Patient encounters

Today was inspiring.

For a small session in pediatric cardiology, we had three patients. The first was a 12 year old boy with rheumatic heart disease presenting with mitral regurgitation. The second was a 2 year old child with patent ductus arteriosus with pulmonary arterial hypertension and right ventricular hypertrophy. The third boy was 5 years old and had a common condition known as Tetralogy of Fallot.

photo credit: Wen-Yan King

The process of diagnosing for these patients, through palpable and audible heart sounds, along with the group was difficult but altogether exhilirating. It was my first experience with pediatric cardiology patients.

Socrates tells us, through Plato's words, this:
οὖτος μὲν οἴεταί τι εἰδέναι οὐκ εἰδώς, ἐγὼ δέ, ὥσπερ οὖν οὐκ οἶδα, οὐδὲ οἴμαι
the improper abbreviation of which is "I know that I know nothing".

After we broke up since we were already done for the day, one of the clinical professors asked me at random if I learned anything during the session. To which I replied: Yes, Sir, I did, but more importantly I was inspired even more to become a doctor.

Great stuff today.