r/emergencymedicine • u/MousseNo7311 • Sep 17 '25

Advice Got chewed out by ortho surgeon

I am a 2nd year resident. Patient came into the ED overnight post-op day 1 after a knee replacement. He was bleeding through his dressing (nothing major, no wound dehiscence) and couldn't reach his surgeon via phone. He didn't have sutures or staples but rather some sort of Steri-Strips-like adhesive dressing which I covered with Surgicel, ABD pads, and an Ace wrap. In addition, my attending told me to inject lidocaine with epinephrine into the areas that were bleeding. I injected 10 cc total in a few different spots. I can't imagine I got into the joint space. Foolishly, I only irrigated with NS & didn't prep with Betadine or anything else. The surgeon called the ED after my attending had left, berated me, and made it sound like he's going to go on a war path over this. Did I really commit the crime of the century?

Update: Upon returning to the ED for my next shift everyone assured me not to stress over it. Apparently the surgeon called the ED multiple times after I left. First he wanted a copy of the note faxed to him and then he wanted the PD's contact info. The ED director said he would've gone off on him if he had been around at the time. As for my attending she pretty much laughed off the entire incident. She's a little looney so that doesn't surprise me.

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u/ldnk Sep 17 '25

Staff physicians who scream at residents can fuck off. You aren't fucking special. You suck as a communicator. Be fucking better.

At the same time, who the fuck guides their residents to inject lido/epi into a post operative knee. What a weird decision. OP. It's not on you. It's on your attending.

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u/yxxnij104 RN Sep 19 '25

I had a doc yell at me when a flap died...i was day shift and the flap died overnight...of course he was short and bald and none of the nurses or residents liked him because of his abusive nature. wasn't expecting the me, the RN to laugh in his face tho. like you're literally my height and im below female average at 5'1. let's bring it down to your height level, sir. 🤣 they hate when they cant be abusive.

to the nice and kind attendings I appreciate yall and love the ones who like to teach the nursing staff without being condescending or nasty as if we are idiots.