“We really hit a flow state.”
Anesthesiologist Dr. Christopher Cheung is reflecting on a recent record-setting day at Dartmouth General Hospital, where medical and support teams completed eight hip replacements in one operating room in one day. That was a first for Atlantic Canada.
“It was a good feeling because everybody did such a good job,” says Dr. Cheung. “Everything went very, very smoothly all things considered. We’re still talking about how good the day was.
Dr. Cheung has been a key member of the Dartmouth General team since 2023. He’s originally from Winnipeg and did his medical schooling in Manitoba, then came to Nova Scotia for his anesthesia residency.
“I went into medical school to do psychiatry, and I found it very rewarding but emotionally tiring,” says Dr. Cheung. “What I liked with anesthesia was you do something, and you notice the results right away.”
Dr. Cheung says there is one overarching goal behind those results.
“My ultimate core responsibility is to keep the patient safe during surgery,” says Dr. Cheung. “So balancing their medical history, the type of anesthetics that we can provide, whatever we can do to have the patients succeed through surgery.”
The addition of a “block room” in 2024 at Dartmouth General Hospital has been able to help support more patients. It’s a room outside the operating room where nerve block and spinal procedures take place. Dr. Cheung says it’s seen such positive results he hopes to see it expand in the future.
“I started before the block room was opened and I’ve been able to see the before and after,” says Dr. Cheung. “It’s having a dedicated space with specialized equipment and very well-trained anesthesia assistants. It’s really increased efficiency.”
That was particularly true on the eight-surgery day where every patient received the same level of care and attention.
“I’m able to go from one patient to the next, immediately starting the spinal while the nurses are setting up and the cleaners are cleaning,” says Dr. Cheung. “And yes, we did that eight times. It was that kind of momentum that kept us going.”
Dr. Cheung says the anesthesia assistants were fundamental to the day’s success through assessing the patients, bringing them into the operating room, setting up monitors and assisting with the procedures.
“I want to give them a shoutout for not just that day but everyday really,” he says.
It’s the sense of community that is one of the best things about working at Dartmouth General Hospital for Dr. Christopher Cheung.
“Everyone’s very friendly, I know basically everyone by name,” he says. “It’s very supportive here and you get to see how special the people are. It’s a true team feeling.”
