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O U T P A T I E N T S U R G E R Y M A G A Z I N E O N L I N E | M A Y 2 0 1 5
Here's What Happened in Vegas
40,000 orthopedic surgeons descended on Sin City.
I
just returned from the
American Academy of
Orthopedic Surgeons
convention in Las Vegas, 1 of
40,000 orthopedic surgeons
turned loose in Sin City for,
ahem, education. Las Vegas
may be the top trade show
destination in the country,
but let's just say that it's not
in my top 10 picks for venues. Some of the issues:
• Hotels. Each hotel-casino is neatly positioned near the convention cen-
ter. No surprise. You have to venture past the slot machines and blackjack
tables to gain access to the hotel elevators. I didn't savor starting my
morning walk to the convention as I passed countless sleep-deprived,
hardcore gamblers, still positioned at the craps tables in hopes of hitting it
big. It was easy to spot the biggest losers: They were the ones snorting
antacids!
There was more smoke in my hotel lobby than the recreation room
at San Quentin prison. To make matters worse, they spray the casino
air with some chemical cocktail akin to rosy napalm that results in a
pungent smoke/floral bouquet hybrid odor that is not kind to the sens-
es. The fitness center is located on the first floor, adjacent to the
lobby. I endeavored to work out one morning, but after 10 minutes on
the treadmill I suffered from carbon monoxide poisoning. I had a
headache that required industrial-strength Tylenol. The only people
benefitting from the fitness center were the medics.
C U T T I N G R E M A R K S
John D. Kelly IV, MD
Las Vegas may be the top trade show destination
in the country, but Dr. Kelly wishes the American
Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons convention
were someplace else.
