Quickly, Geoff handed him the instrument.
David placed the blade on the exposed muscle tissue and began to slice deeply until he reached the bone. Dragging the scalpel around the leg, he cut through the muscle in the same fashion he did with the upper layer of skin.
“So much blood,” Geoff responded in horror.
“In modern medicine, we’d be suctioning it all away. Working under these conditions, we just have to deal with it,” David responded.
Having parted the upper and lower muscle, David now took a long strip of cloth and slid it down into the incision. Wrapping it around the bone, he pulled each end of the cloth upward toward the knee, dragging the muscle with it, exposing bare bone underneath. He then secured the ends of the cloth, holding the muscle in place.
“Ok, we’ve just dissected and prepped the area. We’ll now be amputating the leg. Bone saw please,” he asked.
Geoff pulled the sterilized saw from the water and handed it to him. David placed the saw an inch below the secured muscle and made two light passes, creating a small cut line in the bone.
“This is it Geoff. Come around on the other side of me and hold the leg stable as we discussed earlier. Make sure as I cut, the bone stays perfectly straight, otherwise the saw could bind or the bone could splinter under the strain.”
Geoff nodded simply, then came around and held the leg.
“Ready?” David asked, encouragingly.
“As I’ll ever be,” he replied with apprehension.
“Don’t worry. This is fast. Less than minute or so. Just make sure you keep the lower leg perfectly straight,” he instructed.
Geoff nodded, then David began to saw. Bits of bone shavings and blood mounded on each side of the blade as he sawed through the bone. A minute later, with only a fragment of bone material holding the leg together, he signaled to Geoff.
“This is it… the most critical cut. Stay sharp,” he said to Geoff in serious tone.
Geoff focused on his own muscle control. Holding the leg steady, he watched David make two more passes through the bone. Suddenly, the lower leg rolled to one side, now fully detached from the rest of the leg. Geoff stared at the gruesome sight for a moment, then lifted the leg from the table. He reverently picked it up and sat it in a waiting basket sitting on the ground next to the wagon. Without another word, he moved back to the other side of David.
“Good job Geoff,” David commented, then said, “Time to close the tissues around the bone.”
David took a scalpel and held it to the cloth strips that held back the muscle.
“Once I release the muscle, it’ll snap back in place and cover the bone. I’ll do the same with the top layer of skin after that. When it’s all in place, I’ll tie off the bleeding arteries and stitch the wound closed. Ready?” he asked.
Geoff nodded.
David cut the cloth strips. Instantly, the compressed muscle expanded and came to rest back to its original position. Next, he sliced through the thread holding the skin. Like the muscle, it too expanded, slipping over the top of the muscle. David grabbed the edges of the skin and pulled, stretching it down over the stump end of the leg.
“Ok, loosen the tourniquet so we can see where the bleeders are,” he instructed.
Geoff reached above the leg and turned the clamp of the tourniquet, releasing blood to the lower leg. Instantly, blood began to flow.
“Got ‘em,” David shouted.
Working quickly, he tied knots around the bleeding arteries, closing off the flow of blood.
“Release the tourniquet,” he asked.
Geoff did as requested.
With very little blood oozing from the wound, David began to close. He made several incisions, reshaping the skin around the stump.
“Ok, I’ll now need needle and thread,” David asked.
Geoff threaded another needle and handed it to David.
He placed stitches in the skin, and pulled the opposing sides together, effectively closing the wound. Pouring sterilized water on the repaired leg, he washed away the blood and cleaned the sewn stump. In the final step of the procedure, he wrapped the leg in bandages.
“Done,” he said confidently, wiping a bit of moisture from his brow with his sleeve. “What do you think?”
Geoff stood back and took in the sight. He breathed a heavy sigh.
“Oh my God, that was just awful. I could never do this for a living. How do you do it?” he asked, his tone now filled with respect.
David smiled nonchalantly and said, “Eh, nerves of steel.” He smiled at Geoff, then continued. “Seriously though, I kind of felt the same way you did when I watched my first real operation. It is disturbing knowing that you’re working on a real person. It feels unnatural and ugly… but after a while, you do get used to it. What helped me in the beginning was that I realized that without surgery, without medicine, the patient would probably have died. Understanding that simple fact helped me to put away my emotions and overcome the tragedy.”
Geoff thought about David’s words. He nodded reluctantly and said, “I hear you, but I’m still freaked out.”
David smiled in understanding, then signaled for another wounded man to be brought up.
-----*-----*-----*-----
Over the next several hours, David and Geoff worked together treating the wounded. With each new patient, Geoff slowly overcame his revulsion to surgery and his thirst for knowledge grew. Fear and apprehension were now replaced by curiosity and desire. Within a few short hours, as his confidence grew, he began to anticipate David’s actions.
“Clamp,” David asked, while staring down at a bleeding artery.
Even before he finished his statement, Geoff was holding the waiting instrument. Quickly, he placed the tool in David’s hand and reached for the needle and thread.
“You’re doing great work Geoff. You’re like a machine,” he said, in stunned amazement. “Your instincts are incredible.”
Geoff beamed as he handed David the needle. Looking on from the wagon next to them, Doc noticed the teen’s skill too.
“I’m thinking he’s far more valuable in surgery than behind the sights of a sharp shooter’s rifle. Maybe you should advance his skill a bit further… have him perform some minor operations… under your guidance of course.”
“I was thinking the same thing,” David replied.
“What do you mean? Like me slicing into someone?” Geoff asked, in horror. “No way! I don’t mind handing over the instruments, but actually cutting into someone… I just don’t think I can do that.”
“You had biology in school, right?” David asked.
“Yeah.”
“Did you dissect frogs and things like that?”
“We even dissected a baby pig… a fetus, actually,” Geoff replied.
“Well, you’ve already done this then. It really isn’t any different,” David responded matter-of-factly.
“Except it’s on a human being,” Geoff protested.
“Geoffrey, did you like shooting at the enemy?” Doc jumped in.
“No way, it sucked,” he replied bluntly
“But you overcame your aversion and became quite astute with your skill, did you not?”
“What’s your point?” he asked, already knowing the answer.
“There on the battlefield, you took an instrument and caused death. Here in surgery, you can take an instrument and save lives. Your aversion to both is the same, yet one is for the betterment of mankind. If you’ve demonstrated you can overcome one. I’m quite certain you can overcome the other.”
Looking up from his work, David said, “I have a small piece of tissue to trim away. Care to give it a try?”
Geoff looked to Doc for moral support.
“You can do it Geoffrey. I’m certain you can,” Doc said, enthusiastically.
David held out the scalpel and waited.
Geoff eyed the cold steel instrument with apprehension. Slowly he extended his hand. Taking the scalpel, he stood in clo
se to David.
“This better not scar me for life or I’ll kill you… and remember, I can do it too,” Geoff joked in poor taste.
David ignored the humor and pointed.
“Ok, do you remember what I’ve been telling you about shaping the skin for closure?”
Geoff nodded nervously.
“The area around the stump is shaped so that when it’s folded over the muscle, it all comes together nicely. There’s no loose or overlapping skin… except for this one little piece here,” David said, holding it with a pair of forceps. “Use the scalpel and slice it off along the area between the clamp and forceps.”
Geoff took a deep breath and exhaled. He placed the scalpel at the edge of the skin flap and sliced through it. David instantly pulled it away and held it out for Doc to see.
“Great job Geoffrey. I’m proud of you,” he said, now grinning ear to ear.
Geoff beamed with pride once more.
“Man, that was a piece of cake,” he remarked confidently. “Got any more?”
“I will momentarily, Lad,” Doc responded proudly.
David smiled to Doc and said, “I think we’ve created a monster.”
-----*-----*-----*-----
As the light of day began to fall, lanterns were set up to aid in surgery. With barely a moment to take a break, the men operated well into the evening. By nine o’clock, the three felt exhausted. After hours of exposure to blood, it had soaked into their skin, wrinkling their fingers and making the instruments hard to grasp.
Looking over to Doc, David said, “I don’t know about you, but I’m about done. The scalpels keep slipping through my fingers.”
Doc smiled in relief.
“I’m glad you said so Lad. I was trying to hold on as long as you, but I’m afraid I wouldn’t have lasted much longer.”
“You should have said something sooner. I was just trying to keep up with you,” David said with a laugh.
“I’d be asleep hours ago if it wasn’t for my growling stomach waking me up,” Geoff added.
“I believe our decision is unanimous then. Shall we relax by the fire?” Doc said, slipping off his bloody smock.
“If we had one to sit by,” Geoff shot back, sarcastically.
“I’m certain there’s one we can commandeer,” David said with a cryptic smile.
“Being a general does afford one certain privileges, doesn’t it?” Doc retorted.
An hour later, the three men sat by a roaring fire and dined on boiled vegetables and beef. Barely waiting for their soup to cool, each wolfed down the contents of their tin. Shortly thereafter, the three stretched out on the hard ground and sipped their coffee.
“That was the longest day of my life,” Geoff said with a yawn.
“Sure beats getting shot at though,” David responded.
“Or worse,” Doc chimed in.
“What time tomorrow do we start again?” Geoff asked.
“There’s no stopping Lad. We’ll be working through the night,” Doc responded instantly.
“No way! I’m freaking tired,” he retorted in disbelief.
“I’m sorry for that Lad, but there are others far worse off that will die tonight unless we continue.”
“That sucks,” Geoff responded coldly. “Isn’t there someone that can fill in for us so we can get some rest?”
“I’m afraid Geoffrey, that anyone that could be filling in for us is already doing so. If you listen closely, you’ll hear the moans from the wounded men. As surgeons, those moans haunt us, calling upon us to save them. Not a single surgeon in this unit denies their requests. Those poor men that suffer in agony have paid a horrific price for my freedom. I believe I can suffer through a little discomfort to save them.”
Geoff sat quietly replaying Doc’s words over and over in his mind. He recalled his own cold words and he felt ashamed. Looking across the fire, David watched Geoff’s expressions move through a range of emotions. Moments later, the teens face carried the look of guilt.
“Lad, I can see you’re tormented by our exchange. Feel shame only if the lesson goes unlearned,” Doc said in a respectful tone.
Geoff looked up from the fire and stared into Doc’s eyes. He saw only the gentle stare of a caring man.
“Sorry,” Geoff said simply.
“Sometimes Geoffrey, our greatest mistakes become our most valuable lessons,” he responded.
“Boy, the lessons I learned as a kid,” David said, jokingly.
Doc smiled cordially and said, “Speaking of lessons, maybe we should think about heading back. I’m sure there’re a few things we could teach the lad about nighttime surgery.”
David stretched his arms out wide and yawned broadly. Standing up, he replied, “I think the only thing we’ll be teaching him is how to hold the lantern still. I really hate low-light surgery.”
“It certainly isn’t my first choice either,” Doc concurred.
Geoff stood up and stretched also. He turned from the fire and began to walk away.
“You’re heading in the wrong direction Lad. Surgery’s this way,” Doc said, pointing behind him.
“I just need to relieve myself.”
“Careful of the smell Geoffrey. It attracts bears,” Doc teased.
Geoff stopped, spun around and hurried back to the fire. Standing in front of Doc, he extended his finger.
“What’s this?” Doc asked, now puzzled.
“Pull my finger,” Geoff said, wiggling his index digit in front of him.
Doc grasped the end and pulled.
Suddenly, and to Doc’s surprise, Geoff passed gas loudly.
“Then maybe I’ll just leave the smell with you,” he said sarcastically.
As he grinned devilishly, Doc stared back in shock. Slowly, he began to realize the joke.
“Masterful flatulence, Lad… simply masterful.”
He thrust his head back and bellowed a loud laugh. Instantly, David and Geoff joined in.
-----*-----*-----*-----
Chapter 13
The Desperate Surgery – Part III:
Year: 2033
…continued.
“Hmm, this is even worse than I anticipated,” he said in a grave tone.
He shot his colleagues an anxious look, then called for the craniotomy drill once more. He positioned it at the next location and switched it on. Instantly, the tool came to life and drowned out all noise from the surrounding monitors. Moments later, the tool switched itself off and Dr. X examined the new location.
Like before, the new hole was viewed with worry as the brain’s protective membrane was forced up through the opening by extreme internal swelling. Fearing time was working against him, he quickly moved onto the last hole of the procedure. Placing the drill at the center of the final location, he switched it on and carved another hole in the corner of the rectangular outline. Minutes later, the motor to the drill went silent and he handed it back to the nurse.
Without a moment to spare, he called out for his next tool.
“Dissector,” he shouted.
Instantly, Nurse Taylor slapped the instrument into his waiting hand.
Using the probe, he carefully slipped it past the bloated membrane and forced the tool inside the hole. Working it under the edges of the small opening, he began to separate the membrane from the skull. With the dura now detached from the inside of the skull, he moved onto the other two remaining holes, performing the same procedure he had just completed.
When he was done, he threw the bloody instrument onto the surgical tray and called out, “Bone saw!”
Anticipating his next request, Nurse Taylor held the tool out for Dr. X even before his finished his words. Through his mask, he shot an approving nod and she smiled back in appreciation.
He inserted the saw bit into the first hole between the Dura membrane and the skull and switched it on. Instantly, the loud motor blared out its ugly intentions. Dr. X moved the cutting blade along the previously inscribed line as the saw cut through t
he bone. While Dr. X worked on the first line of the rectangle, Dr. Acosta continued to irrigate the mounting bone-shavings, drawing up the debris as he suctioned.
The bone saw whined loudly as it protested its movement across the patient’s skull. Dr. X rocked the tool backward and forward, trying to maximize the cutting blades angle of contact. As he bore down on the bone, the tool sounded out a low growl as it bit into the hardened material. Seconds later, he released his pressure and shifted the blade, causing the motor to instantly sound out a high pitched whine as it breathed relief under the strain. Carrying on with the cut, the motor growled once more, as its teeth chewed through bone.
Prisoner in Time (Time travel) Page 34