Today I returned to maternity which is where I am assigned (if all goes well) for the rest of the week. The day consisted of rounds on postpartum patients followed by three back to back C-sections for various reasons. By the third, I felt like there was no more sweat my body could give as it is unbearably hot in the operating room. The temperature is whatever the temperature is outside because there are open windows at the tops of the walls. This means at noon the temperature is roughly 90°F. Typically operating rooms are roughly 65-70°F. This warmth is great for the newborns, not so much for the mothers or medical staff. No one fainted today but the surgeon regaled me with stories of those that have. It was almost end of the workday and the time we wrapped up in the operating room. After this, there was the daily rain shower, dinner, and downtime with the housemates. And just like that, sadly only one Monday left in Kiwoko.
Lugandan word of the day: ow’omukwano (oh-woh-moo-kwah-no”, noun, friend)
Medical learning point of the day: When operative reports are unavailable and there is a vertical scar on a pregnant mother’s abdomen from a prior cesarean section, proceed with c-section through that same incision site as there is most likely a reason this was needed during the last procedure. Consider vertical skin incision if they have had more than four cesarean sections due to the risk of extensive underlying scarring/adhesions.
