In the Line of Care: Stories from the Navy Medical Oral History Collection — How a Sigmoidoscope Saved America
BLUF – In 1976 aboard USS America, Navy surgeon Lt. Cmdr. Tom Minehan ingeniously used a medical sigmoidoscope to locate a wrench accidentally dropped inside a steam turbine and surgical forceps to remove it, restoring the carrier’s propulsion and potentially preventing about six months of repairs. For Navy Medicine, the remarkable story from BUMED’s Oral History Collection illustrates the adaptability and problem-solving skills of Navy medical personnel and how their expertise can contribute to the mission far beyond traditional patient care.