Hey again, this week was a blast! I got to observe surgeries that were performed on rats for a study involving paralysis and how it impacts bladder function. In addition to this, I took part in multiple standing sessions, which consisted of different types of equipment in order to carry out individualized patient therapy. These are just a couple of examples of some of the studies that I get to watch at the Frazier Rehab Center and, now, the University of Louisville’s Medical-Dental Research Building. I also got to explore more of Kentucky with my host family and fellow Pinhead intern, Sacha. We went to Mammoth Cave National Park and visited the Abraham Lincoln Birthplace National Park, which was fantastic.
To start off my week, I attended my first ever surgery, which was performed on a rat. The procedure was carried out with the intention of monitoring muscle activity during urination. To achieve this, electrodes were attached to the lower abdominal region of the rat, and a tube that transfers saline was inserted into the rat’s bladder. The saline served the purpose of imitating urine, that way the rat wouldn’t run out during the study. Another part of the surgery included setting up one of the methods in which anesthesia was administered. A tube had to be inserted into one of the arteries in the rat’s neck so that a liquid form of anesthesia could be introduced into its blood system. Compared to other types of anesthesia, specifically the gaseous isoflurane, this wouldn’t limit the contraction of muscles surrounding the bladder when these muscles would be stimulated by the previously mentioned electrodes. Not only was I given the opportunity to observe all of this, I also learned how to suture “skin” using a foam block.
In addition to the other activities that I have been involved in during my internship, I participated in standing sessions. However, this time, some of these sessions required the implementation of a different version of the device that I mentioned in my last blog post. The machine depicted below was used for a patient who received epidural muscle stimulation rather than an electrical pulse delivered through electrodes attached to the skin, which is what is commonly used on the other structure. Epidural stimulation doesn’t require the use of electrodes that come in contact with the skin because individuals who experience this form of stimulation have the epidural surgically attached to the spinal cord. For this reason, the standing mechanism pictured below is generally used; although, if the other structure is more beneficial to the patient, then it is not limited to individuals without epidural stimulation. In the image below, I am helping support the patient’s trunk (abdominal area).
On top of such an exciting week, my host family took Sacha and I around Kentucky. We visited Mammoth Cave National Park where we toured the cave system and got to see some bats. After that, we went and saw Abraham Lincoln Birthplace National Historical Park. This past week has been so amazing!
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