✨✨ July ✨✨

It’s the month of July (or rather has been for almost 2 weeks, alas I am but a single woman juggling motherhood, work, ect ect so excuse the late post 😅🤣)

This month marks the birthday of an amazing person, a philanthropist if you will, generous and inspirational to all… and my birthday is on the 26th if you didn’t know 😝😏

But on a serious note, the 18th is Mandela Day, and as I’m sure we’ve all seen the Mandela drives are in full swing, whether it be weekend lists or marathons in theatre. Giving back to the community is an honour, and those involved should be proud of themselves and the work they have put in!

They say charity begins at home, so if you feel extra generous and moved by the month of giving back, please get into contact with Dr Allyson Adams (orthos) or Dr Marde Van Dyk (anaesthesia) as they are doing a drive to collect blankets for those in need!

Other charities that need support/help include:

• Wollies Animal Shelter - for the furry friends 🐕🐾🐈‍⬛🦜 https://wollies.org/

• Tswalo House - for orphaned and abandoned babies 👶🏼🍼🏠 https://entcfoundation.org/

• PEN - for the homeless youth 🏠👧🏻🧒🏽https://www.pen.org.za/youth/

This month we welcome a new member to the family!

Welcome Dr Priya Ramgoolam 🌷🤗

Get to know her:

Birthday: 7th November

Hobbies:
Embroidery
Adding numbers to my triple digit deadlift
Collecting the entire LEGO Botanicals collection (hint hint)
Reading classic literature and poetry

Why anaesthesia:
Fun fact: I have haemophilia C! I had an anaesthesia consult when I was a child before a surgical procedure because of it and I thought the anaesthesiologist was the smartest doctor I'd ever met. I carried that belief and passion throughout med school and did all my subsequent electives in anaesthesia and was lucky enough to do 6 months of anaesthesia and 6 months of ICU in comm serve. I still believe anaesthetists are the smartest doctors in the hospital. 😂

PS: She is also besties with our very own new consultant and fellow newsletter author Jeremy Wong! 👨🏻‍🐰‍👨🏽

Speaking of consultants, I’ll just say a broad congratulations to everyone, you are a inspiration to us all! We are so so proud of you all and admire the hard work and determination it took to get to this point! May your futures be bright and filled with blessings ✨

BIRTHDAYS for JULY

7th - Prof Thinus Dippenaar

7th- Dr Yolanda Sithole

8th- Dr Heilda Reinecke

15th- Dr Motselisi Mbeki

18th- Nelson Mandela

26th- Moí - Dr Michaela Powell

Happy birthday to all and may it be a blessed year! 🎉🎉🎉

In the Educational Corner 🤓

Please check out the latest anaesthesia tutorial of the week 👇🏻

(this topic is very prevalent in our setting with our patient profile)

Please also be sure the be on the lookout of the numerous tutorials that are being hosted each week, which is communicated on the Reg and Mo group 📚

Suggamadex: Not so sugary-sweet? 🍬🍭

Please read the linked study regarding bradycardia and asystole cardiac arrest following suggamadex administration 👇🏻👇🏻👇🏻

https://www.bjanaesthesia.org/article/S0007-0912(18)30182-X/fulltext

Sugammadex (a cyclodextrin structured agent) is a selective reversal agent used to rapidly reverse neuromuscular blockade caused by the aminosteroid muscle relaxants rocuronium and vecuronium. It works by encapsulating these drugs in the bloodstream, rendering them inactive and allowing normal muscle function to return without affecting acetylcholine levels. Compared with traditional reversal agents such as neostigmine, sugammadex provides faster, more predictable recovery and is associated with a lower risk of residual neuromuscular blockade. It is widely used in anaesthetic practice to improve patient safety, although its higher cost and potential for rare adverse reactions, including hypersensitivity and bradycardia, should be considered.