Friday, December 11, 2009

Quote of the Day x 2

One of our pharmacology professors, who also happens to be the assistnat dean and the administrative person who has the most contact with students, is board certified in anesthesia and thus teaches us most of our anesthesia, sedation, and pain management stuff.

We were having a review and integrative discussion about anesthesia yesterday. The scenario is a 2 year old black lab who lacerated his footpad and needs to be sedated, anesthetized, and sutured. We have already put him under anesthesia and now his heart rate is 160 bpm (should probably be more like 70 bpm).

The professor is trying to get us to say that a heart rate like this is noteworthy but not a huge cause for concern. The class is not getting it and doesn't understand what he's asking. (He wants us to make the connection that this puts humans at a greater risk for myocardial infarction, which the dog probably won't get.)

Professor: Let me put it this way. Would it be worse for this dog to have a heart rate of 160 while under anesthesia, or for me to have a heart rate of 160 while under anesthesia?

Class: You.

Professor: Okay, why?

Class: ......

One student: Because you're the dean!

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