There was nothing Zheng Ren could do about Chang Yue's description.
"Okay!" The young girl bowed deeply to Zheng Ren and quickly ran away.
There was a slight gleam in the agent's eyes. After the girl left the office, she asked, "Doctor Zheng, is she a family member of your patient?"
"Yes."
"What are you going to do?" Chang Yue's high emotional quotient was limited only to the patients and family members. Every other time, it was about on par with Zheng Ren's.
However, she was slightly wary of the agent's attitude and was thus ruthless with her question.
"The company is going to assemble a group consisting entirely of women. That girl's body and appearance meet our requirements, and that was the reason for my questioning," The agent understood everything after noticing the vigilance in Chang Yue's expression and mocked, "Are you seriously thinking that I'll be trafficking her?"
"Yes," Chang Yue admitted. Damn, she was indeed a frank lady.
"Many people begged for my attention, but I couldn't be bothered with them," the agent said proudly, "There aren't many opportunities that can completely change one's life. Doctor, are you sure you can speak for her?"
Chang Yue hesitated immediately.
She was fully aware of that young girl's family condition, so…
Zheng Ren's phone suddenly rang and interrupted their confrontation.
"Chief Physician Pan, understood.
"Why?
"Alright, I'm on my way."
Zheng Ren hung up after a few words, and with a regretful tone despite his relaxed appearance, he said, "ICU, urgent consultation. Please excuse me."
"Don't worry about it, Doctor Zheng." The agent took out a business card from her handbag and handed it to Zheng Ren once more. "Please give me a call if you visit Sorcery Capital in the future. Doctor Zheng has given Zhou Jinxi and me great help this time, so don't bother with formalities when the time comes."
Smiling politely, Zheng Ren accepted the card and casually tucked it into his pocket.
"Chang Yue, help me see the visitors out. I'm going to the ICU now."
"Multidisciplinary consultation shouldn't include the emergency department, right?" asked Chang Yue doubtfully.
"Chief Physician Pan said that the emergency department is involved as long as it's an emergency case. I'll come back soon, so wait for my return before you get off work," Zheng Ren instructed Chang Yue and left the office without bidding farewell, even with a 180-centimeter tall supermodel in the room.
Chapter 71 - Hysterectomy or No?
Zheng Ren rushed to the first floor of the emergency department building and found Old Chief Physician Pan waiting for him.
The two men ran toward the ICU. At the changing room before the ICU entrance, they put on surgical caps and masks, changing into dark green sterile scrubs and even swapping their shoes for slippers before entering.
The ICU was like treasure vaults in movies, where one had to change their clothes and go through two rounds of scrubbing before being allowed in.
This was to prevent the risk of contamination as most ICU patients had tracheostomy tubes connecting them to ventilators. They had very poor immunity and microorganisms that were usually commensals could become lethal pathogens.
Inside the ICU, many department chiefs were already there on the case.
The System display at the upper right corner of his vision told him that it was a placental abruption of the hemorrhagic sort.
The patient was a young female, 20 months into pregnancy. Due to pregnancy-induced hypertension, the placenta had detached from the uterine wall. The distance between the placenta and the uterus was half the length of the placenta.
The patient was bleeding excessively, resulting in a pallid complexion. She was sweating profusely and her heart rate was rising while her blood pressure was plummeting. She was exhibiting symptoms of hemorrhagic shock.
Fetal asphyxia had set in and the fetal heartbeat was undetectable. The baby was already dead.
This was a tricky case…
As this was the patient's first pregnancy, a hysterectomy would close the door on any future pregnancies. It was a cruel thing to do to an expecting mother.
However, if an emergency hysterectomy was not performed, the bleeding would not stop. The obstetric and gynecology department had tried to manage the bleed but antihemorrhagic drugs had helped little.
They were stuck between a rock and a hard place.
A few of the department chiefs that came to consult had the same opinion. The case was a tricky one. They frowned at the worrying numbers on the vitals monitor, deep in thought.
The diagnosis was simple, but the biggest problem was the decision to remove the uterus.
Su Yun stood by the patient's bed with a blue clipboard in his hand. His coat was white as snow and a stethoscope hung over his neck. He stared at the department chiefs with an impassive look.
"I suggest that we discuss this in the office. Time… There should be only ten minutes left. Xiao Su, start prepping for surgery," the ICU chief spoke.
The various department chiefs filed out of the ICU. Su Yun saw an unobtrusive Zheng Ren at the end of the crowd. Anyone would have missed his presence had they not been paying attention.
Su Yun gave the usual orders and the nurses got to work.
He left the observation room and went into the second room in the corridor. The room had clear windows and a large, makeshift table made up of a few office desks. There were a dozen or so chairs around it.
The ICU chief glanced at the clock and said, "We have nine more minutes."
"I don't think there's much more to debate," the obstetric and gynecology department chief, Su Yun, spoke firmly as he adjusted his horn-rimmed glasses, "We have tried many ways to stop the bleed but none were effective. Any more delays and the patient could go into hemorrhagic shock. By then, surgery won't be a viable option."
"Haih." The anesthesiology department chief sighed audibly. He started to speak but paused at the last second.
"Old Wang, what do you have to say? Don't sigh and just say it." The ICU chief was in an agitated mood and did not welcome dithering.
"If we only had an interventional surgery expert," Anesthesiology Department Chief Wang said. It was what everyone was thinking.
"Ask if the endovascular team can help us out."
The ICU chief's expression was dismissive. "The endovascular team has 18 myocardial infarction patients today among the three wards, all lined up for surgery."
If a myocardial infarction acted up without surgical intervention, death was guaranteed for the patient.
It was unlike the pregnant patient in the ICU who had the alternative of a hysterectomy to save her life.
These razor-sharp contradictions were a daily occurence in the hospital. Which lives were more virtuous? None. In the face of death, every person was equal and the only inequality lied in society.
Even if the endovascular surgeon was free to assist in the surgery, if something were to happen, who would be blamed? According to the law, surgeons were only licensed to practice within their expertise. Among all the specialties, only trauma surgeons were allowed some leeway.
The crowd was silent.
Zheng Ren stood at a corner. He had no authority to speak in this sort of large-scale emergency rescue meeting that involved the whole hospital.
If it were not for Old Chief Physician Pan's insistence, Zheng Ren would not have even been allowed to attend this meeting. The other department chiefs respected his seniority.
Zheng Ren understood the point they were making. If they wanted to preserve the uterus and stop the bleed, it had to be through interventional methods.
Surgeons involved in interventional radiology were exposed to large amounts of radiation. After one of the specialized surgeons had been diagnosed with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, such surgeries became less popular. Doctors preferred placements in the endovascular team for coronary angioplasty and a
s time passed, there had been no one in the interventional radiology-assisted surgery department.
For this, Anesthesiology Department Chief Wang lamented.
The mention of interventional radiology reminded Zheng Ren of the System. It had once tempted him to choose interventional surgery.
Maybe he could try it out? Zheng Ren considered.
There was only a few minutes left. He had to decide.
Zheng Ren entered the System and opened up the Shop. He stared at the interventional surgery training option and hesitated.
He was not debating whether he wanted to purchase the training. Experience points were nothing if he could save one life or let the patient retain her reproductive ability.
His hesitation was self-doubt. He was unsure if he was eligible for the training.
Ever since attaining the System, Zheng Ren's memory had improved significantly. His knowledge of anatomical positions had gotten better alongside his general surgery skill.
Based on his memory, interventional surgery for a placenta abruption called for the embolization of the uterine artery. It was the easiest interventional surgical procedure.
Then… that was it.
Once the decision was made, Zheng Ren confidently selected the training.
In a flash, the operating theater rose from the ground. Zheng Ren felt a tug as a lead apron was affixed to his body. With a simulation mannequin before him, Zheng Ren gripped the catheterization kit in his hand.
How should he do this?
Zheng Ren was in a stupor.
[Please add skill points into interventional surgery to proceed with training.]
The robotic female voice of the System reminded Zheng Ren of his own thoughts. You idiot, you should have prepared your skill tree before trying a new surgery. Did you think you could just waltz in with zero preparation and pick up interventional surgery?
Sweat rolled down Zheng Ren's back. He used a skill book to raise his interventional surgery skills to Graduate rank, at 1000 skill points. Then he added 1 more point to achieve Expert rank.
The jump in skill level felt like a thunderbolt striking him from the sky. His whole body was paralyzed.
In an instant, his mind was clear as unfamiliar memories started to file in.
During his climb up the general surgery skill tree, Zheng Ren did not feel any noteworthy changes. That was because he was a general surgeon and was routinely exposed to pertinent cases. Even when he got 2000 skill points in general surgery, he only felt pride for his achievement.
This was a different case. Zheng Ren went from zero to Expert and it made him regard the System with wonder.
He had a total of 189920 experience points, worth around 52 hours. Equipped with the Expert rank, Zheng Ren bought 50 hours of surgical training time. The remaining points would be kept as a backup.
Interventional surgery training had begun!
Chapter 72 - Alone Without Assistance (Part I)
In the meeting room, Obstetrics and Gynecology Department Chief Su let out a sigh. He stood up and said, "Then that's settled. I'll speak to the family about the operation."
"It's the only way." Many of the department chiefs knew it would come to this, but had held out hope for an alternative plan.
"If I could have a second." Zheng Ren took a step to block the doorway.
"Eh? Xiao Zheng from general surgery?" Chief Su's familiarity with Zheng Ren started and ended with the first general surgery department.
"He's the chief resident of the emergency department now." Old Chief Physician Pan immediately corrected Chief Su, his tone protective.
"What is it?" Chief Su asked with a frown.
"I can perform interventional surgery. And emergency embolization surgery falls under emergency rescue protocols, making it legal," Zheng Ren stated.
"You?" A dozen pairs of eyes stared at Zheng Ren.
"I had done it during my housemanship." Zheng Ren knew it was a paper-thin reason. There was no way Chief Su would believe him.
Nevertheless, Zheng Ren could not think of a better lie to convince Chief Su.
"Step aside. I need to prepare for surgery." As predicted, Chief Su had no interest in Zheng Ren's nonsense.
Old Chief Physician Pan watched Zheng Ren. "Are you sure?"
"The emergency operating room has the hybrid operating table and we can borrow some consumables from the endovascular team. Compatibility is not perfect but it shouldn't be a problem. The only thing we lack for the uterine artery embolization is absorbable gelatin sponge."
The main procedure done by the endovascular team was angioplasty, so why would they have absorbable gelatin sponges?
"Old Chief Physician Pan…" Chief Su's frustration was palpable but he still respected the old chief's stature in the hospital.
"Give Zheng Ren ten minutes on the hybrid operating table…"
"I only need five!" Zheng Ren said cheerily.
"Alright, five minutes. If it fails, the hysterectomy can proceed immediately. The emergency operating theater has the necessary machines, nurses, and anesthesiologist. The attempt will not compromise the hysterectomy in any way," Old Chief Physician Pan spoke.
Chief Su did some mental calculations. This attempt could reassure the family that the hospital had tried their very best and the hysterectomy was the last resort. They would be more accepting of the news.
"Will there be any complications?" Chief Wang from the anesthesiology department asked.
"It's possible but the chances are low and there's no time to explain," Zheng Ren replied.
"Then get to the emergency operating room now!" Chief Su slammed his hand on the wall and strode out of the room. He was going to inform the family about the procedures.
They would exhaust their arsenal to save the patient with hysterectomy being the last resort. The family would feel better hearing that.
As Chief Su agreed to operate in the emergency department's hybrid operating theater, Zheng Ren heard a System mission arrive.
[Emergency Room Mission: Save A Mother-To-Be
[Mission Details: Perform a uterine artery embolization surgery.
[Mission Reward: 100 skill points, 1000 experience points, one silver c.h.e.s.t.
[Mission Duration: 3 hours.]
Zheng Ren had no time to go through the specifics. A life was on the line.
Su Yun wore a surprised expression when he looked at Zheng Ren… or dumbfounded was more accurate. A few seconds later, a sliver of a smile appeared on Su Yun's face.
A few surgeries during his housemanship and the guy thought he could complete an emergency uterine artery embolization within five minutes!
This was utter nonsense. He was just a general surgeon punching above his weight.
However, Su Yun's smile was not one of mockery but of genuine curiosity.
During a life-threatening emergency, speed was essential.
Zheng Ren and Old Chief Physician Pan hurried to the vascular imaging room for the necessary consumables.
The consumables used in angioplasty were of different make from those used in embolization, but in light of the emergency, practicality was all that mattered.
As they walked, Old Chief Physician Pan asked Zheng Ren about the type of absorbable gelatin sponge he needed, then proceeded to make a call.
A brief conversation on the phone later, he told Zheng Ren the absorbable gelatin sponges would be arriving soon. The old chief was a well-connected man indeed.
With Old Chief Physician Pan's guarantee, Zheng Ren felt his confidence rise.
Upon arrival at the vascular imaging room, Zheng Ren started to look for suitable consumables.
The materials used by the endovascular team were mostly soft and fine, characteristics that were not required in embolization surgery. After all, the uterine artery lumen was much wider than even a coronary artery with 90% blockage.
Zheng Ren's Expert rank allowed him to skillfully sieve through the many available materials and gather what he needed. A fe
w minutes later, he was bounding toward the emergency operating theater, a bunch of guide wires and guide catheters in hand.
He was a bit winded when he reached the operating room. He let out a breath and started preparations.
Suddenly, the System spoke into Zheng Ren's ear and a new mission flashed at the top right corner of his vision.
Two missions? Zheng Ren was shocked.
[Special Mission: Alone Without Assistance
[Mission Details: No one can assist you. You can only rely on yourself. Surgery is not a one-man show but under special circ.u.mstances, it necessitates a solo operation.
[Please complete one surgery alone.
[Mission Reward: Unknown.
[Mission Duration: 3 hours.]
Alone without assistance… This phrase was like a bullet to Zheng Ren's heart.
Although Zheng Ren had the well-maintained hybrid operating theater, the lack of an assistant, a technician, and compatible equipment was paramount.
If this was a standard surgery, forgoing any one of the above would have led to failure.
Unfortunately, he had no time.
No time to practise.
No time to wait.
No time to waste.
His success or failure would determine a woman's future of becoming a mother.
Zheng Ren ignored the mission. The reward was inconsequential compared to the patient's life.
He switched on the slumbering machine. The noise reduction feature meant only a low humming could be heard.
The Siemens Artis zee Biplane Interventional Angiography System was released two years ago. The state-of-the-art facility had been untouched for more than a year.
Without an operator, the sleek machine was just a heap of metal.
Initiation, optimization. There was no technician, so Zheng Ren assigned the system access and control from within the operating theater. Similar to surgical lighting controls, a sterile film would be fixed over the Siemens' controls which would allow him to manipulate the system from within the sterile environment.
Earlier on, Xie Yiren and the Chu sisters had been called in.
The current procedure only required local anesthesia. Therefore, the Chu sisters were on standby. If Zheng Ren's attempt failed, the hysterectomy would call for the sisters' expertise in total anesthesia. However, the appearance of Anesthesiology Department Chief Wang diminished their chances of getting involved with the surgery.
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