Medical tweets

US: Everyone is talking about Twitter. Now even surgeons are using the social networking site to give live reports about operations.

In early February, doctors at Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit used Twitter to provide online updates on a kidney operation. The reports were followed by doctors, medical students and interested observers outside the medical profession. “I find this fascinating!” tweeted a Twitter user from Swansea, Wales.

Dr Craig Rogers performed the operation, which was to remove a cancerous tumour from a man’s kidney. Rogers said the operation was Twittered to show that it is possible to remove a tumour without taking out the entire kidney. “We’re trying to use this to get the word out,” he told CNN.

One doctor said Twittering made him feel less nervous about having an operation himself.

Late last year, another doctor used Twitter to describe surgery on one of his own varicose veins, while the operation was taking place. “It redirected my attention and allowed me to minimize some of the nervousness around what was going on,” said Dr Robert Hendrick. “It felt like I had family and friends there to support me.” Hendricks later posted photos and videos of his operation online.

Christopher Parks of the website changehealthcare.com says Twittering about medical procedures is a natural result of a young generation’s use of the internet. “Newer and newer generations are used to putting their life online. This generation shares everything,” Parks comments.