[voice over] The Apgar test. The Whipple procedure. The DeBakey clamp. So many of the tools we use in our hospitals every day are named after the people who invented them. Even diseases used to be named after the people who discovered them. But a medical board in the 1970s discontinued that practice claiming that no one could "own" a sickness. As altruistic as the profession is, doctors are human. If we do something that could change the face of medicine, we want our name on it.
S18 E11Legacy
[voice over] When people hear our names, what will they remember? What did we leave behind? Did we blaze trails? Did we guide a new generation? Did we bestow all the wisdom we could? Have we paved a legacy? Maybe instead of wanting to be known for what we've done let's be known for who we are.
S18 E13Put the Squeeze on Me
[voice over] Many visits to the doctor start with taking your blood pressure. It's a vital indicator of your health. But within the human body, there are many pressurized systems, and each has its own threshold and consequence for pressure. Too much pressure on the lungs can cause them to collapse to 1/10 of their size. Skulls can only take so much pressure before the brain herniates into the spinal cord. Enough pressure on the limbs can cut off blood flow and kill them. The amount of pressure may vary, but every system has a breaking point.
[voice over] When too much pressure builds within your body, you might need a surgeon to relieve it. We drill burr holes, place chest tubes, cut open limbs. In life, relieving pressure's not always as easy. But it's just as important. Too much stress takes a toll on our mental and physical health. So go for a walk. Meet up with a friend. Dance it out. Seek out the moments of joy that keep us alive.
S18 E14Road Trippin
[voice over] When a patient goes into cardiac arrest, we follow a specific set of protocols to resuscitate them. Start with CPR, give oxygen, assess heart rhythm to determine if the patient needs to be shocked. If needed, push epinephrine every three to five minutes. Consider an advanced airway and need to administer additional medications. Then check the pulse and start the cycle all over again. CPR, shock, meds, pulse check sometimes for hours. Until, hopefully, you change the course and save a life.
[voice over] Researchers studied patient codes at hundreds of hospitals. They found patients had increased survival rates at hospitals with longer attempts at resuscitation. Of course, there are limits on how much we can do. As hard as we try, not every patient has a happy ending. Sometimes we just have to call it.
S18 E15Put It to the Test
[voice over] Surgeons are put through rigorous tests just to get in the game. We endure decades of anxiety-provoking acronyms SAT, MCAT, USMLE, ABSITE. And if we pass that gauntlet we are rewarded with the need to log 850 surgeries and take an 8-hour multiple-choice and oral exam. There's almost no time to take in the victory or even a nap.
[voice over] Researchers studied why some people perform better on tests. They found that it's not necessarily related to intelligence. Some people become anxious during exams and divert mental energy toward anxiety instead of expending it on finding the right answers. Others have a better grasp of how tests work. They use process of elimination and other techniques to help them make better choices. Some people study harder. They start early, make flashcards rely on repetition to retrieve answers when they need them. Tests don't always measure how much you know. They measure how well you take tests. And tests certainly don't measure your worth. But knowing that doesn't make it hurt less when you don't succeed.
S18 E16Should I Stay or Should I Go
[voice over] In 2019, the World Health Organization officially recognized burnout in its International Classification of Diseases. Studies show that doctors who report signs of burnout have enlarged amygdalas, the area in the brain that regulates fear and aggression. But burnout isn't an academic exercise. It's an all-consuming, systemic condition. It's your entire body sending you one clear message.
[voice ove] Put simply, burnout comes from a deep imbalance. Too much stress with too few rewards. You're exhausted, depleted. You no longer have patience, pleasure, or serotonin. This is the end, unless you turn it into something else and find your path to recovery. Pick the pieces you want from your life and find a new way forward.
S18 E17I'll Cover You
[voice over] In the last decade, researchers have discovered that humans have at least six senses. This new sense is called proprioception. It refers to how your brain understands where your body is in space. The mind, body connection to people and to your environment.
[voice over] Some will argue that it's experience that helps a parent see that their child's stomach ache is more than the flu. Or that it's experience when a surgeon knows to look further during a routine lap appy to diagnose a larger problem. It's not an experience. It's a feeling. Instinct. It's our brains being innately connected to our bodies. The hard part is trusting what our bodies are saying. And hoping like hell we get it right.
S18 E18Stronger Than Hate
[voice over] Our bodies play host to trillions of bacteria and other microbes. They live on our skin, in our guts, up our noses. Microbes are found in almost every part of the body. They break down food and perform many other functions that we need to survive.
[voice over] Microbes may sound like uninvited guests but most live harmoniously in and on our bodies. We need a diverse set of microbes working together to stay healthy. They're an essential part of our systems. It turns out, they're right where they belong.
S18 E19Out for Blood
[voice over] Metastatic. Advanced. Progressed. All words no one wants to hear from their doctor. It means despite everything you've done, every rule you've followed, you may be near the end. It's the moment when fear sets in. You panic as you realize you may not survive. It's why people turn to experimental treatments and last-ditch efforts. If you knew you were dying what would you do? If someone gave you a lifeline, would you take it?
These quotes come from Wikiquote's Grey's Anatomy pages and are available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.