Per phone conversation with Krista Dopf - 1/21/10
Dr. Dopf’s OR started as an empty classroom. They are using desks at the OR table and have some shelves for supplies. He walked the people working with him through all the instruments, so they knew what things were. There is no anesthesiologist. Patient’s are sedated with whatever meds they have. No intubation. No pulse ox, EKG or any other monitoring device. There is no cautery, so every bleeder is clamped and tied. He is using a hacksaw for amputations, cleaning off instruments with bleach between cases. No suction. The weather is in the 90’s and humid. They try and keep the flies off the surgical site.
Post-op, they have some pain meds, but as their supply is so limited, they give the patients Tylenol unless they ask for something stronger.
They keep accepting patients until 4 to 5 pm, as they have to stop working at dusk. He said every night, out in the tent city, a man preaches to everyone in Creole, and then everyone sings. He has no idea what they’re saying, but finds it moving.
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This is an amazing story. Thank you for sharing.
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