'Their Life in your hands' last night BBC1
09 March 2004, 12:36 PM
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**YOUR life in THEIR hands** last night BBC1
bloody hell.
What a gripping piece of TV..what an amazing guy that neurosurgeon was too.
Eccentric, but amazing all the same.
Certainly made me appreciate the life I have..
(for those that didnt see it- a 30 year old healthy guy was diagnosed with a frontal brain tumour which would have killed him within 5 painful years without immediate surgery.)
His dilema was whether to go for the operation and possibly lose/damage his ability to understand language
or to leave it and hope it got no worse..
the op was done whilst he was AWAKE!
Makes you think certainly..
if you were put in the position of that patient, could you honestly say you made a worthwhile contribution while you were well/alive ??
Fantastic TV.
That Neurosurgeon should be knighted..
What a gripping piece of TV..what an amazing guy that neurosurgeon was too.
Eccentric, but amazing all the same.
Certainly made me appreciate the life I have..
(for those that didnt see it- a 30 year old healthy guy was diagnosed with a frontal brain tumour which would have killed him within 5 painful years without immediate surgery.)
His dilema was whether to go for the operation and possibly lose/damage his ability to understand language
or to leave it and hope it got no worse..the op was done whilst he was AWAKE!
Makes you think certainly..
if you were put in the position of that patient, could you honestly say you made a worthwhile contribution while you were well/alive ??
Fantastic TV.
That Neurosurgeon should be knighted..
Last edited by chrome; 09 March 2004 at 06:33 PM. Reason: correct the title..
09 March 2004, 12:47 PM
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Totally agree, a fascinating prog, amazing when he was operating & showing the patient the inside of his own brain on the monitor as he operated.
The 3 yr old boy's op was bit of a choker.
D
The 3 yr old boy's op was bit of a choker.
D
09 March 2004, 01:18 PM
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He was scraping away at his brain taking away the tumour, whilst the nurse was holding up pictures of everyday objects asking him to tell her what it was to check his memory was still working!!
Absolutely amazing, but hideous to watch! I couldn't do that job that's for sure!
Those guys should be treated like royalty.
Absolutely amazing, but hideous to watch! I couldn't do that job that's for sure!
Those guys should be treated like royalty.
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09 March 2004, 01:58 PM
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Originally Posted by chrome
bloody hell.
(for those that didnt see it- a 30 year old healthy guy was diagnosed with a frontal brain tumour which would have killed him within 5 painful years without immediate surgery.)
(for those that didnt see it- a 30 year old healthy guy was diagnosed with a frontal brain tumour which would have killed him within 5 painful years without immediate surgery.)
09 March 2004, 03:04 PM
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It was compelling TV.
I was amazed at what I saw.
I am a little biased though as my Missus has worked on making this series for the last year. Her programme is on in two weeks, about heart surgery. She is worried that hers wont be as good, but I think it will.
Oh and sorry to be pedantic its 'Your life in their hands' LOL
Asif
I was amazed at what I saw.
I am a little biased though as my Missus has worked on making this series for the last year. Her programme is on in two weeks, about heart surgery. She is worried that hers wont be as good, but I think it will.
Oh and sorry to be pedantic its 'Your life in their hands' LOL
Asif
09 March 2004, 04:04 PM
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Absolutely superb telly. Watched it with the mrs and we were both amazed at what this guy was doing while the patient was woken up and then put back to sleep again. And yes the 2.5 yr old little boy story was a real choker but amazing how he had recovered after only 3 days 
What concerns me is that this is the only guy in the UK who can perform this surgery. He isn't exactly a young bloke. Who is going to replace him when he retires? Does he have apprentices coming through the medical ranks who will continue his work. I certainly hope so.
I also think the emotion he showed for the loss of the young child he operated on who bled to death on his operating table shows the human side of these surgeons. Its all too easy to think its their job and each patient is just like a mechanic working on another car but its not. Like he said, his job isn't just about life and death, its about the fact he could alter someone's whole personality with the slightest of mistakes.
I will never understand how someone can do the job he does but I am bloody glad they can and do. I'd be sick just watching them saw the skull open let alone actually sucking the tumor out the brain
Oh and one last point, I was amazed that he rode his bicycle without a safety helmet especially with the profession he is in and how he must of seen serious head injuries from road traffic accidents yet he didn't feel the need to wear one
What concerns me is that this is the only guy in the UK who can perform this surgery. He isn't exactly a young bloke. Who is going to replace him when he retires? Does he have apprentices coming through the medical ranks who will continue his work. I certainly hope so.
I also think the emotion he showed for the loss of the young child he operated on who bled to death on his operating table shows the human side of these surgeons. Its all too easy to think its their job and each patient is just like a mechanic working on another car but its not. Like he said, his job isn't just about life and death, its about the fact he could alter someone's whole personality with the slightest of mistakes.
I will never understand how someone can do the job he does but I am bloody glad they can and do. I'd be sick just watching them saw the skull open let alone actually sucking the tumor out the brain
Oh and one last point, I was amazed that he rode his bicycle without a safety helmet especially with the profession he is in and how he must of seen serious head injuries from road traffic accidents yet he didn't feel the need to wear one
09 March 2004, 04:33 PM
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I'm pretty sure there were a 'few' "apprentices" standing in on that particular operation.
Sod the courier thread I started, anyone know where I can find a brain surgery 'manual' on the net....?
Sod the courier thread I started, anyone know where I can find a brain surgery 'manual' on the net....?
09 March 2004, 05:15 PM
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This off last year's Darwin awards:
Do-It-Yourself Brain Surgery?
In Ohio, an unidentified man in his late twenties walked into a police station with a 9-inch wire protruding from his forehead and calmly asked officers to give him an X-ray to help him find his brain, which he claimed had been stolen. Police were shocked to learn that the man had drilled a 6-inch deep hole in his skull with a Black & Decker power drill and had stuck the wire in to try and find the missing brain.
Do-It-Yourself Brain Surgery?
In Ohio, an unidentified man in his late twenties walked into a police station with a 9-inch wire protruding from his forehead and calmly asked officers to give him an X-ray to help him find his brain, which he claimed had been stolen. Police were shocked to learn that the man had drilled a 6-inch deep hole in his skull with a Black & Decker power drill and had stuck the wire in to try and find the missing brain.
09 March 2004, 05:34 PM
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Very impressive. One bit I missed was the tumour "taking over" brain tissue or was it its own tissue just growing? If it's taking over original brain tissue surely you'd miss it?!
The little boy, after three days running around playing. I'd be really worried about him falling over on his skull though, that’s just been opened like a tin of beans. Surely it can’t be as strong as it originally was?!
I always hate it when doctors get the "black and decker" power tools out!
The little boy, after three days running around playing. I'd be really worried about him falling over on his skull though, that’s just been opened like a tin of beans. Surely it can’t be as strong as it originally was?!
I always hate it when doctors get the "black and decker" power tools out!
09 March 2004, 06:23 PM
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Asif- your not wrong mate I wrote it in a hurry! LOL
Big up to your missus..
Agreed about Dr.Marsh- a l00n on a pushbike and very ironic he doesnt wear a 'lid'..
if you search on google for 'Henry Marsh Neurosurgeon' some incredible info/stories/articles involving him crop up..
I'm not a ghoul (cant stand medical things normally) but it caught my interest after wife had crossed paths with a Consultant Neurologist/Neurosurgeon about 18 months ago..
The show last night brought home to me how fragile our lives are.. and also dredged up all those dark memories again.
powerful TV.
I personally would have been very interested to see a spin off series following the hospital neuro's.
I think it would be great for creating better awareness of neurological problems that doesnt start and end with brain tumours..)
Some of the people I met whilst the wife was on the ward were some of the bravest and most fearless people I have ever met.
Of the 8 ladies on the bay where the wife was, 5 had passed on by the time the wife's follow up appointment had come around (3 months) .. it was heartbreaking to think what a fine line it all is..
I wrote it in a hurry! LOLBig up to your missus..
Agreed about Dr.Marsh- a l00n on a pushbike and very ironic he doesnt wear a 'lid'..
if you search on google for 'Henry Marsh Neurosurgeon' some incredible info/stories/articles involving him crop up..
I'm not a ghoul (cant stand medical things normally) but it caught my interest after wife had crossed paths with a Consultant Neurologist/Neurosurgeon about 18 months ago..
The show last night brought home to me how fragile our lives are.. and also dredged up all those dark memories again.
powerful TV.
I personally would have been very interested to see a spin off series following the hospital neuro's.
I think it would be great for creating better awareness of neurological problems that doesnt start and end with brain tumours..)
Some of the people I met whilst the wife was on the ward were some of the bravest and most fearless people I have ever met.
Of the 8 ladies on the bay where the wife was, 5 had passed on by the time the wife's follow up appointment had come around (3 months) .. it was heartbreaking to think what a fine line it all is..
Last edited by chrome; 09 March 2004 at 11:11 PM. Reason: removed some personal 'venting'
09 March 2004, 06:28 PM
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wakeboarder- it was touch and go.. the guy fell into a brief coma following surgery, but recovered and is fine now.. (although he seemed a lot more shaken up about the whole thing even some tim after the surgery)
(here's hoping for the guy that the tumour *doesnt* come back)
(here's hoping for the guy that the tumour *doesnt* come back)
Last edited by chrome; 09 March 2004 at 06:30 PM.
09 March 2004, 08:10 PM
#21
Chrome,
I agree with your comments. I caught this quite by chance as I was channel hopping. The humility of the guy as he talked through the reaction of the 12 year old's mother after he told her that her daughter had died certainly tugged at the heart strings.
Considering how valuable, nay priceless this guy's skills are, I could not believe that anyone lets hm go around on a push bike with no skid lid!
Absolutely compelling TV. I take my hat off to the medical profession.
I agree with your comments. I caught this quite by chance as I was channel hopping. The humility of the guy as he talked through the reaction of the 12 year old's mother after he told her that her daughter had died certainly tugged at the heart strings.
Considering how valuable, nay priceless this guy's skills are, I could not believe that anyone lets hm go around on a push bike with no skid lid!
Absolutely compelling TV. I take my hat off to the medical profession.
22 March 2004, 04:19 PM
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Final Programme tonight
Thought i'd drag this one back out to say watch the final one tonight.
Seems to have got a few good previews already.
Be interested to hear your thoughts, I am hoping for a glow of pride as the Wife helped make the programme.
Asif
Seems to have got a few good previews already.
Be interested to hear your thoughts, I am hoping for a glow of pride as the Wife helped make the programme.
Asif
23 March 2004, 08:44 AM
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Having had brain surgery back in 1999 these guys get my upmost respect, when the Doc was telling me what he had to do he did urge that he had to go very very close to the nerve system, and one twitch and I could have been a veggie case, as you may expect my **** was going like a moped, so I said do me a favor Doc don't have to many gins tonight, thankfully everything went fine, but scared the life out of me at the same time.
Cheers
Colin
Cheers
Colin
23 March 2004, 10:41 AM
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Asif
Last Nights heart surgery one was great.! I actually preferred this one to the neurosurgery programme as I could actually watch the one about the heart instead of having to go for a 'walk' when the poor blokes brain was exposed!
(The smiley, incidentely is taking the pee out of me not being able to watch, not at the guy having that horrendous surgery)
My favourite one however was the Liver transplantation, but then I'm biased having worked with those guys in the past.
Fantastic series though. A shame it was so short.
Cheers
Brett
Last Nights heart surgery one was great.! I actually preferred this one to the neurosurgery programme as I could actually watch the one about the heart instead of having to go for a 'walk' when the poor blokes brain was exposed!
(The smiley, incidentely is taking the pee out of me not being able to watch, not at the guy having that horrendous surgery)My favourite one however was the Liver transplantation, but then I'm biased having worked with those guys in the past.
Fantastic series though. A shame it was so short.
Cheers
Brett
23 March 2004, 11:40 AM
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It was a great insight into these doctors work!
The doctor on last night’s program was also on the radio yesterday. He said he performs 500 heart operations a year to which the NHS pay him £60k. Its not much is it? Considering footballers wages....
And why arn't the NHS giving him some funding for the "heart pump"???
The doctor on last night’s program was also on the radio yesterday. He said he performs 500 heart operations a year to which the NHS pay him £60k. Its not much is it? Considering footballers wages....
And why arn't the NHS giving him some funding for the "heart pump"???
23 March 2004, 11:50 AM
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The heart pump apparently was a trial programme still and therefore not legible for any funding 
It makes me so angry when compared to what the Government spends money on these operations and funding would be a drop in the ocean for them 
I was stunned by that pump and charge pack and the attachment to his head. If only this stuff was standard and available to everyone with failing hearts. As is the case with courts, money always comes before life
It makes me so angry when compared to what the Government spends money on these operations and funding would be a drop in the ocean for them I was stunned by that pump and charge pack and the attachment to his head. If only this stuff was standard and available to everyone with failing hearts. As is the case with courts, money always comes before life
24 March 2004, 11:06 PM
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Your comments have been noted!
Hi,
You can feel pleased that your comments have been passed directly to the programme makers!
I enjoyed it too, was my first time believe it or not, as although there have been a couple of tapes around the house, I was not allowed to watch it until it was transmitted.
Amazing what they were doing and if it works, then it might become more readily available on the NHS (where required).
I'm glad to say that Jim is still alive and well.
Out of curiosity Buck Rogers, on which Radio station did you hear him please?
Asif
You can feel pleased that your comments have been passed directly to the programme makers!
I enjoyed it too, was my first time believe it or not, as although there have been a couple of tapes around the house, I was not allowed to watch it until it was transmitted.
Amazing what they were doing and if it works, then it might become more readily available on the NHS (where required).
I'm glad to say that Jim is still alive and well.
Out of curiosity Buck Rogers, on which Radio station did you hear him please?
Asif
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