Necrotising fasciitis

http://atulgawande.com/book/complications

I was reading at a stretch after a long time.

I downloaded these books probably 2 - 3 yrs ago, but didn't read due to several reasons. One I didn't have much time to read this kind of material, second I didn't like the format, third the interest of reading was not strong enough persistently.

But I knew these books were nice and knew about the author.

The book "Complications " I just finished is written by a surgeon; a profession I adore a lot, Dr Atul Gawande.

It's written for non medical people too (even though I doubt they can keep the attention for long in a subject which is too complex and special.)

But I guess a person with enough interest and lust of reading would love it.

I can't recall why I started reading this, but as a habit, I just don't give up reading till I finish the book (although I may skip parts).

I won't describein detail, but he has done a great job neatly writing stories with good flow supported by "I dont know from where he found those" kind of references.

Being a busy surgical resident, I can't imagine how he found time to do that.

The most touching chapter for me was on necrotizing fascitis.

A miserable deadly infection.

He just feel a young girl has it and confirmed with the help of 2 surgeons and 2 pathplogists and saves her limb.

This is close to me for two reasons. I love infectious diseases as a speciality and this was one of the first case reports I've read as a student.

The case report was hanging on our microbiology dept corridor with a picture of the part of the victim.

As I remember he's a estate worker got this so called "flesh eating bacteria" infection just after a abrasion/ bruise after getting hit by a stick if memory is correct.

I was amazed to read that this trivial injury with superadded infection killed him even after amputation. But I learnt simply a bacteria could do that. But I can not remember a real case I have seen.

The second stream of thoughts is pride and happiness (may be driven by ego) that I would think of that if I see this index patient in the book.

That's one of good thing in Medicine, where a junior member of the team may think of something a senior may forget.

This is natural because in the vast field of medicine one person obviously can't know everything.

It reminds me of a second story about a wiered fungal infection of a kid I saw few years ago, which I may write later.

The valuable lesson is that you can learn from anything and everything you come across in Medicine. The things you learn may help to save a life one day.

(* I may write a second part of this to elaborate more)