The Intern Blues(151)

And so, as in so many different events that occurred in this book, we’re left with a difference of opinion. Amy Horowitz, who following completion of her training chose not to practice medicine, believes that internship could never be worth the torture she was forced to endure. Andy Baron and Mark Greenberg, however, agree that internship was worth it, because it proved to be a means to an end, the end being a career in medicine. They never would want to go through it again, though.

Something Andy told me during our recent conversation is still reverberating in my head. “Internship is like a bad dream,” he said. “When you’re having it, it seems like the most terrifying thing in the world. In the morning, it still seems pretty bad, but in the light of day, the details are blurry and don’t make a lot of sense. Then, after a few days have passed, you almost can’t remember it anymore. You know you had a dream, you know it was scary, but all the details are gone.”

I think that’s how most physicians remember their internships.





Glossary


abruptio placentae Separation of the placenta from its attachment on the wall of the uterus. Dangerous because it deprives the fetus of oxygen.

acidosis Buildup of acid in the blood.

acute abdomen Term used to describe condition in which an abdominal catastrophe is occurring. Causes of acute abdomen include ruptured appendix, and inflammation of the pancreas and gallbladder.

agonal rhythm A pattern of electric activity generated by the heart just prior to death.

A-line Abbreviation for arterial line, a tube placed in an artery used for sampling blood.

ALL Abbreviation for acute lymphocytic leukemia, a common form of childhood cancer.

AMA Abbreviation for “against medical advice,” the situation in which a patient signs out of the hospital before his doctor considers it safe to do so.

ambubag A device used to force air into the lungs; consists of a mask that covers the mouth and nose and a rubber bag that, when squeezed, generates a gust of air under pressure. Used in respiratory arrests.

aminophylline Drug used for treating asthma.

aneurysm of the ascending aorta A ballooning out of the aorta, the main artery bringing blood to the baby.

antecubital vein A vein at the elbow that usually is most accessible for blood drawing.

APGAR scores A scoring system, designed for use in the newborn, that monitors fetal and neonatal well-being. Maximum score is 10.

ARC Abbreviation for AIDS-related complex.

ARDS Abbreviation for adult respiratory distress syndrome, a condition in which respiratory failure occurs.

argininosuccinicaduria A rare inborn error of metabolism that leads to mental retardation and often to premature death.

aspiration The act of breathing in; aspiration pneumonia results from the breathing in of foreign substances, such as meconium in the newborn.

atelectasis Collapse of the lung.

ATG Abbreviation for antithymocyte globulin, a drug used in patients who are rejecting transplanted organs.

bagging The act of forcing air into the lungs of a patient having difficulty breathing.

BCW Bureau of Child Welfare, the New York State agency charged with investigating and acting upon cases of suspected child abuse.

Benadryl An antihistamine used in treatment of allergic reactions.

beta HCG A blood test to diagnose pregnancy; more accurate than a urine pregnancy test.

bicarbonate A drug used in patients with acidosis (see above).

bladder tap Procedure in which a needle is passed through the lower abdominal wall and into the bladder so that an uncontaminated sample of urine can be obtained.

blood gas A test done on a sample of arterial blood that tells the amount of oxygen and carbon dioxide within the body.

bradycardia Abnormal slowing of the heart rate.

bronchiolitis Inflammation of the bronchioles, the small air passages leading to the lungs. This is a condition that resembles asthma and occurs in children under a year of age.

bronchopleural fistula A leak in the main air tube that causes air to leak into the pleural cavity, causing a tension pneumothorax.

BUN Abbreviation for blood urea nitrogen, a substance that builds up in renal failure and in dehydration.

CAC Abbreviation for “clear all corridors”; a general request, announced over the loudspeaker, for help at a cardiac arrest.

cadaveric transplant A transplant performed using an organ obtained from a person who has died.

cardiac cath A procedure in which a catheter is placed in an artery or vein and threaded up to the heart, at which point a dye is inserted. Used to define the nature of heart disease.

CBC Complete blood count. A blood test to examine the content of hemoglobin, red blood cells, and white blood cells within a sample of blood.

central line A tube placed in one of the major blood vessels, usually in the neck or the groin.