A sharp, glittering scalpel rehearses with a gentle slide over the linea alba in the abdomen and marks the beginning of the Open Colectomy. The surgeon has a dexterous hand. His thumb, third, and fourth fingers gripple the handle of a #15 scalpel, while the index finger rests atop the dorsal blade allowing for a steady and calm maneuver. Unhesitatingly, the scalpel’s sharp tip pierces the epidermis and subcutaneous tissue, and a 90-degree tension on the spine of the blade makes the cutting edge draw the long axis of a 12 cm fusiform incision — opening up the abdominal wall. Blood emerges in response and forms a crimson valley. A sterile dressing, firmly pressed by the surgeon, drains the valley to reveal an untouched musculus rectus abdominis. The scalpel, continuing its journey, silently parts the muscle fibers and advances into the abdominal cavity. As the muscle bleeds, access to the Omentum majus, the largest visceral sac housing the large intestine — the Colon — is granted — . Blood-stained white surgical gloves firmly collocate stainless retractors inside the abdomen and isolate the Colon on the right side of the cavity. A second-year medical intern looks on, perplexed, as a distended loop of the Colon slowly emerges through the surgical opening. Rhythmically, the Colon peristalses and, as if bewitched, performs an allegorical dance to the G Minor Devil’s Trill Sonata. Intrigued, the intern reviews the patient’s chart: “Colon Cancer Stage II, 6x10x9cm malignant tumor of transverse Colon [colonization] leeching resources from neighboring organs. Imperative tumor extirpation [decolonization].” The scalpel reached the Colon. “How to proceed next?” the scalpel reflects and pauses. “Is my blade meant to remove the Colon, or just to dismantle it?”
Linea alba: longitudinal band of connective tissue that runs vertically along the midline of the abdomen
Open Colectomy: a procedure performed to remove the large intestine through a traditional open surgical approach.
Musculus rectus: a paired muscle in the human abdomen.
Colon: Large Intestine
Peristalsis: involuntary wave-like movements of intestine that push the contents of the canal forward.
Devil’s Trill Sonata: a famous violin sonata written by the Italian Baroque composer Giuseppe Tartini.
