Does the strength match the drapes?

Apologies for the two week break that we took. <3

This week, I'd like to shine a light on something often left unspoken — the quiet excellence of the team that makes safe anaesthesia care possible. It’s easy to talk about machines and monitors. We can name drugs by memory and cite protocols in by heart. But beneath the beeping and bustle lies something deeper: people — steady, skilled, and deeply human — who hold the room together.

There’s the anaesthetic nurses who gathers your required equipments.
The interns who admits they’re nervous — and still shows up ready to learn.
The ENA's who are ready to help out and assists with line trolleys.
The cleaner who wipes down a trolley like someone’s life depends on it — because sometimes, it does.

Anaesthesia is often described as a lonely specialty. We gather behind drapes, separated from the surgical field, invisible in theatre photos. But we are never alone. Not really. We are part of something collective, something quietly extraordinary.

So this week, pause for a moment. Thank the person beside you. Share a skill. Ask how their weekend was. Offer a cup of coffee on that brutal long afternoon list. Because long after the volatiles has worn off and the drapes are gone, what stays with us isn’t always the case.It’s the team that carried it through.

This week there are no reported birthdays on our calendar 😄 I am typing this newsletter today on leave. Apologies for the delay issue. It appears that the website is now up and running with no maintenance breaks in sight.

Below is a Spotify playlist

💡 Clinical Pearl of the Week

Don’t forget the glucose.

In long cases (especially pediatric or frail adults), remember to check glucose intraoperatively — even in non-diabetics. Prolonged fasting, stress response, and dextrose-free fluids can lead to hypoglycemia that’s subtle and easy to miss.
A simple bedside stick can save a lot of trouble. Better to check than assume. Our spoed patients are often fasted for extended periods of time.

🧠 Quote of the Week

“The strength of the team is each individual member. The strength of each member is the team.”
— Phil Jackson

📚 Recommended Reading for the week

📖 Non-Intubated VATS

As thoracic surgery continues to evolve, so do the anaesthetic techniques that support it. This week’s ATOTW article explores the principles, indications, and practical considerations of Non-Intubated Video-Assisted Thoracic Surgery (VATS) — a minimally invasive approach that challenges traditional methods by avoiding general anaesthesia and mechanical ventilation.

🔗 Read the tutorial

This Week, Try…

• Saying one specific thank-you to a colleague each day
• Taking 3 minutes after a case to debrief with your junior may he/she be an intern or a medical officer
• Bringing extra cookies for the team during a long list
• Asking someone: “What’s been the hardest part of your week?”

Steamed Ginger Soy Hake with Jasmine Rice and Bok Choy

Serves: 2
Prep Time: 10 min
Cook Time: 15 min
Style: Light, clean Chinese-style dish

🧾 Ingredients

• Hake fillets – 2 x 150g
• Fresh ginger – 1 tbsp, julienned
• Garlic – 2 cloves, minced
• Soy sauce (light) – 2 tbsp
• Sesame oil – 1 tsp
• Spring onion – 1 stalk, finely sliced
• Bok choy – 2 heads, halved
• Jasmine rice – 1 cup (uncooked)
• Optional: chili flakes, coriander

🔥 Instructions

1. Rice:
   Start cooking jasmine rice according to package instructions (usually 1 cup rice to 1.5–2 cups water).
2. Steam cod:
   Place hake fillets in a heatproof dish or plate. Top with ginger, garlic, and spring onion. Drizzle with soy sauce and sesame oil.
   Steam over boiling water (in a bamboo steamer, metal steamer, or improvised setup with a covered pan) for 8–10 minutes, or until the fish flakes easily.
3. Steam bok choy:
   In the final 3–4 minutes, add halved bok choy to the steamer alongside the fish or in a separate tier. Steam until tender-crisp.
4. Assemble:
   Plate jasmine rice, top with steamed bok choy, and gently place fish on top. Pour remaining juices over the dish. Garnish with extra spring onion, chili flakes, or coriander if desired.

🍽 Macros (Per Serving)

(Approximate values — may vary based on brand and portion)

• Calories: ~390 kcal
• Protein: ~32g
• Carbs: ~35g
• Fat: ~13g

Friday

Another week, another dozen unseen victories.
Here’s to the hands behind the drapes — and to the quiet pride of doing hard things, well, together.

Our Friday academics roster will be published in time. The provisional roster included last week's CPR session and is yet to be released for the rest of the year.

Until next issue,
🩺
— The UP Anaesthesia Team