Day 7 - Surgical Day 2

Just a few interesting facts to share with you today:

How the surgical schedule is developed:

•  The first surgical day typically focuses on easy priority 1 cases (unilateral cleft lip) so that everyone gets used to the OR and working together. The 2nd day is a combo of cleft lips and palates. 3rd day is heavy palates as is day 4. Friday, day 5, will be all lips and 1 palate.
• Palates need to be monitored more closely as it is more invasive and bleeding can occur more often.
• Many clefts also need nasal revisions.
• There are V shaped and U shaped palates. U shaped are more challenging because there is less tissue and therefore harder to close. In palates, 2 layers are closed – internal soft tissue and the lingual soft tissue. Lips are closed in 3 layers.

A few other cultural facts:

•  Guwahati religions are dominated by Hindu, Buddhists and Muslim believers/followers.

 Namaskar:

• Namaskar or Namaste is the most popular form of greeting in India. It is a general salutation that is used to welcome somebody and also for bidding farewell. While doing namaskar, both the palms are placed together and raised below the face to greet a person. 
• It is believed that both the hands symbolise one mind, or the self meeting the self. While the right hand represents higher nature, the left hand denotes worldly or lower nature.

Tilak:

• Tilak is a ritual mark on the forehead. It can be put in many forms as a sign of blessing, greeting or auspiciousness. The tilak is usually made out of a red vermilion paste (kumkum).
• The tilak is applied on the spot between the brows which is considered the seat of latent wisdom and mental concentration, and is very important for worship. This is the spot on which yogis meditate to become one with Lord Brahma. It also indicates the point at which the spiritual eye opens. All thoughts and actions are said to be governed by this spot. Putting of the colored mark symbolizes the quest for the 'opening ' of the third eye. All rites and ceremonies of the Hindus begin with a tilak topped with a few grains of rice placed on this spot with the index finger or the thumb. The same custom is followed while welcoming or bidding farewell to guests or relations.
• The black dot seen on the children is a sign of blessing and good fortune and is said to counter the effects of the evil eye.

Garlanding:

• Flower garlands are generally offered as a mark of respect and honour. They are offered to welcome the visitors or in honour to the Gods and Goddesses. The garlands are generally made with white jasmine and orange marigold flowers. They are weaved in thread tied in the end with a help of a knot.

 Bindi:

• A bindi is an auspicious mark worn by young girls and women. Bindi is derived from bindu, the Sanskrit word for dot. It is usually a red dot made with vermilion powder which is worn by women between their eyebrows on their forehead. Considered a symbol of Goddess Parvati, a bindi signifies female energy and is believed to protect women and their husbands. Traditionally a symbol of marriage, it has also become decorative and is worn today by unmarried girls and women as well.