The Operation Theatre or OT as we call it, is truly a theatre. Multiple operations take place here, some minor, some major, one after another, daily. And in each one, there is an actual patient’s life at stake. It is dramatical. What many don’t know is that the workings of an OT are dramatical too. Almost like an opera or a multi-orchestra symphony. We can see the drama unfolding daily if we watch carefully. The in-charge nurse holding the conductor’s baton and directing all the notes perfectly. The tunes playing beautifully as each patient is wheeled in, prepared, anesthetized, operated, woken up and wheeled out.
There is a lot of preparation which goes ahead of course. Cleaning of the operation theatres and instruments up to sterility. Maintaining strict sterile protocols, preparation of operation trolleys specific to each surgery with all its associated nuances, making all specific instruments and materials available, ensuring perfect functioning of all equipment etc etc.
Finally, the show begins. And is and has to be executed perfectly every day. Lives depend on this performance, literally. Multiple characters in the form of surgeons, anesthesiologists, assistant doctors, nurses, technicians, support staff and of course, the patients, unaware of the drama, sleeping peacefully.
A good team is essential to the success of the operation. Experienced scrub nurses and techs have been known to save the day many a time. Most of the times, instruments and equipment pass wordlessly between the scrub nurse and the surgeon as the operation theatre music plays in the background. Oops, looks like I let you all in on a secret 😉. Yes, good music also contributes to surgical performance. A music to the surgeon’s liking keeps them calm and give a good performance themselves. It could be any music from instrumental, jazz to Kishore kumar, Bollywood numbers and even hard rock and metal in some cases. My personal favorite being 90s Bollywood songs.
It is not all smooth always of course. There are crescendos in the performance occasionally, times of acute stress and drama, particularly in complex surgeries or emergencies. There may seem to be times of chaos, occasional puddles of blood, wailing of newly delivered babies, bones being drilled or hammered, surgeons shouting orders. To an outsider, this might all seem to end in a nail-biting climax. However, for the expert theater staff, this is just a usual day at work. “Saving lives; that’s what we do eh”, they shrug.
COVID has somewhat dampened this performance. Since March 2020, the word normal has been replaced with “the new normal”. What with the mandatory and uncomfortable PPE kits, the usual banter and camaraderie among staff is missed. Low numbers of elective surgeries also seems to have lead to boredom on one hand, fear of losing job on the other.
Finally, we are seeing some relief in the deadly second wave of Covid-19. The lockdowns plus the increasing vaccinations and precautions by people in general are showing us this. The new normal is here to stay for some time. This is for everyone’s safety of course. Afterall, as much as we want to give a great performance daily, we also want to return home to our loved ones.
But I do miss the old normal. When this pandemic is behind us, we will celebrate again, the drama that is My Operation Theatre.