Uhm… Dr. Zhou was dumbfounded.
Why was the emergency department's chief resident acting as a fellow, giving direct comments on the surgical technique of an orthopedic professor from Imperial Capital?
"Almost 500 mL, you people are used to sloppy surgery, huh?" Professor Rudolf Wagner said suddenly.
Instantly, Professor Tian felt as if time had traveled to a few years back when he was at Heidelberg University. He sprung up and stood up straight in the face of the interventional professor's questioning and said respectfully, "Professor Rudolf, the surgery was very successful. The bleeding did not exceed 500 mL. We did not use any of the prepared red blood cells. You really did pull off the world's best embolization surgery."
"I did not perform the surgery. Also, please don't call me Rudolf. Ru Fugui, please. Or even Lil Fugui. This is my Chinese name, I love it so much," said the professor.
Zheng Ren frowned. He did not like the professor becoming a chatterbox.
Even though Professor Rudolf Wagner was not bothered by how Professor Tian felt, he cared how Zheng Ren felt. When he saw that Zheng Ren was slightly displeased, he straightened his back to sit straight and leaned forward like a student.
"It's good that the surgery went well. Good job, Professor Tian." Zheng Ren smiled.
Professor Tian was shocked when he noticed the subtle interaction between Professor Rudolf and Zheng Ren, thinking that he misjudged the situation.
He calmed down and looked at Zheng Ren before asking respectfully, "Dr. Zheng, do you mind giving me the films you used during the lumbar artery embolization?"
Zheng Ren agreed. "Sure."
He meant the films that showed the key images at certain points. Zheng Ren would always print a copy when he performed an interventional surgery and give it to the patient's family members as he briefed them about the surgery.
Since Professor Tian from Imperial Capital had requested for them, he was willing to give him a copy. It was no big deal.
Chapter 356 - Was The Surgeon’s Last Name Zheng?
Under Professor Rudolf Wagner's murderous gaze, Professor Tian took the hardcopy scans and escaped with his tail between his legs.
After much thought, Professor Tian still could not figure out what he had done to elicit such a negative response from Professor Rudolf Wagner.
Back in the orthopedic department, Professor Tian took some photos of the scans and forwarded them to the deputy department chief of the interventional surgery department in Imperial Capital.
Professor Tian was not adept at interpreting the image, but he could tell there was minimal bleeding during the surgery.
He wanted to understand how it was done, and this required the expert opinion of an interventional surgeon.
Soon, a WeChat notification popped up on his phone.
It was a reply from the deputy department chief. Before he could read the text, a call came in.
"Who was the surgeon for this case?" the deputy department chief's agitated voice sounded on the phone.
"An emergency department's chief resident from Sea City General Hospital," Professor Tian replied.
"Impossible, the other…" The speaker's voice died down for a few seconds before asking, "Is the surgeon's last name Zheng?"
'Oh? How did the deputy department chief know?'
Question marks appeared on Professor Tian's head.
"Yes, his name is Zheng Ren."
"Damn. Old Tian, that man is a genius. You heard of the lumbar artery embolization surgery, right? He came up with a novel method for it. It must be him."
"..."
'Sounds like he's quite famous.'
Professor Tian was confused. The man was just a chief resident in a prefecture-level hospital. It was such a lowly rank that Professor Tian would have to bend down with a magnifying glass to notice it.
Professor Tian's mindset was not unique. As a Imperial Capital professor, he had to perform three to five surgeries daily and on weekends, he had to travel around the country to assist in them. Occasionally, he was required to attend academic seminars to boost his reputation.
Even within the orthopedics field, he had trouble obtaining the latest news. News of interventional radiology-assisted surgeries were way beyond his reach and focus.
'Is the young man really that good?' Professor Tian frowned.
However, most rising stars were found and developed in Imperial Capital or Sorcery Capital.
"Who is this man?" Professor Tian asked.
"There's just far too much for me to say through the phone but mark my words, he's going to be a future superstar. This surgery was done perfectly!"
Professor Tian considered his friend's words.
The deputy department chief was likely busy pouring over the scans to notice his friend's sudden silence.
Professor Tian hung up the phone in frustration. He glanced at the clock and it was almost time to head to the airport.
"Little Zhou," Professor Tian called out after a moment's thought.
"Ah? What's up, Professor Tian?" Dr. Zhou answered.
"Help me keep track of incoming patients with spinal neoplasms. If they're from the rural area, negotiate for an affordable fee but the prerequisite is that Dr. Zheng has to perform the embolization surgery. If you manage to get some patients, inform me earlier and I'll fly in. I want to observe Dr. Zheng's method," Professor Tian instructed.
Dr. Zhou agreed without a second thought.
The ulterior motive behind Professor Tian's words was disregarded. For now, Dr. Zhou would do as the professor said.
…
In the emergency ward, Zheng Ren and Professor Rudolf Wagner were discussing pointers that could be derived from the diffusion-weighted MRI scans of the liver to aid in the TIPS surgery.
Previously, Zheng Ren had discovered this correlation in the System's training room.
There was a limit to one person's mind and strength.
With Professor Rudolf Wagner, there were more discussions and back-and-forth exchange of ideas. He raised some doubts and contributed ideas from a different perspective.
The two men engaged in a fervent intellectual exchange. Professor Rudolf Wagner had not experienced this level of intellectual stimulation in many years.
It was not easy to develop a new differential diagnostic method from scratch.
Many of the methods today were tried and tested for years before they reached widespread adoption globally.
However, Zheng Ren had managed to uncover a precise method to enable a smooth puncture and connection during the TIPS surgery in record time!
Professor Rudolf's blond hair swayed in the air as he talked, his head moving as if he was playing a passionate tune on the violin.
He was deeply engrossed in the ongoing discussion.
Similarly, Zheng Ren was caught up with the conversation at hand. Having the world-class professor as his sounding board was 100 times better than musing alone in the System.
The professor's input and insights were monumental to Zheng Ren. Their discussion went on with no end in sight.
Some time passed before a person interrupted the two oblivious men and their conversation.
"Little Zheng."
Zheng Ren was unhappy to be interrupted by anyone other than Xie Yiren.
He angled his head and saw that it was Department Chief Sun from the general surgery department.
Despite his disp.l.e.a.s.u.r.e, Zheng Ren reminded himself to be respectful toward his colleagues and elders.
He forced a smile and said, "Department Chief Sun, how can I help you?"
Department Chief Sun was aware of his interruption but had been waiting for nearly ten minutes. The conversation between Zheng Ren and Professor Rudolf did not sound like it was ending anytime soon.
Slightly abashed, Department Chief Sun said, "Little Zheng, sorry to interrupt you."
Zheng Ren did not appreciate the time-consuming etiquette and manners presented by the department chief.
Zheng Ren quickly stood up and said courteously, "Department Sun, it's no matter. Why do you need me?"
Department Chief Sun was comforted by Zheng Ren's considerate attitude.
"Little Zheng, we had a tricky case in the clinic today. I was hoping you could have a look," Department Chief Sun said and he gestured for someone to enter the room.
Zheng Ren glanced at the person who walked in. It was a woman in her forties who had a dazed look on her face.
"She underwent a medical examination in one of the clinics and they noted some problems in her scans before referring her to me. I've never seen anything like it, so I was hoping that you could help," Department Chief Sun said with a smile.
"I'd be honored to," Zheng Ren replied. The diagnosis panel in his vision showed that the woman had peritoneal loose bodies.
It was a rare disorder that Zheng Ren barely remembered seeing throughout his medical career.
He had to take some time to dig through the recesses of his mind.
His memory had expanded significantly with the System's help or else he would have forgotten the disorder's symptoms.
The scans were passed over and placed onto the viewer.
The patient's lower abdominal cavity showed a 7cm oval-shaped outline located near the intestines. It was an X-ray scan which provided no information on the blood supply network.
The X-ray scan was simple and was not worth a closer examination. However, Zheng Ren kept up the pretense as he racked his brain for the right information.
Inflammation and impaired blood supply in the abdominal cavity could lead to the necrosis of adipose layers. The necrotized matter would then undergo fibrosis and calcification, forming peritoneal loose bodies that would be visualized as floating objects in the abdomen.
Most people would go about their lives not knowing they carried these peritoneal loose bodies. Therefore, the prevalence of the disorder was unclear and there were no steps for prevention.
As it was not a malignant disorder, little attention had been given to it. Zheng Ren vaguely remembered mentions of it in two published journal reports.
Chapter 357 - A Goose Egg In The Belly
After peering through his memories, Zheng Ren had taken an interest in Department Chief Sun's tricky patient.
He had little knowledge about peritoneal loose bodies, so he called for the professor, "Lil Fugui, come take a look."
At the mention of his Chinese name, Professor Rudolf Wagner pulled his eyes away from the computer screen. The diffusion-weighted MRI scans were on display. "Boss, you interrupted a fantastic idea I had."
"You'll get it again." Zheng Ren pointed at the X-ray scan and asked, "Peritoneal loose bodies, what do you know about them?"
Professor Rudolf Wagner glanced at the scan, then shook his head and said, "Oh, I've little interest in that."
The golden bob shimmered in the light.
Department Chief Sun was startled at the name. Lil Fugui? The esteemed German professor had taken up a Chinese name that was very traditional.
It was very disturbing.
"Peritoneal loose bodies are benign so there is no value in treating it," Professor Rudolf Wagner said impatiently.
He would have shouted at the person who interrupted his thoughts but he had respect for Zheng Ren.
Department Chief Sun asked cautiously, "Are you sure it's peritoneal loose bodies?"
Professor Rudolf Wagner ignored him and said to Zheng Ren, "Boss, there's nothing to treat here. Leave it for years and it'll still remain unchanged in the body."
Zheng Ren had his left arm folded while his right hand cupped his cheek. He was studying the X-ray scan.
"Boss, trust me, this does not even count as a disorder. We should not waste our time on this," the professor argued.
"Professor, can you guarantee that it's benign?" Department Chief Sun asked again despite the earlier rebuff.
"Are you sure you thought through your question before asking?" Professor Rudolf Wagner spat. He tapped his fingers on the viewer that held up the X-ray scan. Just as he was going to say something more sarcastic and derogatory, Zheng Ren cut in.
"Lil Fugui, hold back."
Like a trained dog, Professor Rudolf Wagner heeded Zheng Ren's call. "Yes, boss."
"Department Chief Sun, I agree with the professor's assessment but if you're worried, an abdominal CT scan should confirm it. As for surgery, it's optional as it's a benign mass. Peritoneal loose bodies are very unlikely to cause any complications," Zheng Ren said to Department Chief Sun and the patient.
The middle-aged woman had a concerned look. "It's not a malignant tumor?"
"Based on the scan, it's unlikely," Zheng Ren said.
"Then how was the mass formed?" the woman asked. She was still unconvinced.
"There are many factors. For example, inflammation of the adipose tissue surrounding the intestines could have led to its detachment from the peritoneal wall. As the adipose tissue builds up, it appears as a floating mass," Zheng Ren said as he gestured at the scan.
"Detachment?" The disbelief in her tone was palpable.
Was the doctor saying she was overweight and her fats had fallen off? In some ways, this remark was equally devastating as the news of her possibly having cancer.
At this moment, she saw Zheng Ren as the devil.
"If we open up the abdomen, we'll see a mass similar to a goose egg with whites and yellows. But this is, without a doubt, a benign mass. We can perform the surgery if you're concerned. It'll be a very simple procedure. I don't advise laparoscopic surgery as we want to remove the whole mass. A 5cm incision is required for complete removal," Zheng Ren explained.
The patient still looked wary, perhaps due to Zheng Ren's tender age or the fact that he was quite soft-spoken.
She turned to look at Department Chief Sun.
Prior to consulting Zheng Ren, Department Chief Sun already had his suspicions. Zheng Ren and Professor Rudolf Wagner's views supported his initial diagnosis.
In response to the patient's searching gaze, Department Chief Sun said reassuringly, "Let us do some additional tests to confirm the diagnosis. Then, we can discuss your options with your spouse. If it worries you, we'll proceed with the surgery."
Department Chief Sun's summary left out the details, not confirming the exact diagnosis and treatment plan.
Zheng Ren's phone rang.
It was Su Yun calling.
"Hello," Zheng Ren answered.
"That's great. The patient is stable. One more night and we should be able to remove the breathing tube," Zheng Ren said
"Alright, you keep an eye on the situation."
Department Chief Sun gestured to Zheng Ren that they were leaving. Zheng Ren waved goodbye.
The department chief and the middle-aged woman left the room.
"I'll inform the family on the patient's progression. Yang Lei and I can handle the surgery, and the professor can assist with the interventional surgery," Zheng Ren said into the phone.
"You're the key to her recovery. You carried the heaviest burden here."
"I'll treat you to dinner for this."
At that, the call ended.
In the ICU, Yang Lili's condition stabilized after intravenous and intramuscular injections of vitamin B1.
They had stopped administering the intravenous sedative and she did not show any signs of struggles like she had previously. She was able to communicate with Su Yun through simple writing.
They had the System to thank for this miracle.
As a doctor, Zheng Ren knew a vitamin deficiency would be the last thing considered when a patient was sent in with multiple stab wounds.
It would require a degree of creativity to reach such a conclusion.
This case highlighted the System's reliability when it came to diagnosis.
Zheng Ren was glad Yang Lili was recovering well.
The time they spent resuscitating and rescuing Yang Lili was more than the usual emergency rescue. They had tried thei
r hardest to keep her in the mortal world.
The flash of steel would always stay in Zheng Ren's mind. The cruel knife had done so much damage on that cold, snowy day.
'Live on, you brave and kind soul. You have a reason to live.'
"Boss, I have some new ideas about the diffusion-weighted MRI," Professor Rudolf Wagner spoke up after he saw Zheng Ren hang up. He brought Zheng Ren back to the computer screen and pointed.
"Chief Zheng, hi," a familiar voice echoed.
Zheng Ren's brow furrowed as he turned around to look. It was a woman.
He knew it was a woman, but who was she? He knew she was familiar but could not recall the her identity.
Behind the woman was a crew carrying cameras and various equipment. Recognition flashed across Zheng Ren's face. The woman smiled and said, "Chief Zheng, I'm Tang Xiu from Sea City Metropolis Daily."
Oh! Zheng Ren remembered now.
They had met twice, once when Tang Xiu's father required an emergency rescue due to a ruptured hepatic artery. The second encounter was in Imperial Capital, when Tang Xiu came to interview him but was turned down.
Despite that, Tang Xiu successfully made a doc.u.mentary about Zheng Ren's medical endeavors. His impression of her was above average.
This was their third meeting. He should be able to recognize her in the future now, he hoped.
"Hello, Lead Editor Tang." Zheng Ren stood and greeted her with a smile. He reached out for a handshake.
"Boss, we're in the middle of a medical breakthrough but this… It's rowdier than a Bavarian—" Professor Rudolf Wagner ranted.
Zheng Ren interjected, "Okay, Lil Fugui. Just give me two minutes."
The professor sighed and kept his mouth shut.
Zheng Ren shook hands with Tang Xiu. "Who are you here for today?"
Chapter 358 - A Man Is Handsome When He Is Focused
Who?
Who else was there other than Zheng Ren?
They had only met a few times but through testimonies of others, Tang Xiu had a good idea of who Zheng Ren was.
Zheng Ren was a technical man.
This was due to the fact that he either lacked social skills or refused to engage in the mundane, everyday interactions.
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