The apparatus for performing a renal biopsy is supported by an armature used to suspend the needle system over the patient, who lies prone. The doctor has to position the device very precisely, below the ribs, away from the spine, over the kidney. Then he pulls the trigger, and bam! The needle shoots in, grabs a slice of kidney, and shoots back out. It probably takes less than a second per specimen.
My job was easy. All I had to do was lie there...lie there and shake, lie there and sweat, lie there and get so nervous I made the doctor nervous. During prep, one of the assistants casually let her hand rest on my head. When doctor starts his countdown to pull the trigger, I blurt "Where is that nice, human hand that was comforting me?"
With a giggle, the hand is back, tousling my hair, caressing my scalp. Then "OK, one, two, three," bam!
© Matthew Hammond August 2009