The how not to series Episode 04: how not to intubate, how not to add yogurt to karahi and more

 When I was doing my housejob one of my seniors who was well into his training showed how he would intubate a patient. It seemed pretty simple to be honest from the looks of it at least, some tongue lateralisation and some movement at the wrist. That image stuck in my mind for a long time, when I started working in anaesthetics, the first thing I was told that whenever you hold a laryngoscope make sure you don't ever use the teeth as the fulcrum. The reason, when you apply force using the teeth as the fulcrum, what do you expect? The teeth will be knocked out! 

So let's talk about how not to do a laryngoscopy. 

1) Never underestimate the value of positioning. This can make the most difference, if you take the time out to position the patient properly, you are making life easy for yourself, otherwise you will need to tweek yourself around quite a bit. 

2) Don't cut corners with pre-oxygenation. This is vital, if you cut corners you can land yourself into a complication, those precious few minutes of pre-oxygenation can make the difference and give you a bit of an extra time. Also, the guidelines! Stick to them and make sure you are following the instructions. 

3) Don't fully advance the laryngoscope all of a sudden. Take your time and proceed cautiously. Taking those extra 5 seconds can help you properly orientate yourself. And always make sure you lateralise the tongue adequately. 

4) Advance the tube slowly, and under vision. Some intubations are difficult but whenever you can, take your time and feel as you go in rather than rushing!

That's all about laryngoscopy for now. 

I enjoy cooking, I can experiment with the spices and most of the times they don't let me down. When I make mutton karahi, I add yogurt to it just near the end to thicken it up and make it that extra bit creamy. What I would initially do would be to add all that half cup in altogether but that would not mix it up all smoothly. So this was not how yogurt is supposed to be added. Take the karahi off the stove for a few minutes and keep stirring it around, just to bring the temperature down a notch. Add the yogurt, quarter and mix it as soon as you add. Once it's all in, add the next quarter and do the same. Repeat and it'll be done nicely. 

The last bit of how not to series revolves around sharing and expressing your feelings. We all have to express and share our feelings in one way or another. Using different mediums, sometimes by writing, sometimes by drawing, sometimes by talking, sometimes by cooking. There can be productive outlets or there can be communicative outlets. I have tried the communicative outlets most of the times, and the thing is that it doesn't seem to work for me. Find a creative outlet where you are in full control rather than letting someone else be in charge. Give yourself the spotlight, hand yourself the mic, paint yourself, write yourself etc. Do what can make you feel the most expressed and content without relying on others. Happiness comes from within and the best expression for your feelings is your own creativity and I can tell you, if you work on your creativity you can end up with a something that is much more beautiful and well expressed than you can have it done by communicative route. Express your creativity and then you can use that as a communicative outlet. Perhaps this is a subjective bit, but maybe it can work for you too. 

If you can cook, cook something that expresses your feelings and emotions. If you write, then write something. If you can paint, then paint something. If you can make something, then create. Creativity is a gift, don't let it go to waste.