Our global health participants continue to have an amazing experience in Amritsar. The best part about our elective is the combination of clinical anesthesia exposure in a developing nation with educational modules that enrich the globally conscious physician.
Over the last several days, it seems that our residents and faculty are truly immersing themselves in this unique opportunity. Recent excerpts from their travel diary…
Tuesday, March 11th
This morning, after a stressful search for coffee, we attended a resident lecture on the physiologic changes of pregnancy. (Above)
Dr Gupta then showed us the mysterious inner workings of an anesthesia machine! (Below) This machine, which is still currently in use, can administer 100% nitrous oxide. We rounded in the ICU with Dr Gupta and one of the residents. Patients must pay for their medical care. Currently their ICU census is decreased due to an increase in fees. We saw a few head injury patients from MVAs, which is not surprising if you have seen the traffic here. We also saw the NICU, pain clinic, pre-anesthesia testing area, emergency room, surgical wards, and step-down unit.
Master Ajit's school was our next stop. (Above) The school is located in India's “colony of widows" where the incidence of alcohol and drug abuse among men is so high that many women are left widowed. Master Ajit has dedicated his life's work to this school where the children learn many practical life skills. The children particularly loved Dr. Kopman and his camera.
Wednesday, March 12th
We began our day at Kanha Sweets, enjoying some puri and chai. After breakfast, we headed to Sri Guru Ram Das Institute, where we saw an inguinal hernia repair on a 4 1/2 year old (skin to skin in 15 minutes!) and the resection of a lip hemangioma on an 18 month old. Both cases were done with the anesthesia postgraduate (resident) hand ventilating the patient via a Jackson-Reese circuit attached to the anesthesia machine.
For lunch, we ate traditional Punjabi fare at Bharawan da Dhabba.
After lunch, we visited the Government Medical College Drug Rehabilitation Centre where we met with Dr. Deepti and resident physicians. (Below) Dr. Deepti runs one of the very few legitimate drug rehabilitation centers in Punjab. His amazing program combines community outreach, patient education and treatment, family involvement and a focus on long-term patient success via safe and progressive means.
