1.) TRIAGE: complicated emergency cases, that may need long-haul surgical intervention, get triaged to the best equipped hospital (often a teaching facility) with lots of highly experienced staff. 2.) these large institutions, each State usually has several large medical teaching hospitals, don’t just employ General Surgeons. These lovely places will provide several sub-specialty doctors depending the need and often include vascular surgeons, orthopedic surgeons (often with a sub-sub specialty in pelvic or shoulder injuries), plastic surgeons, neurosurgeons and the list goes on and on. I’ve literally seen long-haul surgeries that necessitated 5 different surgeons to go in, with two scrubbing in, and one finishing up his/her part. 3.)Surgical techs/nurses usually work on strict 12 hour rotations, especially if they’re unionized. So these guys/gals are never really ever in need to work to sheer exhaustion. Well, at least time wise….I’ve seen some nurses/techs literally be stomped into the ground by dipshit surgeons, but that’s another story.

So, in today’s environment, the overworked-heroic surgical staff trope, isn’t a thing any more. You have to be in extremely remote places where even helicopters can’t triage an unfortunate soul. Lord have mercy in most places if Dr. “Neurosurgeon” is going to miss his soirée or golf game due to an unforeseen complication….Anyways, all of the above are good things! You DO NOT want anyone performing surgery for longer than 8 to max 10 straight hours. Even Mr. Big Brain Neurosurgeon with his/her extra-long fellowship declines rapidly after 7 hours. Disclaimer: Yes, yes….this Redditor may be partial toward the great field of Neurosurgery, and the big-headed minions that staff this hallowed field.