Neurosurgery: Comparing Real Life To Television Medical Dramas

Learning that you have a condition that requires brain surgery can be very scary and stressful. Over the past couple of decades, there have been a number of medical dramas on television that have been incredibly popular, and it is not uncommon for some people who watch these shows to have an inaccurate idea about what to expect when a surgery is necessary, especially neurosurgery. If you are in need of brain surgery, continue reading to learn more about how the reality is much different than what you have seen on T.V.

Surgeons are Not Solely Responsible for Patient Care

One of the biggest inaccuracies in a few popular medical dramas on television is the fact that surgeons are the only ones doing patient care, from initial consults to pre-op preparation and post-op care. In reality, you will be cared for by a variety of medical professionals while in the hospital, both before and after surgery. In most cases, the majority of your care will be provided by nurses, but depending on why you're having brain surgery, other medical professionals may also help you.

Experienced and Highly-Trained Professionals will Conduct Your Surgery

Neurosurgery is one of the most intricate and difficult types of surgery to master, and surgeons must go through multiple years of residency and training before they have the skills and expertise needed to do surgery on a patient's brain. When you have a neurosurgery procedure scheduled, you don't have to worry about a surgical intern (first-year resident physician just out of medical school) playing a major part in your surgery or even being near your brain. If there is an intern in the operating room during a neurosurgery, he or she will most likely only be observing the procedure in order to learn.

Crazy Drama

In most cases, hospitals are pretty calm and normal places. While emergencies can happen, most hospitals don't have active bombs in operating rooms, shooters roaming the halls, or massive fires that put patients at risk. You can feel completely comfortable going to the hospital for scheduled neurosurgery without worrying about any type of catastrophe.

Recovering From Neurosurgery Takes Time

Medical dramas on television love to show patients who have undergone brain surgery being awake and active shortly after their procedure. In reality, even in the best circumstances, your brain will need time to heal. In some cases, you may need physical therapy, occupational therapy, or speech therapy to help you during your recovery. Make sure that you have reasonable expectations for your recovery after brain surgery, and don't push yourself too hard. 

Check out a website like http://www.billingsclinic.com for more information and assistance.