A memorable patient: Long term follow up

In 1968,although an obstetrician by training, I was appointed as general surgeon to a mobile surgical team embarked in the aircraft carrier Eagle to provide cover for the naval task group covering the withdrawal from Aden. This eccentric appointment arose from a temporary shortage of available surgical specialists and was a cause of some amusement on board and some concern on my part. I was not reassured to hear that, in the second world war, the United States marine corps had recruited several obstetricians who were unwanted by the other services and found them to have the best battlefield mortality figures, since they were well used to working fast in a welter of blood. A further complication was …