MedWorm.com provides a medical RSS filtering service. Over 6000 RSS medical sources are combined and output via different filters. This feed contains the latest items from the 'The KnifeMan' source. Wed, 19 Nov 2008 22:54:48 +0100 http://theknifeman.blogspot.com/2008/11/highs-and-lows.html Back, at least for a while. I had intended to wait a day or two, to refit my life all at once; but this idea came to me, and I felt i ought to write it before I lost my mojo again.I am become a creature of the twilight; lates and nights stalk my rota, and I've forgotten what a normal day looks like. I'm sitting among the detritus of my life that late shifts bring, drinking rum, if that helps.Sometimes, I feel like we make a difference; sometimes I'm sure we don't. But I guess we try anyway.The first comes early; or late, depending on which end you're starting from. The shift is a swap, and horror often seeks you out on a swap. Whatever Gods look down ensure that no good deed shall go unpunished. Actually, the shift had been fine. I'd been cloistered in Paeds and Minors all night, my most c... The KnifeMan blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1961035 Fri, 14 Nov 2008 23:25:00 +0100 1961035 http://theknifeman.blogspot.com/2008/11/lest-we-forget.html In Flanders fields the poppies blowBetween the crosses, row on row,That mark our place; and in the skyThe larks, still bravely singing, flyScarce heard amid the guns below.We are the Dead.Short days agoWe lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,Loved and were loved, and now we lieIn Flanders fields.Take up our quarrel with the foe:To you from failing hands we throwThe torch; be yours to hold it high.If ye break faith with us who dieWe shall not sleep,though poppies growIn Flanders fields. (Source: The KnifeMan) The KnifeMan blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1952225 Tue, 11 Nov 2008 12:36:00 +0100 1952225 http://theknifeman.blogspot.com/2008/11/its-back.html (Source: The KnifeMan) The KnifeMan blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1930347 Mon, 03 Nov 2008 14:00:00 +0100 1930347 http://theknifeman.blogspot.com/2008/10/farewell-farewell.html Continue in low mood; work has presented me with considerable flail, more than I ever banked on; more than I need right now... so, I'm not sure I'll be much of an author for a little while. Not long, I hope, but for now, a little hiatus.Be Well, one and all... until the next time our paths should cross.Farewell, farewell to you who would hearYou lonely travellers allThe cold north wind will blow againThe winding road does callAnd will you never return to seeYour bruised and beaten sons?"Oh, I would, I would, if welcome I wereFor they love me, every one"And will you never cut the clothOr drink the light to be?And can you never swear a yearTo anyone of we?"No, I will never cut the clothOr drink the light to beBut I'll swear a year to one who liesAsleep along side of me"Farewell, farewell to ... The KnifeMan blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1862965 Wed, 08 Oct 2008 18:39:00 +0100 1862965 http://theknifeman.blogspot.com/2008/10/thought-for-day.html You can't make war in the Middle East without Egypt and you can't make peace without Syria. HENRY KISSINGER (1923-) (Source: The KnifeMan) The KnifeMan blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1848048 Fri, 03 Oct 2008 11:44:00 +0100 1848048 http://theknifeman.blogspot.com/2008/10/my-new-favourite-quote.html There are, in fact, two things, science and opinion;the former begets knowledge, the latter ignoranceHippocratesBorrowed from Trick or Treatment, by Simon Singh and Edzard Ernst. I commend it to you. (Source: The KnifeMan) The KnifeMan blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1848049 Thu, 02 Oct 2008 19:54:00 +0100 1848049 http://theknifeman.blogspot.com/2008/10/why-i-love-tech.html A pox on iTunes, which took it upon itself to delete several of my Floyd and Stones albums; and no they weren't backed up.... (Source: The KnifeMan) The KnifeMan blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1844970 Thu, 02 Oct 2008 09:31:00 +0100 1844970 http://theknifeman.blogspot.com/2008/10/sort-of-open-reply.html If only because some good points were made, and, if I have mis-represented myself, then explanation should be public.I want to apologise for over-egging the pudding, suggesting that No-One, from the aforementioned NotDrRant laid all the blame at the foot of the docs. And I concur, there are indeed some truly awful docs in the system, and rooting them out has been, and remains, difficult.I don't object, by and large, to swearing. I swear vigorously myself at any given opportunity, and the example I gave may have given the impression that it was an indirect dig, or slight, aimed at No-One. Not so. My complaint was more in general, and I freely admit that No-One has indeed not named any specifics. But sites do exist where people can, and do; and the lack of a right-of-reply remains. My own ex... The KnifeMan blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1841169 Wed, 01 Oct 2008 09:02:00 +0100 1841169 http://theknifeman.blogspot.com/2008/09/folk-music-re-imagined.html Buy the album, see them live... do it. You know you wanna... (Source: The KnifeMan) The KnifeMan blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1841170 Tue, 30 Sep 2008 18:42:00 +0100 1841170 http://theknifeman.blogspot.com/2008/09/odds-and-sods.html Ruminations...Struggle on, trying to finish some work related research, revise, generally live my life. It goes slowly; I think I'd be good as a sloth. Although not sure I'd pass the entrance exam.La Belle Fille continues to understand, which is good of her; spent the weekend hanging out, which is good for the soul; I also had the pleasure of seeing possibly the world's biggest round of cheese at the local French market. God love the French.A brief flag for NotDrRant. This blog has a very different spin on the NHS; a patient's view, and not a complimentary one. I'm in favour of free speech, so you should feel free to check them out, tho' I don't hold with their take on the causes of the faults ( to whit, it's all the doctor's fault. ) That having sad, the author doesn't seem to have been s... The KnifeMan blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1841171 Tue, 30 Sep 2008 15:47:00 +0100 1841171 http://theknifeman.blogspot.com/2008/09/surely-shome-mishtake.html You are a Social Liberal(75% permissive)and an... Economic Liberal(21% permissive)You are best described as a:Socialist Link: The Politics Test on OkCupid.com: Free Online DatingAlso : The OkCupid Dating Persona Test (Source: The KnifeMan) The KnifeMan blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1841172 Tue, 30 Sep 2008 15:17:00 +0100 1841172 http://theknifeman.blogspot.com/2008/09/bloke-in-dress.html Casually, and swiftly, photoshopped by a good friend of mine. I should add that the Shroom does not consider kilts to be dresses, skirts, or, indeed, anything other than manly clothing, especially whn worn 'Highlander', as both I and the Groom were. I also have nothing against blokes wearing dresses. All power to all people, that's what I say. In fact, it's quite liberating, as long as yo remember to keep your knees together, and avoid scaring children / being placed on the sex-offenders register... (Source: The KnifeMan) The KnifeMan blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1837394 Mon, 29 Sep 2008 16:45:00 +0100 1837394 http://theknifeman.blogspot.com/2008/09/gratuitous-skirt-shot.html (Source: The KnifeMan) The KnifeMan blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1837395 Mon, 29 Sep 2008 14:32:00 +0100 1837395 http://theknifeman.blogspot.com/2008/09/gods-dandruff.html Continue in low mood; it is what comes of spending long days alone, at home, ruminating on my own inadequacies.My impending exam - the Fellowship, the exit exam, the big one... what it takes to be board certified, I think, if you're one of my Colonial brothers or sisters... dwells heavily on my mind. I've spent the last year pretending it was an age away; and know it isn't. I'm not sure where the last year has gone; it seems to have slipped away from me.There must have been something on my mind (at least for the last 6 months).Caught a programme on the Beeb a few days ago, about the birth of the NHS. 'Twas interesting, if only to hear the concerns of the (largely) middle class docs regarding the State control of medicine. That the doctor would no longer work for the patient, but for the st... The KnifeMan blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1833351 Fri, 26 Sep 2008 22:00:00 +0100 1833351 http://theknifeman.blogspot.com/2008/09/friday-random.html If there's a better way to advertise chocolate, I don't know what it is... (Source: The KnifeMan) The KnifeMan blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1829352 Fri, 26 Sep 2008 08:37:00 +0100 1829352 http://theknifeman.blogspot.com/2008/09/nights-drawing-in.html I continue in low mood; the 'Black Dog' and I always seem to end up struggling about this time; I suppose if I wanted to, I could call this Seasonal Affect Disorder. It always seems to coincide with the shortening of the days... but, not only do I dislike what I consider pointless labelling (see: IBS; CFS; Fibromyalgia...), but I actually enjoy this time of year; I enjoy the cold, crisp nights and mornings; I'm not quite so keen on getting up, and going home in the dark, but...I think it is just overpowering nostalgia. Some of my happiest memories are rooted in these months; and I think it just serves to remind me how far I've travelled from them. I miss my friends and my family increasingly these days, and all the more so at this time of year. This year, my mind is troubled with impending... The KnifeMan blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1826022 Wed, 24 Sep 2008 21:04:00 +0100 1826022 http://theknifeman.blogspot.com/2008/09/ever-wondered-why-they-called-him-god.html The sax solo ain't too shabby, either, but nothing beats Eric's guitar face.... (Source: The KnifeMan) The KnifeMan blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1826023 Tue, 23 Sep 2008 14:09:00 +0100 1826023 http://theknifeman.blogspot.com/2008/09/things-that-make-you-go-why.html Hat-tip to Kal at TQ.Further details to follow, especially involving La Belle Fille, who was heard to complain that her 'character' appeared to have been written out...I could survive for 1 minute, 22 seconds chained to a bunk bed with a velociraptor (Source: The KnifeMan) The KnifeMan blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1826024 Tue, 23 Sep 2008 13:59:00 +0100 1826024 http://theknifeman.blogspot.com/2008/09/my-promises-are-nearly-kept.html Saturday was unbearably busy; Sunday just unbearable. It was busy, I was irritable. The SHOs are hard working, God love 'em, but have a deal to learn about the appropriate time to strap on in Emergency Medicine. I'm not sure I helped much.The tone was set, not so much by Drs Greene or Carter, but by two patients. The first, a young man with his own version of a biological clock; his aorta distended, over-ripe lay swollen and pregnant within him. He knew it was there and had had the 'full and frank' discussion with his surgeon. Weighed the odds of success against the chance of failure and the consequences inherent therein. He had, he thought faced his demons, made his choice, and defended it. The ultimate act of self determination.Funny how circumstances can change a body's perspective. Eac... The KnifeMan blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1794553 Mon, 15 Sep 2008 23:18:00 +0100 1794553 http://theknifeman.blogspot.com/2008/09/knifemans-blues.html Shall I whisper to thee of the nights I have seen...My nights are full of coffee and hope; hope for a quiet life, and yet hope for a chance to show off and do my job. It is an interesting dichotomy - I enjoy seeing the big cases, treating the really sick guys and gals... but it means someone has to be sick...Quiet? Or busy? I know which I prefer, but it's for selfish reasons.Shall I tell thee of the ways the nights begin?Heading to my car, I realise it's dark, and with a slight chill in the air; I have blinked and missed summer. Actually, the last year has been something of a blur, but I was counting on summer. Driving to work, I feel cocooned in my car; isolated. I try to use the time to prepare for the joy that is too come. Sometimes it works.Shall I tell of the tells we see?The first is... The KnifeMan blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1791710 Sun, 14 Sep 2008 18:18:00 +0100 1791710 http://theknifeman.blogspot.com/2008/09/benign-tremor.html I recently discovered someone lit upon this blog while searching for advice on how to treat a torn frenulum (or "penis banjo string" as he - and I assume it was a he - put it.)Dude.Try pressure and hope it stops, cos you really don't want a stitch in the old fella....Regarding comments made to this blog - it was never my intent to embarrass; just to let you know really. anyway, there it is.I'm seconded to Paeds at the mo, altho' I still owe the ED my nights and weekends, so am trying to spend all of my time among the little people. It has reinforced in me the desire NOT to be a Paediatrician. Don't get me wrong - I love kids, but lack the mental strength to deal with them suffering on a regular basis. When kids go off, they do it properly - fast. Kal, over at Trauma Queen, writes about thi... The KnifeMan blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1788838 Fri, 12 Sep 2008 18:37:00 +0100 1788838 http://theknifeman.blogspot.com/2008/09/honesty-in-advertising.html (Source: The KnifeMan) The KnifeMan blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1788839 Fri, 12 Sep 2008 15:45:00 +0100 1788839 http://theknifeman.blogspot.com/2008/09/love-of-money.html So, today, I both read, and heard on the radio of the hardship QCs are being forced to endure. The new minimum rate of legal aid work is a paltry £91/hr, rising to a max of £145. The say this is risible, especially as they reckon half of the cash goes on overheads and taxes.By my reckoning, if I earned £91 an hour, and took home half, I'd clear almost 9 grand a month, and more like 14 grand at the higher rate.Poor bastards; how do they manage?(Incidentally, they say that the lack of paid holidays and pensions makes the rates reasonable; to be on my take home, which, let's be honest is not to be sniffed at, I suspect they'd have to be paying 90% of their gross in taxes and pensions and unpaid hols... on balance, I think I'd take their pay and terms over mine... if I could find a lawyer w... The KnifeMan blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1786094 Thu, 11 Sep 2008 20:21:00 +0100 1786094 http://theknifeman.blogspot.com/2008/09/in-case-you-were-wondering.html Comments get e-mailed to me.Tales of derring-do from Paeds to follow... (Source: The KnifeMan) The KnifeMan blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1786095 Thu, 11 Sep 2008 19:27:00 +0100 1786095 http://theknifeman.blogspot.com/2008/09/musings-of-medical-dinosaur.html A work in progress.Worth reading, to start with. (Source: The KnifeMan) The KnifeMan blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1770680 Sat, 06 Sep 2008 11:19:00 +0100 1770680 http://theknifeman.blogspot.com/2008/09/on-censorship.html BBP hints at some skullduggery in the ED.I like him, I enjoy his blog, I enjoy working with him; he is good at his job.I am curious to know what has been afoot. I have been off the floor working with small people again, so can't speculate.Freedom of speech. I'm a big fan; censorship is a bad thing. It's next to book burning. And yet... there must also be limits. Right? Does freedom of expression extend to someone who wants to come to work andshout obscenities at me? In general, no. I'll have him removed.If something goes wrong at work, should it be public knowledge. There must be transparancy, but do people need to know everything? If you hide something, no matter how small, is it the first step down a slippery slope?I think maintaining the moral high-ground is difficult. If I make a mista... The KnifeMan blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1770681 Sat, 06 Sep 2008 10:57:00 +0100 1770681 http://theknifeman.blogspot.com/2008/09/son-of-sunweasel.html I know, its basically bragging. But it's nice to feel appreciated once in a while... (Source: The KnifeMan) The KnifeMan blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1760101 Wed, 03 Sep 2008 20:54:00 +0100 1760101 http://theknifeman.blogspot.com/2008/09/jiggling-like-hopeful-ducks.html See this. And this, the original.A veritable foaming sea of bilious ranting. Nurse K has much to say on this, as ever. It's worth reading her blog, even if you don't agree, though it might push your blood pressure up.The truth, I suspect, as ever lies somewhere between the two extremes. Migraines are ever a hot topic. I'm faintly curious that we seem to suffer the problem of the migraineur who may or may not be drug seeking less in the UK than in the US. Or do I just see less of it. Or maybe it's because we don't give dilaudid for migraine. I think, but feel free to offercorrections, dilaudid is pethidine. I used to dole that out like sweeties to old ladies with broken hips when I was but a young fungus. Now, I'm given to believe it doesn't work so well as a painkiller, but does get you of... The KnifeMan blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1760102 Wed, 03 Sep 2008 18:51:00 +0100 1760102 http://theknifeman.blogspot.com/2008/08/lest-we-forget.html (Source: The KnifeMan) The KnifeMan blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1734163 Tue, 26 Aug 2008 21:46:00 +0100 1734163 http://theknifeman.blogspot.com/2008/08/tug-o-war.html tug-o-war.Posted using ShareThis (Source: The KnifeMan) The KnifeMan blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1734164 Tue, 26 Aug 2008 20:48:00 +0100 1734164 http://theknifeman.blogspot.com/2008/08/hard-done-by.html Self deprecating... maybe; it's almost a requirement of the Citizenship exam these days. "Hard-done-by"..? Not really, and we all know it... but it does make for better copy.For most of you, this will make precious little sense... but you know who you are.Sometimes you see people get sicker before your eyes. I know that sounds somewhere between common sense and bollocks, but it fits, if you think about it. I've blogged about it before, but can't quite remember when; no bother. What I bring to the table tonight is the opposite. Which is always better. Almost by default, we of God's Children in the ED tend to assume the worst, and work backwards. You miss less that way. And when BatPhone goes, you prepare for the worst.For example: the call comes in, warning of an adult male, stabed in the l... The KnifeMan blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1704893 Wed, 13 Aug 2008 21:10:00 +0100 1704893 http://theknifeman.blogspot.com/2008/08/on-politics.html It's mostly bollocks, let's be honest.La Belle Fille has been away, I have been moping. Drank far too much yesterday, celebrating a friend's impending wedding; have to work today, which obviously I am very pleased about...Was paid a sort of backhanded compliment by a neurosurgeon the other day, when they opined that I broke bad news well. I suppose if you're going to ruin a family's day, you should do it well, but I can't help but feel it's a sad thing to be good at. (Source: The KnifeMan) The KnifeMan blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1677291 Sun, 03 Aug 2008 16:54:00 +0100 1677291 http://theknifeman.blogspot.com/2008/07/on-responsibility.html Talking to the mother of one of our patients today was hard work. She was on the end of the phone, in a tropical hideaway. Her relative was with us for the second time in three days, brought by family friends.The first visit followed a fit, but we knew they had epilepsy, and there was nothing unusual in this. Even if it was, as she put it, 'a big fit'.Today was for an overdose. We ran the medical ruler over the patient. All clear, no ill effects, the recommended observation period passing with incident. The headshrinkers came down and opined. No need for sectioning, no need for admission. Community support in place.The phone call was hard work because, after all this, I proposed to discharge the patient. It was half five in the after noon. 'So you're just going to put them out in the stree... The KnifeMan blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1646245 Tue, 22 Jul 2008 22:34:00 +0100 1646245 http://theknifeman.blogspot.com/2008/07/on-pathology.html Students in the department today. This usually means it's very quiet, but not today. Chief among the citizens who walked right out of a textbook was a fella who had been rather too friendly with the booze; years of one too many had rotted his liver, shrivelling it and firming it up, making it almost impassible for its rich blood supply. So now blood finds another way round, and one of those ways is through large dilated veins at the base of his oesophagus.When these varices leak, they do so like a hose. He's been through this once before, but been lost to follow up. So he sat before us, shivering, an odd lemon yellow tint to his gaunt skin. Even as we called the Magicians and the endoscopist, telling them that he was stable, we knew it would turn out to be a lie.But he didn't look too bad.... The KnifeMan blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1646246 Tue, 22 Jul 2008 22:16:00 +0100 1646246 http://theknifeman.blogspot.com/2008/07/on-flail.html Grand old weekend with La Belle Fille... mild deployment of crossface. I think the honeymoon period is over, and we grump at each other a little more. This is probably a good thing; stops the evil humours building up.And then... after driving to Kent for a toddler's birthday party, with balloons an' all, then back to La Belle Fille's place, my concentration wavered for a mo'... and wang!Clipped the curb at 60, and shredded the offside near tyre. Didn't roll it, flip it or get rear-ended which is to be thankful for, I guess.Swore a lot, the called the AA. Their rep took an hour and a half to find me, and when he did arrive, gave me an earful for not knowing where I was.Charming.He recovered me to the nearest services, before gleefully telling me I'd fucked the wheels good and proper, and wo... The KnifeMan blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1646247 Tue, 22 Jul 2008 22:06:00 +0100 1646247 http://theknifeman.blogspot.com/2008/07/if-i-should-fall-to-rise-no-more.html Another one of us runs aground; a fellow blogger, whose work I try to follow closely has been rumbled. It's always a risk, if one tries to keep this sort of thing secret. For those of us who blog about events that might have involved other people have to worry about libel, and, for the medical blogger, issues of confidentiality.There have been a few relatively high profile cases, and I think it's why most, if not all of us write hypothetical, or composite cases. I occasionally mention real people, and talk about patients, but I remind you all once again that the details of the cases are representative only.Except of course when I saw that Patricia Hewitt is a bitch. That's true.Fact.Anyway, I'm not sure what fate awaits our fellow blogger. People I work with know I blog, but have chosen no... The KnifeMan blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1635098 Thu, 17 Jul 2008 20:12:00 +0100 1635098 http://theknifeman.blogspot.com/2008/07/singing-body-electric.html Hacked off.Lethargic, a bit febrile, and with, as ever too much to do, and too little motivation.Spent the weekend with La Belle Fille, but was so intent on trying to make her proud of me in front of her friends, rather became a show off, and then something of a penis. Just once, it would be nice if I could cut loose without being an arse; mea culpa, mea culpa, mea maxima culpa.Have found sleep hard to come by the last few days, so increasingly ratty at work. I always resent being tired ad grumpy at work; it makes me short with people who don't deserve it, or at times when more could be achieved with less acid on the tongue. Particularly frustrating to me today were the efforts of some of my surgical colleagues to avoid admitting an old boy with a dental abscess.I fully recognise that I am... The KnifeMan blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1631337 Wed, 16 Jul 2008 20:35:00 +0100 1631337 http://theknifeman.blogspot.com/2008/07/finale.html Wimbledon is going to the wire as I write...So - yes, a fractured clavicle, which was spotted; but as the second recall X-Ray shows, a few busted ribs too. Try as I might, I cannot see them on the original, even with the advantage of digital viewing, denied you guys...It's still not a brilliant image, but I think you can see the healing right sided rib injuries. Thankfully, no underlying lung damage.Nights pass, as they do; Friday was busy for TooTall Student, so I think she got a good flavour of the ED. My main flail was trying not to call her by La Belle Fille's name... We ended on a Shroom 8 a.m. special. Just as we wound down for handover, the call came in, courtesy of BatPhone. The real deal - 40s, cardiac arrest 15 minutes away. !5 anxious minutes to try and gear up, try and get your... The KnifeMan blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1583004 Sun, 06 Jul 2008 18:23:00 +0100 1583004 http://theknifeman.blogspot.com/2008/07/white-hare.html Another long week... nights to follow; I swapped a while back, without realisation that this would lead to a 14 day stretch... I suppose our sins always find us out, and it could be worse... Too-Tall medical student is on with me tonight, and has promised not wear heels, so maybe I can play some part in furthering the education of the next generation. Or not...Many brave small folks this week. I think I've offered before on how the self-possession of some children just takes my breath away. I don't know whether his is because they've been brought up that way, or if they just are. This li'l fella let us straighten this with just nitrous; he barely blinked... Go figure... Well, time to see what joy the night will bring. UK readers should take the time to go see Kung Fu Panda. You know it ma... The KnifeMan blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1577417 Fri, 04 Jul 2008 17:51:00 +0100 1577417 http://theknifeman.blogspot.com/2008/07/dance-like-nobody-is-watching.html ImpactED nurse is always worth reading; but occasionally unearths a real gem. There's hope for us all... (Source: The KnifeMan) The KnifeMan blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1577418 Fri, 04 Jul 2008 17:49:00 +0100 1577418 http://theknifeman.blogspot.com/2008/07/mea-maxima-culpa.html Continuing the missed X-Ray series.I thought the second radiograph was o.k; so I fell back on the age old staple of serial observation. The patient settled, so no CT. 3 weeks later she called to say the pain had not settled, and returned for a review...I apologise for the limited quality of the images thusfar; but I think the abnormalities are visible on this one; sadly my colleague, who reviewed the patient, didn't... (Source: The KnifeMan) The KnifeMan blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1577419 Fri, 04 Jul 2008 17:40:00 +0100 1577419 http://theknifeman.blogspot.com/2008/06/gathering-dark.html Some shifts you just want to go home and stand under a hot shower...La Belle Fille has been away this weekend, living it up in the country. I have missed her, perhaps more than I expected. Which I actually think is a good sign, at least for our future. We seem well suited, despite the fact that what I intend as gentle teasing oft emerges as slightly insensitive / poor humour. My boss thinks she's to good fro me, and she might be right. Still, I am assured that she acquitted herself admirably both on guitar and vocals (in Rock Band.)I am proud.The Department was generally quiet today; but the BatPhone trilled its urgent call to shatter all that. Normally the figures Control relay to us are all business - pulse rate, blood pressure, Glasgow Coma Score... tonight, they added another - the pat... The KnifeMan blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1556454 Mon, 30 Jun 2008 02:31:00 +0100 1556454 http://theknifeman.blogspot.com/2008/06/mea-culpa-2.html No dissection; and indeed I have the luxury of digital X-rays. An advantage that I did not use to it's fullest; indeed it seems slightly unfair to ask you all to comment, given the poor quality of the images... but it's only light hearted.I was worried about the bases, and not entirely happy with the supine film, so repeated it, with patient sat up.Here it is:(I have tried to make the image bigger, but to little avail...) (Source: The KnifeMan) The KnifeMan blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1554537 Sun, 29 Jun 2008 20:45:00 +0100 1554537 http://theknifeman.blogspot.com/2008/06/missed-x-rays-of-uncle-shroom.html Part of the 'mea culpa' series. Hopefully, a very occasional series. In several parts.Young woman, blunt force trauma to head and right chest. Primary survey unremarkable. Supine chest as follows. (Reported as normal by Radiology... and myself of course)Comments? (Source: The KnifeMan) The KnifeMan blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1554538 Sun, 29 Jun 2008 12:50:00 +0100 1554538 http://theknifeman.blogspot.com/2008/06/on-top-doggy-and-normal.html A Tale Of Three...You came first; reluctant, disgruntled. A familiar ale, of a rough struggle in the night, steel toe-capped boots leaving their angry retort. A litany of complaints, of your head, your neck, your chest and your shakes. We saw you immediately. You argued with us then, unhappy at your confinement, unwilling to see the necessity... we explained, cajoled. You swore and threatened. We hoped it was your head injury... it was just you. We cleared your neck, offered pain relief, albeit not the opiates you wanted, eased your shakes. It wasn't enough. We were too slow to bring you the coffee and sandwiches you wanted. You told us you couldn't walk, couldn't see, couldn't turn your head. But when no food was forthcoming, you got up, looked around, offered one final charming epithet a... The KnifeMan blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1546832 Thu, 26 Jun 2008 12:58:00 +0100 1546832 http://theknifeman.blogspot.com/2008/06/im-mr-too.html Belligerent Shroom; Brief post; Apologies.Nights have been and gone, surprisingly quietly. The only evidence they were ever there are a few straightened ankles, and the disruption to my body clock.One of Shroom's good friends has found her life goin' a little bit sour. Through no fault of her own, but because one of her housemates lacks social integration skills. I can't pretend to be in his head, and it's true that every story has two sides, but he seems to have a crush, for want of a better word, on her. And is having trouble adjusting to the fact that his feelings are not reciprocated.I know how that feels, so feel I can offer the following advice: tough shit, Paddy.Life is full of disappointment; how we deal with it is one of the ways in which we measure ourselves. There will always be... The KnifeMan blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1535881 Sat, 21 Jun 2008 12:54:00 +0100 1535881 http://theknifeman.blogspot.com/2008/06/ionising-radiation.html Nice to know that even eminent colleagues, like Dr Schwab, get odd visitors too.A few pictures, I think. My night is slow, or was until I jinxed my self by writing that...A personal triumphThe cast is perhaps not as well molded as it might have been, but I enjoyed the reduction.An oddity:Fell off the sofa apparently; was advised, over the phone, to ice it...And lastly, a little sadness...The images show CT of the brain, with the upper view showing a monstrous intra-parenchymal bleed - the white area inside the grey. An blood clot of truly epic proportions, within the very substance of the brain, and forcing its way into all the intimate nooks and crannies.The coronal view was part of a CT arteriogram, so the bleed is less obvious, but is the ill defined light grey mass in the centre / cent... The KnifeMan blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1531524 Thu, 19 Jun 2008 03:52:00 +0100 1531524 http://theknifeman.blogspot.com/2008/06/singer-sings-his-song.html Another one down.Did not exacly distinguish myself during my assessment today. Organisation evidently not my strongpoint. Something to learn from, I guess...The Department was, surprisingly, quiet. We're one down tonight, so it'll undoubtedly be carnage. Most of my time was occupied trying to sooth the tortured mind of a young fella in the throes of mental collapse; for a while he did a good job of trying to scare us into thinking he was a 'terror suspect'. Paranoia strikes deep...Is there hope for him? I'm not sure, but it does worry me that we started to see him in turns of what he looked like, what 'profile' he fitted, instead of what was wrong with him.Or am I still too naive? (Source: The KnifeMan) The KnifeMan blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1526564 Tue, 17 Jun 2008 18:51:00 +0100 1526564 http://theknifeman.blogspot.com/2008/06/im-sorry.html In trying to post more frequently, while lacking the intellectual prowess to hold forth in a meaningful way about the big stories of the day, one runs the risk of running short of inspiration.While casting about, I elected to see from whence my visitors come...Most unusual referrer goes to whomever elected to use Google Australia to answer the query 'How is knee fucking done?'.I have no idea why you'd wanna know, or indeed how they ended up here.Food for thought? Nights await, so maybe some more laughs to share tomorrow. (Source: The KnifeMan) The KnifeMan blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1522348 Mon, 16 Jun 2008 17:49:00 +0100 1522348 http://theknifeman.blogspot.com/2008/06/theres-weasel-chomping-on-his-privates.html Apparently, anything can be made funnier by the addition of the word 'weasel'. I'm told this is especially true if it can be shoe-horned into joke punchlines.During the Annual Parade, Lt Col Smithers noticed some odd behaviour among the men of 1st Battalion. he asked his adjutant: 'What's wrong with Major Sharpe's men? They all seem to be jigging up and down as they march?'. 'Oh that', replied the aide, 'Well, apparently...' (Source: The KnifeMan) The KnifeMan blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1518886 Sat, 14 Jun 2008 14:18:00 +0100 1518886