neurosurgery

Today, I learned from Dr. Holmes MD a REAL neurosurgeon! Here are some facts about a nerosurgeon


 * A neurosurgeon operates on the brain and on the spine.
 * In our spine there is something called a spinal cord. This cord is what sends signals to our body parts to tell them what to do.
 * Sometimes, a person may need to have a spinal tap done. This is when the doctor will put a needle into your spine and check the fluid that is there.If the fluid is clear you are fine but, if the fluid is cloudy there is a build up of white blood cells. If the fluid is red it means you may be bleeding but it could just be from the needle. The spinal tap is also used to measure the pressure in your brain. When the brain pressure goes up the fluid in the needle will go up.
 * Since the space in your brain is so small if you start to hemorrhage there it will put pressure on the brain and may damage it.
 * When the spine is damaged, a doctor may put parts of titanium there to help it heal.
 * The chance of your spine breaking lower in your back has less of a chance than up in your neck. This is due to cartilage and other flesh holding it to your pelvis. Up in your neck it moves a lot more and chance of breaking increases.
 * If your spinal cord breaks there is no way to fix it. You may have a chance of paralysis to ANY part of your body.
 * The tools for a neurosurgery are many (up to 100!) and the surgeon needs an assistant to hand him/her them..
 * Training to be a neurosurgeon is long with 4 years of college and 4 years of med school then 7 years of training in the field.
 * Before surgery there is something called a time out. A time out is where the team checks to make sure they have the right patient, tools, medicines and personel.
 * The hours are long sometimes from 2:00 am to 12:00 midnight! Some surgeries can be 22 hours long!

Being a neurosurgeon is not easy but if you love it enough, and set your mind to it, __anything__ can be accomplished.