Wow.

[kyburg]

The finesse is in the hands. Dr. Kato’s moved with confidence and grace that became all the more apparent when he worked across the operating table from someone less deft. An anesthesiologist said Dr. Kato had “soft hands,” reflected in the monitors tracking the patient’s pulse, breathing, electrocardiogram and blood pressure. When soft hands cut, stitched and moved organs around, the monitor readings held steady, but they spiked up and down when rough hands took over.

Surgeons tie knots in every single stitch. Dr. Kato said he made anywhere from 3 to 10 knots per stitch, depending on the type of suture material and the tissue being sewn. Nylon takes more knots than silk, arteries more than veins. Looking over his shoulder was like watching a magician: with a wave of his fingers, a knot would form, and it was possible to see the trick over and over without quite knowing how it was done. For Mr. Collison’s operation, he would ultimately tie 5,000 knots.

And they had to be tied just so. When a surgeon still in training pulled a knot too tight, Dr. Kato said, softly but insistent, “Don’t break the tissue, please.” At times, if helping hands fumbled, he would gently brush them away and say, “No, let me do it.”

26 hours and change to make it happen.

Amazing. Stuff you just don't hear about.

Comments

[peachtales.livejournal.com]

Wow.

[lesliepear.livejournal.com]

wow!

[nagasvoice.livejournal.com]

They work to have the stamina to do those knots, too.
The guy who did arthroscopic knee surgery on me 20 years ago was also oddly shaped because he did extremely heavy duty weightlifting. He was about as wide and muscly a guy as I've ever seen, before or since.
He said it was to make sure he stayed steady when he was doing 5-6 hours in an operating room.
I can believe it too.

[monkeyfruit.livejournal.com]

Awesome!