Situs inversus + other doctorly tidbits
Posted 07-15-2009 at 09:44 PM by cornyjohn
I helped out our local doctor today (and I will be tomorrow, as well) with his rounds in the clinic. Today was mostly a learning day... Making sure I can read blood pressures right, taking an accurate history, that type deal.
You should probably know this doctor is a jokester and he enjoys having fun in the clinic, so he sent me in to practice examining a 76 year old female patient (of whose name I'm legally bound not to reveal), check her BP, and take a quick history. He already knew that information but needed me to do it to see if I was competent.
BP was normal, I did a thorough history, but when I went popped in my stethoscope (did I mention I got one of those?) to check her heart and breathing, I was shocked. On the left side of her chest, I couldn't find her heart. Embarrassing, really, when you consider it makes a pretty unmistakable sound.
I tell her I need to consult the doctor a minute and go out. I explain my findings, and he looks at me really seriously and says something like, "That could be serious." and runs into the room to check her himself. I follow.
He pulls out a stethoscope and listens for a moment, looks up, and shakes his head as if to say, "Nope, not there." He then checked the right side... And bid me to do the same.
Back goes the stethoscope... [I]Bu-bump. Bu-bump.[/I] I'm seriously WTFing right about then and he says two words in Latin--situs inversus--and told me to Bing it (doesn't sound as catchy as "Google it", but hooray, Microsoft!).
Anyway, she has a condition that literally means "reversed site". What this means is all of her internal organs are exactly opposite of what side they should be on. It's caused by a birth defect when the embryo is about 7 days old.
He knew that's what I'd do the whole time--freak.
I also took a look at a drunk patient with rectal bleeding and another man who passed out every time he had a coughing fit. This, my friends, is my life's calling. It's been the best day I could have... Even better than having sex.
Ooh, did you guys see what I did there? I put something above man's natural craving for a mate. Hombre is gonna kill me.
You should probably know this doctor is a jokester and he enjoys having fun in the clinic, so he sent me in to practice examining a 76 year old female patient (of whose name I'm legally bound not to reveal), check her BP, and take a quick history. He already knew that information but needed me to do it to see if I was competent.
BP was normal, I did a thorough history, but when I went popped in my stethoscope (did I mention I got one of those?) to check her heart and breathing, I was shocked. On the left side of her chest, I couldn't find her heart. Embarrassing, really, when you consider it makes a pretty unmistakable sound.
I tell her I need to consult the doctor a minute and go out. I explain my findings, and he looks at me really seriously and says something like, "That could be serious." and runs into the room to check her himself. I follow.
He pulls out a stethoscope and listens for a moment, looks up, and shakes his head as if to say, "Nope, not there." He then checked the right side... And bid me to do the same.
Back goes the stethoscope... [I]Bu-bump. Bu-bump.[/I] I'm seriously WTFing right about then and he says two words in Latin--situs inversus--and told me to Bing it (doesn't sound as catchy as "Google it", but hooray, Microsoft!).
Anyway, she has a condition that literally means "reversed site". What this means is all of her internal organs are exactly opposite of what side they should be on. It's caused by a birth defect when the embryo is about 7 days old.
He knew that's what I'd do the whole time--freak.
I also took a look at a drunk patient with rectal bleeding and another man who passed out every time he had a coughing fit. This, my friends, is my life's calling. It's been the best day I could have... Even better than having sex.
Ooh, did you guys see what I did there? I put something above man's natural craving for a mate. Hombre is gonna kill me.
Total Comments 9
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Lol at last part.
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Good for you.
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I'm happy for you dude. Now just get eight years of collage, and set up shop.
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Rectal Bleeding... Fun!
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My mom knw a person like that with the oppsite side organ condition thingy.
CJ,you better be careful before he makes you do physicals of patiients 13 years old and above,may not be pretty if you know what I meam. YThe doctor must love giving females check-ups since you mentioned fun. |
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i'm totally going to bring up situs inversus with my med student brother now in case he doesn't know about it, so i can feel smart.
and if he does i'll just have to unsubtly change the subect and make a hasty getaway. |
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I didn't even know that was Possible! Way cool....
Lol at the last part. |
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Situs inversus shoud be relatively common (1 in 8,500), and everyone who has the condition would tell their doctor, so I assume he's going to know.
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damn. there goes my planned one up on him, then.
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