BackTable / Urology / Podcast / Episode #39
The Anatomy of a Complication: Surgeon Health
with Dr. Jeff Cadeddu and Dr. Casey Seideman
Aditya Bagrodia (UCSD Urology), Dr. Casey Seideman MD (OHSU Urology), and Dr. Jeff Cadeddu (UTSW Urology) share their experiences and advice for dealing with complications as surgeons.
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BackTable, LLC (Producer). (2022, May 11). Ep. 39 – The Anatomy of a Complication: Surgeon Health [Audio podcast]. Retrieved from https://www.backtable.com
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Podcast Contributors
Dr. Jeff Cadeddu
Dr. Jeffrey A. Cadeddu is a practicing Urologist in Dallas, Texas and is affiliated with multiple hospitals in the area, including Veterans Affairs North Texas Health Care System-Dallas and UT Southwestern Medical Center.
Dr. Casey Seideman
Dr. Seideman is a pediatric urologist at Doernbecher Children’s Hospital at OHSU in Portland, Oregon.
Dr. Aditya Bagrodia
Dr. Aditya Bagrodia is an associate professor of urology and genitourinary oncology team leader at UC San Diego Health in California and adjunct professor of urology at UT Southwestern.
Synopsis
In this episode of BackTable Urology, Dr. Aditya Bagrodia (UCSD Urology), Dr. Casey Seideman (OHSU Urology), and Dr. Jeff Cadeddu (UTSW Urology) discuss their experiences and advice for dealing complications as surgeons.
First, the doctors talk through dealing with complications in the operating room. The doctors emphasize the importance of maintaining a composed appearance in a state of urgent need and preparation for adverse events. For expected complications like blood loss, the surgeon can set up tools to deal with an adverse scenario, such as suction and communication with anesthesia. Furthermore, it is important to teach trainees to go through all the possible post-operative complications and develop a strategy to detect and manage them. For unanticipated issues, Dr. Cadeddu believes surgeons should think about why they did not think of and prepare for the outcomes, which is often a problem of infrequent exposure to a type of complication.
Next, the doctors discuss how to deal with feelings of self-doubt and guilt after a complication has occurred. Dr. Seideman has learned to allow herself to acknowledge these negative emotions, as they are normal feelings; similarly, Dr. Cadeddu urges surgeons to keep their sense of empathy. Both doctors agree that having someone to talk to after adverse outcomes is important, whether it be an attending, a colleague, the department chair, or even a family member. They agree that morbidity and mortality boards are important, but do not have therapeutic value.
Finally, the doctors talk about the importance of using institutional resources for support, such as other colleagues, support groups, and mental health hotlines.
Disclaimer: The Materials available on BackTable.com are for informational and educational purposes only and are not a substitute for the professional judgment of a healthcare professional in diagnosing and treating patients. The opinions expressed by participants of the BackTable Podcast belong solely to the participants, and do not necessarily reflect the views of BackTable.