is key! But the very least different people surrounding the surgeon freshens and livens the atmosphere.
One of the most interesting pieces of information I have gathered is that the patient is mandated to be moved every forty minutes or so, to prevent pinched nerves, occluded (closed) vessels, skin abrasions or blood clots. This also provides everyone a little break.
And these facts are absolutely true as the surgeon that performed the live radical prostatectomy that I attended confirmed that he listens to music and talks to the team about "stuff", not necessarily about the procedure. The environment has to be in favour for the main surgeon as "each (surgical) movement has a meaning".
Surgeons, just like any other doctors, are humans. It's just that the medical field of surgery is highly esteemed and is distant from the stereotypical ideologies held by society. But the appreciation for the work of surgeons remains equally as high.