The cardinal signs of intestinal obstruction are abdominal pain and bloating, vomiting and inability to pass motion or flatus. When a patient comes with these symptoms, it is usually a surgical emergency. The main causes to consider would be either a physical block in the intestine, or a loss of peristaltic movement of the intestine.

This 25-year-old man came from a hospital in the neighbouring state with intestinal obstruction. They had already performed a colonosopic examination and an obstruction was found in the colon. For some reason, an operation was not performed.

He came to my hospital and I decided that an urgent laparotomy was needed. The abdomen was extremely bloated already. This was what was found:

A tumour in the colon. It was resected.

Slicing it open lengthwise, the tumour could be seen.

Whatever the age of the patient, obstruction is obstruction. The point is, obstruction due to a mechanical cause needs a laparotomy to relieve it. No matter what the age of the patient.

Uahh.. let me start again by acknowledging these “awards” from fellow bloggers:

The Power of Schmooze award from Bengbeng and Eastcoastlife. Thank you, thank you… err.. is that really a “compliment”. Hmmm.. Nevermind, give it the benefit of the doubt.

Here’s another, a more sarcastic one, from Jonzz. Well.. I deserved it, for procastinating. Hopefully, he’ll bestow a “cheetah” award on me the next time around :-).

It was nice meeting you in person in Penang. Hey, I just realized that, actually… I met ALL of the bloggers here, Bengbeng, Eastcoastlife AND Jonzz in Penang. Thanks for dropping by here, you’all.

Restoring my blog from the back-up has been giving me a hard time. And being busy for the past few days hasn’t helped. I suppose I can call it “trying times”.

1. Trying out new themes and layout.
2. Trying my patience. Hehe.

I’m going to take a break for a while… will be back soon. I know you miss me, but “absence makes the heart grow fonder”.

I hope it’s not “out of sight, out of mind”, though.

Peace.

TAGGED again! This time by Yenjai.

Why would anyone want to know what’s weird about me? Well.. to think about it, it’s an exercise in self-examination. Even if it’s superficial examination, eh? Let me see…

1. I start my rounds at 8 am. Used to start rounds at 7.30am when I was in government. Old habits die hard. If you like to sleep late when you’re in hospital, don’t get admitted in my care. Or remember to leave a “Do not disturb” sign on your door (or over the bed).

What’s weird about that? Office hours start at 8.30am and most of the other consultants start rounds at 9am. I figured that if I start early, the nurses would have some time to breathe later on when ALL the other consultants demand for nurses by their sides. Eh?

Hmm… that means I have more nurses following my rounds too. See, there’s something good from that.

2. I work on Sundays. My off-day is on Saturday. Weird to many people. Except probably Seventh-Day Adventists AND Kedahans. Government departments and schools in Kedah are closed on Fridays and Saturdays. Private businesses including banks are usually closed on Sundays with Saturdays being a half-day for some. So Saturday is an off-day for most people.

3. My spectacles are crooked. Interestingly, it fits me nicely. Hmmm.. what does that tell you?

I guess my face is not symmetrical, eh?

But “otak” centre, ok?

4. I’m the very best last-minute worker. I prepare everything at the very last moment… getting ready for exams, power point presentation, thesis, packing bags, tax returns, car check before long trips, almost everything… only thing that I do early is getting up in the morning.

5. I’m obsessed with the petrol consumption of my cars. Have always been. Even my motorcycle before my car. The calculations are at my fingertips already. The good thing is my vehicles have always been fuel-efficient or else I might be tearing my hair out.

6. I expect to defy the laws of entropy. Eat just as much, same oand expect to lose weight.

Lemme tag….. BibikNyonya.