All Bleeding Stops

Life and Death in the Trauma Unit

De: Stephen M. Cohn

Narrado por: Paul Heitsch

For all the awe-inspiring medical stories we might hear and the hospital dramas that dominate the ratings on television, most of us have no conception of the daily Herculean efforts of trauma surgeons. A good trauma surgeon must be a conductor presiding over an orchestra of healthcare providers as their patients cling to life by a thread. They are also a steely quarterback who can’t be rattled when they throw an interception—lingering on a past failure would only ruin their ability to care for the next patient, and the next. They have an encyclopedic knowledge of medical science and are practiced in the art of instinctively reacting to whatever emergency comes flying at them on a stretcher, in addition to doing anything they can to comfort patients’ distraught families and friends.

All Bleeding Stops gives listeners an intimate look at what goes on inside a trauma center, highlighting injuries sustained in car crashes, shootings, and stabbings—basically anything bleeding, obstructed, or perforated. Having lived and breathed trauma for four decades, Dr. Cohn is an ideal guide to demystify the role of the trauma surgeon and their place in a hospital. The behind-the-scenes look he provides is infused with sobering tales from his career as a military surgeon and in trauma centers across the country as well as his descriptions of high-profile medical stories.

©2023 Stephen M. Cohn (P)2023 Mayo Clinic Press

Educational and entertaining

Great book! Both educational and entertaining for those who enjoy medicine. Will listen to again.

Great trauma related case stories

I love medical / trauma books and this one did not disappoint. Educational and humorous accounts of surgical trauma cases. The one thing I could have done without is the author slipping in his gun control opinions at several points in the book.

Sort of a PBS medical career anecdote book

The actual dark humor medical expression is "all bleeding stops eventually." I bought this hoping for the tales of numerous and intense stories of what goes into becoming a trauma surgeon and what it is like to practice. Books of this genre I have listened to so far have been lively with both light hearted and heavy stories. This one is similar, but it adds a much more academic/educational flavor re: statistics on surgeon training, work hours, funding of research, etc. at first I was thinking this book wasn't what I wanted. But by the time it was done, I appreciated that it actually enlightened me about some hidden and not so hidden political and financial issues that significantly impact the care delivered in the US.
It never hurts to learn while being entertained, but if your are strictly seeking entertainment, this may not be the book for you.

A pot-boiler if ever there was one

Honestly I can’t imagine why the author would think this book would be entertaining. Often it’s only a soapbox for his desire to nanny us into using seatbelts, motorcycle helmets and of course giving up guns, cigarettes and whiskey. The few actual trauma cases he describes are so watered down with simplifications that it becomes very tedious to listen to. One of his many exceptionally galling habits is constantly referring to hospital emergency departments as “ERs”. He does this in a condescending fashion suggesting that he is the one and only doctor who knows how to care for injured patients. So we have 10 fully monitored trauma bays, 15 fully monitored cardiac-critical care bays, 45 monitored exam-treatment rooms, 10 specialty exam rooms and he calls it an emergency “room”? No wonder trauma surgeons have a reputation for being jerks.

Honesty

Aided positively in my life would recommend should not be 15 words minimum struggling for more

Not really about medicine

I initially bought this audiobook thinking that Dr. Cohn would be detailing story after story of his time as a trauma surgeon, but it became more about his views of the current state of policies related to traumatic injuries and becoming a physician. This is not an attack on his character, but the book's description is misleading. I could not go past a few chapters before choosing to return the book.

political commentary and ego

I am an ER nurse, have been for over 3 decades. I wanted to like the book but couldn't get past the constant politicizing and self congratulatory ego.

Deceiving title and summary

I finished the book and it was painful from beginning to end.

The amount of hubris displayed in this book is physically repulsive. Between incredibly sparse stories of trauma cases, the true majority of this book centers around the author's political agenda and beliefs regarding firearms, residency working hours, and more.

Simply, this isn't a book I'd recommend if you are interested in learning about life and death in the trauma unit.

How old is this guy?

Mostly medically accurate. Kind of difficult to believe this doctor has worked at all of these facilities and supervised trauma services in that many. If you're looking for exciting stories of trauma patients, skip this one. If you love statistics, a keeper.

Sexist and out of touch

Every time he referred to a surgeon it was he 100% off the time when “they” or “themselves” would have been grammatically correct yet he says “he” 100% of the time. He also argues against resident hours being reduced but completely ignores that tired residents make more mistakes than better rested. This is a scientifically proven fact vs his opinion based declarations. I stopped listening in chapter 6 for these reasons. I conclude he is an arrogant jerk.