Have you ever seen a life slip away right before your eyes?
I almost did.
During my internship, I had the opportunity to assist my senior doctors in a zygomatic fracture surgery at a hospital. Everything was going smoothly till the final suturing.
Just as the patient began coming out of anesthesia, the patient began gasping for air, showing signs of severe respiratory distress. His oxygen levels dropped rapidly. It was bronchospasm, a life-threatening emergency, made worse by his history of smoking and alcoholism.
We froze. My heart was pounding. As an intern, I had never seen anything so terrifying. All we could do was pray.
For 45 long minutes, it became a tense battle between life and death.
But amidst the chaos, one person stood unshaken- “The anesthesiologist”. Calm and composed, he administered medications, monitored vitals, and managed the crisis with precision. The patient stabilized. And we were relieved beyond words.
After it was all over, he quietly said, “If I had panicked, we would have lost everything.” And he was right.
As a dentist, this is not a scenario I encounter often. But that moment taught me something no textbook ever could: Stay calm, Stay present and Trust your training.
Have you ever faced a moment like this during your training or career?
How do you train yourself to stay calm in a medical emergency?
Or has someone close to you ever gone through such a terrifying experience?
I haven’t faced a situation that serious yet, but I can imagine how scary and helpless it must’ve felt in that moment. We always read about emergencies in textbooks, but watching it happen in real life is a different story And honestly, that anesthesiologist’s calmness ,it’s something I truly admire. It made me realise that in critical moments, more than knowledge, it’s composure and presence of mind that saves lives.
I’ve never faced such a situation before , just reading about it gives me goosebumps. What you said is absolutely true: the calmer the doctor, the better the patient management
In medicine and healthcare, emergencies don’t announce themselves they arrive uninvited and demand our best in the worst moments. Skills, knowledge, and protocols are essential, but in those critical seconds, it’s our ability to remain calm that can tip the balance between life and loss.
I was observing a hemorrhoidectomy during my surgery posting — the resident was handling the procedure quite confidently. But as he worked around the 7 o’clock position, things took a sudden turn. A vein was accidentally nicked, and in an instant, there was a rush of blood. I could feel the air in the OT shift — that mix of urgency and adrenaline.”
“The resident tried to control it, but it was clear he needed help. He called in the attending. Within moments, the senior surgeon walked in — calm, composed, and without a hint of panic. He took over, applied pressure, and began guiding the resident through what to do next.”
“I remember just standing there, watching closely — trying to stay out of the way but soaking in every detail. It was a moment that reminded me how quickly things can change in surgery, and how much presence of mind and teamwork matter.”
“Mistakes can happen — even in routine procedures. But the ability to respond with calm, clarity, and leadership… that’s what truly defines a good surgeon. I carry that moment with me as a reminder of the kind of doctor I hope to become.
That must’ve been incredibly intense. Moments like these remind us that medical training isn’t just about knowledge, it’s about mindset under pressure.
That moment really stands out, being calm under pressure is no small feat. Staying composed in emergencies or tight situations is something every healthcare professional should strive for. It’s one of those quiet strengths that makes a huge difference when it matters most.
