Artist's Statement: Side Effects.

Abstract

As a medical student, helping patients to the postanesthesia care unit (PACU) for recovery was a typical role I played during my clinical rotations. Although some patients would still be sleepy, some would already be chatting with my colleagues and me while we rolled their bed to the PACU. As patients recovered, they would speak with us about how the surgery went and tell us how they were feeling. Many of them expressed sincere gratitude, noting their comfort and relief with the entire experience. One patient comment that will always stand out to me was, “My expectations matched reality.”Side EffectsInspired by this experience, I composed Side Effects, on the cover of this issue. This digital watercolor painting describes the physical, mental, and emotional postoperative journey a patient takes from the cool, sterile operating environment to the PACU. The unclear, hazy nature of the piece emphasizes a patient coming to their senses, a perspective of side effects, and the imperfect process of achieving clear communication with physicians that calms patients and bridges expectations of comfort and relief with reality. Adverse side effects are an important consideration in perioperative care. Although some patients are aware that medications have side effects, disclosing the likelihood of potential side effects upfront is vital for patient confidence. Transparency builds trust and helps patients feel well informed about their health care. In addition to establishing a therapeutic alliance between physicians and patients, this practice increases the probability that every patient’s expectations match reality when they reach the PACU.