All Bleeding Stops

Life and Death in the Trauma Unit

By: Stephen M. Cohn

Narrated by: 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

Scary but honest

I loved the honesty of the medical surgeon. It scared me to think of having surgery ever.

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.

Educational and entertaining

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

Each story was written with emotion and easily understood and outcome of the case was explained.

The humanity of the doctors story’s. The experience with their patients stories and injuries and the surgeries.