Chapter 328: A Successful Surgery
Chapter 328: A Successful Surgery
Since Zheng Ren was still in the middle of a surgery, he dared not waste any more time. He entered the System and bought a few surgery training hours.
The System’s operating room emerged from the ground, bearing a simulation mannequin with a condition thoughtfully similar to Yang Lili’s.
In that moment, Zheng Ren appreciated the System more than ever.
It showed him a clear purpose and he could get the training he wanted.
That was enough.
Zheng Ren did not get much surgery time as he only needed to do reparative surgery of the esophagus and mediastinal pleura. Five hours would be more than sufficient.
Esophageal repair differed from an esophagectomy. It was not a major surgery, unlike the removal of the upper esophagus.
The only skill required was suturing. No special techniques needed.
Zheng Ren was simply being careful by practicing for a few hours in the System’s operating room. He was eternally afraid of slipping up and making a mistake, compromising the patient’s recovery and even causing death.
If that happened, he would regret it forever.
Within five hours, Zheng Ren performed over 30 surgeries, all simple procedures to repair the mediastinal pleura and esophagus.
When his time was up, he exited the System.
He was still holding the scalpel in his hand. Su Yun asked, puzzled, “Boss, what are you thinking?”
“I think we may need to leave the gastric tube in for a few more days,” Zheng Ren said, making up an excuse.
He made a longer-than-usual incision along the wound on the patient’s mediastinal pleura, performed blunt dissection and found the esophageal wall.
As predicted, it had a lesion smaller than 0.5 cm.
Su Yun probed and pushed the hemostatic clamp through the esophageal wall. Had they not discovered it, the patient’s digestive fluid would not have allowed the wound to heal, possibly leading to tracheo-oesophageal or bronchopleural fistulas.
Nevertheless, they had found it, and there was nothing further to worry about.
Old Chief Physician Pan’s expression relaxed instantly and his chest rose even further.
Even without looking directly at Chief Zhang Linyou of thoracic surgery, his intentions were clear—you are inferior in diagnosis and surgery to even my subordinate!
Chief Sun was thrilled.
His confidence had not been misplaced, after all. Once discovered, an injury on the esophageal wall was but a small problem and could be resolved by leaving the gastric tube in for a few extra days.
Even without a suture, it would not pose any threat.
However, missing it would be a huge blunder.
Chief Zhang Linyou, today was finally your turn.
Chief Sun happily anticipated Chief Zhang Linyou’s astonished expression, but looking around, the man was nowhere to be found.
“Where’s Chief Zhang?” he chuckled.
“He just left,” Chu Yanzhi replied instantly. She was having a hard time not speaking, but there were so many people around today and she could not be her usual lively self.
Although protocol called for as few people as possible in the operating room, this patient had been directly designated by the city council. Even the hospital director was present; any department chief who sat this one out would likely face a rocky road ahead.
The effect of their commotion on patients... was the least of their concerns.
Those present were used to and fully aware of such situations.
There had once been an old minister who had returned on a visit to his hometown, a rural village near Sea City. His journey had been challenging due to his tight schedule and he caught a cold.
There was no specific medication in the small hospital in his hometown. They had never even heard of specialized drugs for influenza such as Tamiflu and Peramivir.
He was prescribed three days of dexamethasone, but his symptoms improved significantly and he was so pleased that he heaped endless praise on the medical ability of rural hospitals.
When the old minister arrived at Sea City, everyone in Sea City General Hospital panicked.
How would they handle the case?
Treatment was normally followed by two to three days of recovery which would occasionally still present mild flu symptoms.
What would their betters think?
That Sea City General Hospital was inferior to rural health centers?
Was that not a ridiculous supposition?
Hence, Sea City General Hospital prescribed two days of dexamethasone to relieve his symptoms in addition to regular treatment.
After that... did all ministers not return to Imperial Capital? The doctors there were all experts and had plenty of tricks up their sleeve. [1]
It was strange, just like stories from unofficial history records describing how an emperor could not drink fresh tea, only old tea, as no one dared to speak otherwise...
As they said, a grasp of mundane affairs was genuine knowledge, and the understanding of worldly wisdom was true learning.
Today’s situation was exactly the same: a bunch of people cramming themselves into the operating room as if afraid of being called out for their absence when an important patient was being rescued.
If they were accused of disrespect by someone with malicious intent... they would be f*cked.
Who would notice if somebody left in such a crowd? Only Chu Yanzhi, the girl with inexhaustible energy could notice that Chief Zhang Linyou had left after the lesion on the esophagus was discovered.
Su Yun smiled gently upon seeing the lesion. He reached out his hand but received nothing.
Zheng Ren was already ahead with a needle holder attached to a thin needle and thread.
Stunned, Su Yun clocked that Zheng Ren seemed rather familiar with the procedure. This could not be the man’s first thoracic surgery.
He fell into a daze. What could this guy not do?
Zheng Ren’s detailed sutures on the esophagus were also flawless. Were it Su Yun... he would still be better than Zheng Ren, but this was a fine job.
After stitching up the esophagus and mediastinal pleura, they washed the area and closed up the chest after observing no further blood in the flush.
“Boss, you seem rather familiar with thoracic surgery,” Su Yun said.
“I’m just scratching the surface,” Zheng Ren said.
Su Yun recalled how Old Chief Wang’s jaw had almost dropped to the floor back in Imperial Capital.
The same tactic would not work on Su Yun a second time. Out of habit, he blew at his fringe, but the gust of warm breath was stayed by his sterile mask.
He shook his head.
Chest closure was slightly more complicated than that of the abdomen.
However, they had worked together for some time and complemented each other exceptionally, what more with Xie Yiren assisting. Suture, knot, cut; four hands flew about and between five to six minutes later, they had managed to close the chest.
On the other hand, Yang Lei was still in his own world of skin suture.
“This surgery is a success,” Old Chief Physician Pan said after a look at the ECG monitor.
“Mm,” Director Xiao said with his hands behind his back, “Pay strict attention to perioperative care. If there are any problems, just contact the medical administration and office. We have to ensure this emergency rescue is successful no matter what.”
After his command, Director Xiao turned to leave the operating room.
Before he could complete his rotation, though, a panicked Ding Zhongtai rushed in and whispered, “Director, the ambulance rear-ended a Porsche on their journey. The driver is arguing with the police now.”
“Hmm?” Director Xiao had not seen the scratches on the front of the ambulance and had no idea of the matter. He stared at Ding Zhongtai, confused.
Old Chief Physician Pan scoffed coldly and said, “The ambulance dashboard camera has all the footage. How dare he make a scene?”