NMNicholas Maxwell, MDSurgeon & Author

Behind the book

Life on the Cutting Edge
Photo Gallery

The people, cases, and advances behind Tales of Surgical (Mis)Adventure.

Life on the Cutting Edge book cover

The People Who Shaped the Journey

Dr. Jim Curry
The reason I almost didn’t come to Monroe—but the reason I stayed.

Dr. Jim Davidson and Dr. Dan Stormont—the two who persuaded me to come to Monroe.
Dr. Jim Davidson and Dr. Dan Stormont—the two who persuaded me to come to Monroe.

Foreign Bodies

A blade in the abdomen. Not normal in a smiling patient!
A blade in the abdomen. Not normal in a smiling patient!
The wrapping that allowed the knife to be swallowed—still not that easy!
The wrapping that allowed the knife to be swallowed—still not that easy!
A babygram of a young fellow who swallowed a Pinewood Derby car axle.
A babygram of a young fellow who swallowed a Pinewood Derby car axle.
The nail as it lay in the duodenum before retrieval.
The nail as it lay in the duodenum before retrieval.

The Laparoscopic Era

Early laparoscopic gallbladder surgery, circa 1993.
Early laparoscopic gallbladder surgery, circa 1993.
This was how laparoscopic gallbladder surgery looked in the early days, circa 1993.
This was how laparoscopic gallbladder surgery looked in the early days, circa 1993.
A laparoscopic operating room.
A laparoscopic operating room.
A severely inflamed gallbladder—but a wonderfully clear image.
A severely inflamed gallbladder—but a wonderfully clear image.
Gallstone next to a thickened gallbladder.
Gallstone next to a thickened gallbladder.
Appendicitis.
Appendicitis.
A swollen, gangrenous gallbladder.
A swollen, gangrenous gallbladder.
Pus in the pelvis.
Pus in the pelvis.

Carotid Surgery

Exposure of the carotid artery to treat a blockage.
Exposure of the carotid artery to treat a blockage.
The artery opened, revealing the stroke-causing blockage.
The artery opened, revealing the stroke-causing blockage.
The blockage removed.
The blockage removed.
The artery after it has been stitched closed.
The artery after it has been stitched closed.

Vascular Milestones

Dr. Baker and I, flanking our first two endovascular aneurysm patients.
Dr. Baker and I, flanking our first two endovascular aneurysm patients.