The Surgeon's Studio c1-799

by Black Ursa Prime

  It was difficult for Zheng Ren to get a feel of the guidewire as it was still in its packaging. He shot Feng Xuhui a look; the manager immediately stepped forward and removed the protective packaging.

  The micro guide wire was now unusable as its protective packaging had been opened.

  It did not matter to Feng Xuhui.

  It was only a few thousand yuan. Not a problem.

  Zheng Ren felt the texture of the micro-guidewire, then sighed.

  The wire was of the same type as that provided during his intensive training in the System.

  This was why he could not get a perfect score on interventional surgeries even though he was a Master. The materials were holding him back.

  Now that he was a Grandmaster, though, it should no longer be an issue.

  Zheng Ren's sigh made Department Chief Kong frown. "Is it not suitable?"

  The Changfeng Microinvasive Surgery staff felt their heartbeats quicken.

  Zheng Ren smiled. He had performed 52 prostate interventional embolization surgeries in the System with this exact guide wire. All that repetition made up for the unfavorable aspects of the material.

  "It's alright. Chief Kong, proceed with your plan for a temporary supply contract with them. We'll prepare for an early morning surgery tomorrow," Zheng Ren replied.

  Department Chief Kong nodded.

  Chairman Ma and Feng Xuhui felt a burden roll off their shoulders. An agreement from Department Chief Kong meant they could proceed with paperwork.

  Their biggest hurdle was officially over and done with.

  A smile broke out on Chairman Ma's face and he wanted to say his thanks, but Zheng Ren's words cut through his own. "Chief Kong, I remember we discussed the possibility of having the surgery recorded live."

  "Yes, we want to have a recording for future reference, regardless of the outcome," the department chief said.

  Zheng Ren nodded. "Sure. This will be my first live surgery recording, but don't worry, I'll have my nerves under control."

  The words got Department Chief Kong thinking again. Should he trust this junior doctor? Was Zheng Ren truly confident in the surgery?

  Was a live recording wise when clips of Professor Rudolph Wagner's surgery were already out there?

  Although Zheng Ren seemed unafraid of failure, the same could not be said of Department Chief Kong.

  While Zheng Ren might have the skill, he would be using locally-made neuro micro guide wires from Changfeng Microinvasive Surgery.

  Professor Rudolph Wagner had access to Biosensors International's specialized micro guide wire—an interventional surgery product with its own dedicated production line.

  There was a stark difference between the two surgeons.

  It was an immeasurable gap that could not be closed so easily.

  "Is something wrong?" Zheng Ren saw the odd expression on Department Chief Kong's face and made an educated guess. Putting on a smile, he said, "Chief Kong, the surgery shouldn't be a problem. While I cannot guarantee a 100% success rate, I can assure it will turn out better than Professor Rudolph Wagner's, barring any unforeseen circ.u.mstances. If you're not comfortable with a live recording, we can do without it."

  Department Chief Kong's face cycled through a slideshow of emotions.

  The risks and rewards were clear. The deciding factor would be whether or not Zheng Ren could pull off a successful surgery.

  Zheng Ren twisted the guidewire in his hand. It was slightly different from the one within the System, but given some time, he would grow accustomed to it.

  Sensing the department chief's hesitance, Zheng Ren gave him an easygoing grin. "Let's revisit this topic later. Right now, I believe there is a surgery I should attend to."

  Chapter 243 - Smooth Sailing (Part 2 of 5)

  Department Chief Kong had no qualms with Zheng Ren's decision to perform the hepatocellular carcinoma surgery. They had agreed to it yesterday.

  According to Zheng Ren, they would have to put the live streaming on hold.

  Chief Kong also preferred to do this covertly. No footage meant no evidence.

  He was fine with it as long as the surgery was not too poorly done. It was impossible for the young doctor to surpass the German professor. If such a thing was doable, why had so many experts left the Imperial Capital overnight?

  Chief Kong had already thought it all out.

  Chairman Ma was astonished by the conversation happening before him. Never in his life had he seen a subordinate speak directly to a department chief from one of the country's top Class Three Grade A hospitals. Nevertheless, he kept his composure and remained silent.

  One's true colors would surface given enough time.

  The truth would out if the doctor was truly a prodigy.

  Chairman Ma did not pick sides rashly. Up until now, Changfeng Microinvasive Surgery was the major beneficiary in this situation. He was satisfied to maintain it.

  He could not care less about the success or failure of the surgery.

  …

  Qin Liren had finished preparing for his surgery. Chief Kong sent the man to the operating theater after completing his ward rounds.

  Qin Liren had mixed emotions about finally being able to receive surgery.

  He lay down on the table in the operating room and stared up at the surgical lamp as he recalled his past few weeks.

  Zheng Ren walked in after a few minutes. "Qin Liren?" he said, confirming his patient's identity off the film in his hands.

  "Yes, that's me," Qin Liren replied instantly.

  "Got it," Zheng Ren said softly before signalling to Su Yun, who began scrubbing in and putting on the first layer of the sterile sheet.

  After assembling the first layer, Su Yun repeated the process with disinfectant and changed his gloves before setting up the second layer of the sterile sheet.

  Zheng Ren was not in a hurry. He examined the scans on the radiographic film viewer leisurely while waiting for Su Yun to finish setting up.

  Since he attained Prime level in interventional surgery, Zheng Ren had entirely new knowledge and insight on hepatocellular carcinoma nodules. He was able to derive the insertion point and entry route by analyzing the scans alone.

  "Mr. Zheng, it's ready," Su Yun said half-seriously when he looked up and saw Zheng Ren staring at the reverse 64-slice CT scan that had been reconstructed yesterday.

  "Okay," Zheng Ren answered, not moving. Instead, he shut his eyes and simulated the entire surgical procedure in his head.

  After doing so many surgeries, Zheng Ren was confident about every detail, down to the selection of blood vessels and route of entry.

  Earlier today, he had completed over fifty rounds of prostate interventional embolizations in the System. This allowed him to master the technique of maneuvering micro guide wires into miniscule capillaries.

  After being promoted to Prime level, all the obstacles he had faced in the past were completely gone and it had been smooth sailing from there.

  A minute later, Su Yun walked to Zheng Ren's side and asked quietly, "Did you not have sufficient rest yesterday? Do you need me to perform the surgery?"

  Zheng Ren chuckled and replied, "No, I'm running a mental simulation; it should be complete within about 28 minutes."

  "Tsk…" Su Yun expressed his disdain.

  "Do you know how to do it?" Zheng Ren was intrigued by Su Yun's offer. The man's learning curve was astonishing.

  "Shouldn't be a problem. I've watched you do five of these, so I know the steps by now." Su Yun blew at his fringe out of habit, but it remained unmoved, held in place by the scrub cap.

  He felt a little disappointed.

  Zheng Ren was surprised by his statement, but it was nothing compared to the shock Su Yun felt at Zheng Ren's words.

  How had Zheng Ren managed to estimate the time taken to complete the surgery? His achievements in Imperial Capital could have inflated his ego, and it was probably time to knock him down a peg or two. Otherwise, if they managed to publish in The
Lancet, the accompanying academic recognition and fame would destroy him for sure.

  Zheng Ren was not bothered by Su Yun's inner monologue. He turned around to scrub in and suit up before approaching the table.

  Su Yun carried out femoral artery cannulation and waited patiently for Zheng Ren.

  There were not as many people in the observation unit as yesterday. Most of them had yet to digest the procedure they had observed.

  They would not benefit much from observing the same surgery again today.

  Furthermore, they had their own packed surgery schedules. A whole day had been spent observing Zheng Ren's demonstration and they could not afford to do so a second time.

  In addition, there had been news about a prostate interventional embolization scheduled the next day, which all the doctors were excited to observe and learn from.

  All of the surgeries for that day had either been brought forward or delayed to the day after.

  Chief Kong was watching Zheng Ren and Su Yun through the lead glass, but his thoughts were drifting off to the million-dollar question—ought he livestream the surgery?

  There was no issue with the patient as he had signed a consent form for the surgery to be publicly shared and received a share of the benefits, including complete fee waivers on checkups, medication and admission.

  The surgery being broadcast would also not make a difference to Zheng Ren. He had much higher stakes in the matter.

  However…the circ.u.mstances were different now.

  Chief Kong sighed internally.

  Everything would have proceeded according to plan if Professor Rudolf Wagner of Heidelberg University had not completed the surgery a step ahead of them.

  After his success, many pioneering experts in interventional surgery had left the Imperial Capital and gave up on the research. Livestreaming the surgery now would almost certainly lead to them never being able to show their face in public again.

  As Chief Kong fought his inner demons, the noise around him picked up, further distracting him.

  'Such unruly behavior!' Chief Kong was displeased.

  Although he was always kind and gentle to Zheng Ren, Chief Kong was strongly paternalistic towards his own doctors. Zheng Ren's exemplary skill had gained the chief's respect and earned an exemption from the norm. To his own staff, Chief Kong was always cold and quick to berate them if they went against his wishes.

  It had never been this rowdy before. Were they not aware that the operating theater had to remain silent at all times?

  Frowning, Chief Kong harrumphed as he turned around to glower at them.

  The sound was low and traveled far, like the heartbeat of the patient with cardiac tamponade.

  If Su Yun was around, he would have recognized the chief's familiar signal of disapproval.

  Yet...

  Chief Kong noticed that the operator and nurse standing behind him were staring into the operating theater with surprise and excitement; no one had noticed his irritation.

  This was unprecedented! Chief Kong was about to blow his top when he realized that everyone else's gaze was also transfixed at the operating theater. Where was the surgery at?

  He had been buried in his own thoughts, debating internally about livestreaming the surgery and failing to pay attention to the projector screen before his eyes. When he focused on the screen in front of him, he was stunned.

  Chapter 244 - A Solid Reason (Part 3 of 5)

  Had he finished the surgery in such a short time?

  How had he done it?

  It was impossible, it had to be a hallucination. Chief Kong rubbed his eyes and looked at the screen once more to make sure that it was really the last radiographic image of the surgery he was seeing. Embolization of the hepatocellular carcinoma nodules was complete, as well as administration of chemother.a.p.eutic drugs.

  He raised his head and saw Zheng Ren removing his gloves, having already left the table.

  The nurse opened a sensor-controlled door and retrieved a compression device, unpacking it and passing it to Su Yun.

  "Chief Kong, I'm done," Zheng Ren said jovially as he entered the operating console room sans sterile surgical gown and gloves.

  "..." Chief Kong was still in a daze. He was about to check on the radiographic images of the embolization.

  It was awkward examining them in front of Zheng Ren.

  Zheng Ren was not aware that he had finished the surgery within the brief window of Chief Kong's distraction. Prime rank interventional surgery was not to be underestimated. With a smile, he pointed at the two nodules on the screen and said, "I diagnosed that the nodules from the 3D-Image reconstruction of the 64-slice CT scan prior surgery were of cancerous origin. That surgery confirmed that it was indeed true."

  Chief Kong was lost for words. He had missed the entire surgery; how was he supposed to engage in any sort of discussion with Zheng Ren about it?

  Zheng Ren was eager to share his Prime-rank skills with Chief Kong, but was perplexed by Chief Kong's lost expression. Had he done something wrong in the middle of the operation?

  It was impossible. He knew his execution had had a perfect balance of speed, precision, and steadiness. What could be the problem?

  They stared at each other for a long while. Finally, Zheng Ren gave up and said, "I'll go ahead and change."

  Hurry up and leave, Chief Kong thought, anxious to rewatch the whole surgery.

  Zheng Ren walked towards the changing room in silence, feeling a little disappointed. He thought that he had nailed this particular surgery. Why did Chief Kong look so indifferent?

  Had he grown accustomed to Zheng Ren's surgeries after watching so many of them?

  That was impossible!

  There were still a few flaws in Zheng Ren's work when he was still at Master level in interventional surgery. Even though he had been able to complete his surgeries successfully, they were all incomparable to the one that he had just finished.

  Something was truly off.

  Zheng Ren entered the changing room and tore off his sterile surgical gown1. He sent the special lead vest back into the System and let out a long sigh.

  Right after he finished changing, Su Yun came into the room.

  The man threw away the surgical scrub cap into the waste bin, looking a little worse for wear with his hair balled up by the cap, but also appearing less obnoxious.

  Su Yun stared at Zheng Ren strangely and silently.

  "What is it?"

  It took ten seconds for Su Yun to break the silence. "The surgery today. It was peculiar."

  Zheng Ren grinned and did not bother explaining himself.

  "Are you on steroids today? How did your technique improve so much from yesterday?" Su Yun gave Zheng Ren a death stare as if trying to sniff out his secrets.

  However, Zheng Ren's expression was calm and composed, giving nothing away.

  After a while, Su Yun shook his head and sighed.

  What a peculiar being. Why was the gulf between them widening despite his best efforts? Su Yun lowered his head and mulled it over.

  Back then, there was no one he could not eventually and quickly surpass if he deigned to put in the effort, be they his peer or mentor.

  There was no hurdle he could not overcome.

  However, he had tried several times to catch up to this man to no avail. Had he finally met his match?

  Impossible!

  As Su Yun remained deep in thought, Zheng Ren approached him. Fiddling with a Changfeng micro guide wire in his left hand, he patted Su Yun's shoulder with his right and said cheerfully, "I'll go check on Chief Kong."

  Su Yun clenched his fists, the flame of competitiveness flaring up within him.

  Zheng Ren reentered the operating console room with a smile on his face.

  Chief Kong seemed to be deep in thought, sitting in his chair as if in meditation with his eyes half-closed.

  The old chief must be too tired. Zheng Ren muffled his movements, wondering whether or not to leave or wake the
chief.

  "Zheng Ren." Chief Kong opened his eyes suddenly, looking enthusiastic. "Are you sure that the prostate interventional embolization will succeed?"

  "Chief Kong, you must be joking. No doctor can predict the outcome of a surgery. I'm only 90% sure…" Zheng Ren began casually, but Chief Kong interrupted his standard spiel of potential risks.

  "Excellent!" Chief Kong said without hesitation. "I've just received news that the patient from Sorcery Capital started showing postoperative symptoms of a weak bladder and urinary retention."

  "Did they remove the urinary catheter the day after the surgery?"

  "Yes." Chief Kong nodded.

  "The symptoms will worsen on the third day post-surgery." Zheng Ren seemed to realize something and hesitated, his lips moving wordlessly.

  For his age, Chief Kong's eyes were sharp. "What were you going to say?"

  Zheng Ren let out a sigh and said, "I was just thinking that, if possible, the patient could come in for dredging and I could redo the embolization. If his symptoms worsen, he would need at least half a year to recover."

  Chief Kong let out a muffled laugh.

  What a noble heart Zheng Ren had. Throughout the entire conversation, he had been kneading the micro guide wire between his fingers to feel its subtle texture.

  How pure.

  Nevertheless, Chief Kong had no control over the things that Zheng Ren had just proposed.

  How could a hospital from Sorcery Capital own up to their own mistakes? The phone call would never end well.

  Chief Kong shook his head and did not comment further.

  Zheng Ren knew the truth of the matter and gently shook his head, sighing.

  Seeing Zheng Ren's expression, a sudden realization dawned on Chief Kong and a chill shot down his spine.

  Zheng Ren's suggestion was based on the assumption that he could accomplish prostate interventional embolization. The reason Chief Kong had decided to proceed with livestreaming was Zheng Ren's splendid job on the hepatocellular carcinoma nodules, plus the news from Sorcery Capital that their surgery had failed.

  What made Zheng Ren so sure of himself?