This week in Surgery has been very productive, and enjoyable too! I presented a case during a session of teaching this week too. Made me realized how inadequate my knowledge in Surgery is.
Anyway, I presented a case of intestinal obstruction.
“My patient, a 52 year old lady presented with generalized abdominal pain with constipation for the past 2 weeks. She had sudden onset of intermittent colicky pain one hour after having a meal. It was associated with abdominal discomfort and constipation. She did not pass flatus for 2 weeks….”
My lecturer was shocked with my statement and asked, “Are you sure that she did not pass flatus for 2 weeks?”
I knew something was wrong. I recalled what the patient told me. I checked my notes. Yes, I wrote down – no flatus for 2 weeks. I replied, “Yes.”
My lecturer laughed and said, “It is impossible not to pass flatus for 2 weeks. It is too long. It is either she is dead, or *pause*…. she is dead, or *pause*…. she is dying from it.”
Gosh, I was so embarrassed and was laughing inside, how stupid can I be. It was such a common sense thing and yet, I did not get it.
At the end of it, he said that my presentation was not bad. Just require some rearrangement.
Lesson learnt- pass flatus everyday, for a healthy bowel.
Enjoying surgery posting. =)
drink Yakult a day for a healthy bowel..*wink*
hahaha..
i’m so grateful if I BO of at least once a day.
unfortunately, I pass bowel once in 3 days…it’s still acceptable bowel habit.i guess.