Surgery Lessons

September 9, 2022

Lindsay Bailey, AVC 2023, travelled to Port Hope Simpson as one of the student participants on the Chinook Project. As part of the experience, the students craft various pieces of reflective writing.

The Chinook Project has impacted me and shaped me as a future veterinary professional in many ways. The primary skills that I practiced the most were my surgery skills due to the high volume of spays and neuters that we had. I had one-on-one time with one of the two veterinarians, and I would get feedback every step of the way. It was also valuable to have two veterinarians with different tips and tricks so that I could test out which methods work best for me. 

Lindsay with young patient

I was able to do a couple mature dog spays which were challenging. They were challenging because I had to place more ligatures (tying off blood vessels) than I did for previous surgeries, which were mostly young cats. I placed some ligatures where I did not feel confident that they were as secure as was needed, so I placed more than normal just in case. The ligatures were more difficult due to more fat and tissue that had to be broken down or incorporated into ligatures. I did learn some useful methods on placing ligatures on the uterine veins while also incorporating the uterine body into the ligatures. The closure for these spays were long and tedious, but we did get to practice different suturing techniques. 

I also had the opportunity to do more surgeries. I was able to do quite a few dog neuters until I felt somewhat more comfortable in doing them. I did some cat spays and a young puppy spay. The young puppy spay was nerve-wracking because I was not sure how she would do under anesthesia; she recovered well though. 

Although I do appreciate all of the surgery practice I had during the trip, I also appreciate that I have learned that surgery is not my favorite area in veterinary medicine. It could be because I am frustrated that I am not better at surgery. It could also be that I am not a fan of surgery. Despite feeling this way, I am very grateful to practice my surgery skills, to learn new tips, and to learn that surgery is not what gets me excited about veterinary medicine.  

Not everything was strictly a lesson on veterinary medicine. I liked the sense of community I felt in working shoulder-to-shoulder on a small team. I enjoyed getting to know the community and seeing their appreciation for treating their pets’ ear infections and providing analgesia for arthritis. It was obvious that this community adored their pets and did what they could to keep their pets happy with no easily accessible veterinary care. They showered us with food and gifts to show their appreciation and thanks for our help. It was a wonderful opportunity that I will not take for granted and will carry with me throughout my career.