" It is 7 p.m. in Germany and 1 p.m. in Beijing. Family, friends, colleagues and partners in China are enjoying lunch, sunshine, and rest. I end my work today, change clothes, and prepare to return to my apartment with a myriad of thoughts.
Harlaching in dream (outdoor scene)
Munich's winter snow is raging, it is said that this year has the coldest winter in recent years. The snow continues until mid- and late March. At this time, my Guangzhou begins to have a long summer with the arrival of kapok. During these months in Munich, through the wind and snow, after a severe cold, my advanced study (Schöen Klinik Munich Harlaching Hospital) is drawing to a close. I calmed down and recalled every bit of time during my study. The excitement, longing, and a bit of uneasiness before leaving China were a thing of the past, and now I am filled with harvests, emotions, and inexplicable lover-like breakups- melancholy!
First arrival in Harlaching
The Schöen Klinik Munich Harlaching Hospital in Munich is the holy place in my mind. I have been longing for it for a long time. With the help of Gloryren Orthopedics, I was able to realize my dream of coming here for further study! To Gloryren Orthopedics, I just want to say thank you!
In mid-January 2018, I packed my luggage, arranged work, departed and flew directly from Hongkong to Munich, after a12-hour trip through day and night, Schöen Klinik Munich Harlaching in dream, I'm here！I have done my homework, registered, signed a confidentiality agreement, received access control, and met with my teacher, Professor Michael Mayer. Everything went smoothly. Then a young German doctor showed me to the hospital layout and daily work flow. In particular, Prof. Mayer is known as a world-renowned master of the spine. His enthusiasm has inspired me and blew away all my strangeness and anxiety.
my photo with prof. Michael Mayer (left one)
(Schöen Klinik Munich Harlaching) The hospital began a case discussion at 7:00 in the morning. Surgeons, ward doctors, and fellow students all participated in the discussion. The discussion was about the success or failure of the previous day's surgery and the surgical arrangements for the day or the following days. About half an hour or so, the time will be extended when we have difficult cases. There will be a big shift handover on Monday. Medical Director Professor Markus Walther will also lead doctors of other specialities to discuss together, which is different from China. There is a special lecture before the discussion on Thursday. The early morning shift handover of these two days will be longer. Another unexpected thing is that there are about a quarter of doctors here are female. Two other doctors from Norway and Malaysia are also studying here at the same time.
Successive presidents of Schöen Klinik Munich Harlaching, Prof. Mayer was the eighth president.
From the first day of coming to the operating room, I felt the "advanced and rigorous" here. The sterilization concept of the operating room is very strict. If a person goes to bathroom or dressing room intermittently, before returning to the operating room, the surgical gown, caps and masks need to be changed; the 720-degree spiral narrow staircase from the dressing room to the operating room can also maintain sterility of the surgical area as far as possible.
Neat surgical gowns, masks and gloves, etc.
It is worth mentioning that in the rest area opposite to the changing room is spacious. You can see a large area of trees and gardens behind the hospital through the large floor-to-ceiling glass window. There are always some lovely squirrels which brings cozy feeling to surgical rest room. In the lounge area, there are drinks, breads, sausages, fruits, etc. This is a warm place for visiting learners!
Large garden behind the hospital
Spinal surgery has four fixed operating rooms equipped with three anesthetic prep and PACU rooms.
Each operation room is equipped with an independent C-arm machine, microscope and power system.
In the spine surgery room, the daily operation amount is about 10. I can walk freely around the four operation rooms to observe surgery and operation that I am interested in. In the last two months, in this "cradle for orthopedics", I have felt a lot, no matter in anesthesia or surgical procedures, the dedication of doctors and nurses, skilled cooperation, the hardware equipment of the operating room or surgeon's enthusiasm and teaching awareness make me moved and admire!
The cooperation between anesthesiologists, surgeons, and nurses is seamless. During the surgery, there is no unnecessary time delay. The mutual understanding and prejudgment can always be seen.
In the operating room, when surgeons saw the presence of fellows like us, they will take the initiative to say hello, introduce the illness and operation plan. When I asked them questions, they will never feel annoying to answer my question and will even explain his confusion or discuss about different opinions, what I feel is equality and respect.
My photo with Dr.Christoph Mehren (left one)
I would like to share a few details with everyone, so that you can have a more intuitive experience.
On the first day of the registration, in the hallway, Prof. Siepe saw me and took the initiative to come, greeted me and told me his name; when I first entered the operating room, it was cold. A patrolling nurse saw me and took a coat to me. She told me the room where the coat was placed, which made me feel the warmth of German people.
In the operating room, there was a nurse uncle, who had a lot of positive energy. He had tremendous energy and amazing insight. In the operating room, he was like a harem lord. Everything was in his expectation and control! Every detail of an action and the next need, he knew it! The key is that such an excellent person was very humble! Once, when I saw that the surgeon was using a new kind of hemostasis item and I was confused, the uncle had already given the instructions to my hands. Can I say I love him? !
At Schöen Klinik Munich Harlaching Hospital, microscopy and endoscopic surgery are routine, and the standard of surgical operation is smooth. The monitor can be seen very clearly. Prof. Mayer is the inventor of MINI-ALIF surgery. Because this surgery is hospital's strength and the hospital has many cases, opportunity to perform this surgery is available. When Professor Mayer performed the MINI-ALIF surgery, young doctors in this hospital wanted to follow him to the operating table. Therefore, we could only watch away from the table. In order to let us see the operation inside the incision, prof. Mayer used the microscope after exposure, so that we could see the operation inside through the display, you know, this will make his operation inconvenient! I was touched and admired this great master's teaching consciousness!
At Schöen Klinik Munich Harlaching Hospital, the treatment and training centre is one of the leading rehabilitation centres in Munich. In rehabilitation center, in addition to outpatient rehabilitation, physical therapy, physiotherapy, occupational therapy, and medical training (equipment training) are also provided. Experienced therapists and sports scientists serve patients and provide patients with comprehensive rehabilitation advice.
Rehabilitation Center
Compared with the crowed medical environment in China, patients here can enjoy not only the best treatment and care, but also a better and warmer hospital service environment and a more humanized hospitalization environment.
The lounge is equipped with comfortable chairs and a drinks station with hot and cold drinks. You can also find a variety of daily newspapers and magazines here.
Hotel-style waiting and wards
As time passed, all good things must come to an end. I was about to embark on the road to return with a full harvest. Some time later, I would be standing in the office facing the Canton Tower and remembering the Spring Festival in a foreign country thousands of miles away. There is no grief, no loneliness, but only gain, encouragement, self-confidence and energy.
This winter is a bit cold, this winter is not cold!
This winter may be lonely, this winter is not lonely!
Thank you Gloryren Orthopedics! Thank you Schöen Klinik Munich Harlaching!
Thank you Guangdong Second Provincial General Hospital! "
Wish all the best!
About the Author
Chao Li, attending surgeon, master's degree, he has been engaged in clinical spinal surgery for many years, has rich clinical experience and is proficient in the diagnosis and treatment of orthopedic diseases. He is specialized in diagnosis and treatment of spinal diseases, cervical spondylosis, lumbar disc herniation, lumbar spinal stenosis, lumbar spondylolisthesis, osteoporotic compression fractures, cervical spinal stenosis, spinal tuberculosis, spinal tumors, spine fracture and dislocation, congenital spinal deformity and other spine and spinal cord diseases and has unique insights and rich experience in treatment. In particular, his use of spinal minimally invasive treatment in lumbar disc herniation, lumbar spinal stenosis, lumbar instability, lumbar spondylolisthesis, osteoporotic compression fractures has a significant effect. He is skilled in percutaneous transforaminal endoscopic discectomy, intra-laminar approach for lumbar disc herniation, MIS-TLIF under Quandran channel for lumbar spondylolisthesis, lumbar disc herniation, percutaneous pedicle screw for spinal fractures, and osteoporotic compression fracture PKP, PVP surgery and many other minimally invasive spine techniques.
Text by | Chao Li
Photos by | Chao Li
Edited by | Gloryren Orthopedics
