The Surgeon's Studio c1-799

by Black Ursa Prime

  The flattery rolled off Zheng Ren as if he was waterproof.

  Zheng Ren wore an unmoving smile as his mind wandered. He was thinking of the TIPS surgeries in the Secondary Hospital.

  A single TIPS surgery was worth a few hundred skill points. In the past, gathering experience points for interventional surgery was incredibly tedious.

  That all changed when he learned the TIPS procedure.

  In general surgery, a liver transplant surgery could net 500 skill points, but availability was an issue.

  Unless Su Yun's previous research on 3D bioprinting organs made it to clinical trials.

  That was in the far future.

  For now, Zheng Ren's focus remained on interventional surgery. He was ambitious and wanted to achieve a Prime rank.Find authorized novels in , faster updates, better experience, Please click /book/the-surgeon's-studio_16489637605120805/old-chief-physician-pan%E2%80%99s-solution_49051020101218426 for visiting.

  He wondered how it would feel, reaching the peak of a surgery skill tree.

  Zheng Ren emerged in clean clothes and bid Department Chief Sun goodbye.

  Before they parted, Department Chief Sun expressed his gratitude again and reminded Zheng Ren of his friend's arrival tomorrow for the TIPS surgery.

  Department Chief Sun was puzzled when Zheng Ren made a request for a diffusion-weighted MRI scan of the patient's liver, but he held his tongue.

  Zheng Ren paid a visit to the Rapunzel Syndrome patient in the emergency ward.

  Her vital signs were stable after waking from the anesthesia.

  In a time when the whole country was facing a shortage of anesthesiologists, Zheng Ren was thankful for the Chu sisters. They were professionals and Zheng Ren was glad to have them on his team.

  To perform surgery was teamwork. If the anesthesia process failed, Zheng Ren would be in trouble.

  He made a round through the emergency ward. He stopped at the room of the 16-year-old girl who was battling acute appendicitis. Despite the intravenous administration of antibiotics, she was not recovering. Her face was scrunched up in pain.

  The System display was a bright red.

  Although the patient was not exhibiting signs of appendix rupture, the System was able to examine the patient's current condition and warn Zheng Ren about impending disaster.

  This would not do!

  Zheng Ren frowned. He left the room without speaking with the family.

  A ruptured appendix without surgical intervention would lead to acute peritonitis: a critical condition. Zheng Ren was worried the parents would refuse surgery, even at that critical stage.

  He recalled Fan Tianshui's appendix experience. Despite being built like an ox, the disease sapped all of his energy.

  When he was suffering from a ruptured appendix and acute peritonitis, Fan Tianshui had been on the brink of death.

  This was a problem Zheng Ren could not solve.

  Therefore, he went to Old Chief Physician Pan.

  It was only natural to look for one's superior whenever one encountered problems at work. Su Yun would come to Zheng Ren for help, and Zheng Ren would look for the Old Chief Physician.

  Old Chief Physician Pan was no longer attending multiple hospital bureaucratic meetings a day. These days, the emergency department staff could easily find him in his office. The man was nearing 70 years, but he was still the lifeline of the emergency department.

  Zheng Ren knocked on the door to Old Chief Physician Pan's office. The voice inside beckoned him and he opened the door.

  Old Chief Physician Pan adjusted his presbyopic glasses and placed the article he was reading aside. There was an English-Chinese dictionary on the table. "Zheng Ren, do you need something?"

  "Chief Pan, there's an acute appendicitis patient in the ward. The family is being uncooperative and I don't have any solutions." Zheng Ren got straight to the point, even though most doctors would spend a good few minutes complaining about the family before getting to the main point.

  Old Chief Physician Pan tapped his fingers on the office table. His eyes closed as he processed the information.

  After a few minutes, he asked, "Do you have the family's address?"

  "Lot 15, 5th Street, Lianhua Village, Zhonghe District."

  "Okay." Old Chief Physician Pan nodded and took out a notebook. His finger trailed down the page as his eyes scanned the rows of words.

  After a few pages, he found the contact he was looking for.

  He picked up the phone receiver and dialed the number.

  "Er Zhuzi, this is Old Pan," Old Chief Physician Pan said casually.

  Zheng Ren was impressed by Old Chief Physician Pan's connections. Zheng Ren did not even know where Lianhua Village was.

  "Huh? Then, get him for me," Old Chief Physician Pan said.

  The phone was passed to another person on the other end.

  "Er Zhuzi, I see you have a personal assistant now?" Old Chief Physician Pan joked.

  "Ah, the countryside. No, no, I have not finished the food you sent me last year. There's something I wanted to ask you.

  "I have a patient here from the Zhonghe District; the family is refusing surgical treatment. The patient is in critical condition and might not survive if we don't operate. Can you help with that?"

  Zheng Ren was speechless.

  From Old Chief Physician Pan's words, Zheng Ren believed the man on the phone was an important person in Lianhua Village--maybe an elected village official.

  Old Chief Physician Pan was full of surprises.

  He did not even attempt to persuade the patient's family and went straight for the jugular.

  This might be the best solution to their problem.

  Old Chief Physician Pan carried on talking on the phone for a few minutes.

  Once the conversation was over, Old Chief Physician Pan turned to Zheng Ren. "Zheng Ren, the mayor of the Zhonghe District will be here tonight. Will you be available?"

  "Yes, of course." Zheng Ren felt the pressure on him.

  "Good. Bring Chang Yue and Su Yun along."

  Huh…

  "Rural folk like their alcohol. The norm is to drink until you pass out. If we don't do it, the next time we need their help won't be as easy," Old Chief Physician said with a grin.

  "Okay." Zheng Ren got up and bowed slightly. He was grateful for Old Chief Physician Pan's willingness to help.

  They had grown familiar, but Zheng Ren never forgot his respect for the Old Chief. The man had a special place in Zheng Ren's heart.

  The bow was sincere.

  Zheng Ren left the office. Outside, he took out his phone to text Su Yun and Chang Yue about tonight's plan. As he looked around, a patient passing by startled him.

  Chapter 412 - Needles In The Skull And +8 Luck Points

  "Sister Ma, you should get a check-up. A constant headache is something to be worried about." The person accompanying the patient looked to be a good friend.

  The patient looked to be in her forties and there were clear signs of age on her face.

  She held a medical ticket in her hand. From the look of it, she was searching for the payment counter.

  Zheng Ren quickly called out, "Hey! Hold up!"

  The patient and her friend carried on chatting as they moved toward the payment counter. Zheng Ren's shout went unnoticed.

  Zheng Ren quickened his steps and overtook them. He blocked their path and said, "Miss, I'm the chief resident of the emergency department. You're here about a headache?"

  The patient was taken aback by the sudden appearance of this stranger. Nevertheless, she answered, "Yes."

  Zheng Ren softened his voice and expression. "What tests are you scheduled for?"

  The System's luck points or charm points made him appear reliable to the two women.

  The patient handed over Zheng Ren the slip of paper.

  He looked through the paper an
d saw a head MRI scan was ordered. That was concerning.

  Luck was truly on his side!

  At this moment, Zheng Ren was witness to the miracle of having +8 luck points.

  "I don't think this test is suitable for your condition. I overheard some of your conversation just now; the cost of the test is an issue?" Zheng Ren said bluntly.

  "Why, yes. 500 yuan for a scan is quite a burden," the patient said with a frown.

  "Come on, let's get the Old Chief to have a look at you," Zheng Ren said smiling, guiding the patient and her friend to Old Chief Physician Pan's office.

  After two raps on the door, Zheng Ren entered the office without waiting for a response. The unusual entrance put Old Chief Physician Pan on alert, but he played along with Zheng Ren's ruse.

  There were many ways to proceed with the medical examination.

  A routine examination performed in the emergency department had to be simple as they often had a dozen or more patients waiting in line. Taking more than 30 minutes per patient was not feasible.

  If the patient's condition was not critical, the patient would be sent for other medical tests after a simple physical examination.

  This way, the steady stream of patients could be controlled and redirected to other parts of the hospital.

  Anxiety was infectious, especially among patients.

  The graying hair combined with his austere demeanor made Old Chief Physician Pan appear more legitimate than Zheng Ren. The Old Chief performed a detailed physical examination on the patient.

  Zheng Ren brought the patient to Old Chief Physician Pan for a reason.

  As he performed the check-up, Zheng Ren started to explain.

  "Chief, this patient has a chronic headache; this bout is more severe than usual, hence she came to the hospital. She was sent for a head MRI scan, but because of her financial background, I want to suggest a head CT scan."

  The explanation was sufficient to give Old Chief Physician Pan some indication of what Zheng Ren was planning.

  Old Chief Physician Pan maintained a neutral expression and continued examining the patient for five minutes. Then, he said calmly, "I don't see any major issues. We'll have a clearer picture with a head CT scan. That'll just cost 120 yuan."Find authorized novels in , faster updates, better experience, Please click /book/the-surgeon's-studio_16489637605120805/needles-in-the-skull-and-8-luck-points_49051022802347282 for visiting.

  The patient was grateful for their help. Although the advice was different from the emergency medicine doctor's original order, Old Chief Physician Pan's age and wisdom was convincing. The two women left the office with a medical ticket for a head CT scan issued by Zheng Ren.

  Before they left, Zheng Ren even gave them his contact number so they could call him once the CT scan was done.

  After the patient and her friend left, Zheng Ren let out a relieved sigh.

  Old Chief Physician Pan raised a curious eyebrow at Zheng Ren. "What are you worried about?"

  "Chief, I suggested a head CT scan for this patient because it would be safer. An MRI scan would be disastrous if she had metal in her skull," Zheng Ren said somberly.

  Old Chief Physician Pan understood Zheng Ren's concern.

  Why would there be metals in the skull?

  The everyday person might not be able to comprehend how metals could be lodged in the skull, but as a field doctor who spent years in the war zones of Southern Xinjiang and the Northern Borders, this was not a surprise for Old Chief Physician Pan.

  The old chief nodded and said, "You're right. Let me look into our procedures and remind the doctors about this."

  Zheng Ren was glad to have Old Chief Physician Pan as a superior. New suggestions and feedback were never taken as signs of disobedience.

  After that was settled, he excused himself from the Old Chief's office. Zheng Ren took out his phone and continued texting Chang Yue and Su Yun. There was a dinner tonight that required their drinking prowess.

  Zheng Ren was terrible at all these non-medical things.

  However, Old Chief Physician Pan was able to shore up his weaknesses. They worked together well as a team.

  When Zheng Ren arrived at the emergency ward, Su Yun was waiting for him. The taunts rained down on him like hellfire.

  The group chatted for about an hour when Zheng Ren's phone rang. The patient from earlier had undergone the head CT scan and was waiting for the physical copy of the scan.

  Zheng Ren described the layout of the emergency ward and told her to bring the scan over. He instructed her to tell the technician Dr. Zheng wanted to have a look at the scan and that the report could be collected later.

  After ten minutes, the patient came to Zheng Ren with the scan.

  The scan was placed on the viewer and, upon closer observation, Zheng Ren saw the three metal needles embedded in the patient's skull.

  The image sent a shiver down his spine. The needles were like the devil's teeth, gripping the patient's head firmly in its jaw.

  "Damn…" It was the first time Su Yun had witnessed something like this. He was just teasing Zheng Ren about making mountains out of molehills, but the arrival of the scan really shut him up.

  Professor Rudolf Wagner walked over and glanced at the scan. Foreign objects in the body were uninteresting to him and he went back to his table to work on the draft for the TIPS surgery methods and differential diagnosis.

  Chang Yue and the others were equally as shocked as Su Yun.

  If the patient were to undergo an MRI scan…

  Metals interacted with the magnetic field that was generated by MRI machines.

  Hence, any item that was remotely metallic was not allowed in the MRI room.

  Once, a wheelchair was pulled into the MRI machine in Sea City General Hospital and the staff had such a difficult time prying them apart.

  Patients who underwent stent surgeries and fracture fixation surgeries were disallowed from using the MRI machine.

  These days, Nitinol was the metal alloy of choice in medical devices as it was considered MRI safe.

  If the patient had gone through the MRI scan, the needles in her skull would have been tugged on by the strong magnetic fields.

  The patient's brain…

  The outcome would have been unimaginable. The thought made every doctor in the room shudder.

  "Chief Zheng, how did these get in?" Chang Yue asked as she wrung her hands.

  "It probably happened when the patient was young," Zheng Ren said quietly.

  The human skull goes through various developmental stages. During the first few months of a baby's life, the skull is soft and malleable and it would not be difficult for needles to puncture the skull.

  Decades ago, girls born in rural areas were mistreated and incidents like these were common throughout the country. Despite the stories, Zheng Ren had never encountered a needle-in-the-head case until now.

  The patient might not understand the technical aspects of a CT scan, but the contrast of the metal needles was clear against the black background.

  "When did you start experiencing the headaches?" Zheng Ren asked.

  The patient's expression was a blend of surprise and bewilderment. "Since I was young."

  Chapter 413 - The Blunt Approach

  Zheng Ren figured the needles were placed when the patient was still young. He arranged for the patient to be admitted to the neurosurgery department for a consultation.

  He would have to open up a new skill tree…

  Zheng Ren had the resources to do that. He had three Master-level skill books which would set him above the average surgeon.

  However, a Master's rank would be insufficient.

  The needles were embedded in the parts of the brain that controlled speech and motor functions. Any mistake could lead to disastrous results.

  There was another concern.

  The needles had been in the
patient's skull for almost 40 years.

  As time had passed, the needles would have rusted.

  It would not be easy to just open the skull and remove the needles with a hemostatic clamp.

  Impossible!

  Zheng Ren was sure the needles would have broken in the patient's skull.

  How would they remove the needles? How long would the surgery take? What was the postoperative care plan?

  The surgery could not be done solo.

  Although Zheng Ren had the System backing him, his rational mind believed it was best for the patient to be with the neurosurgery department.

  As Zheng Ren explained the scan to the patient, tears rolled down her friend's face.

  The patient had had a rough childhood, but it was still shocking to know something like this had happened to her.

  By the time the patient and her friend left, Zheng Ren was exhausted. He was glad he managed to save the patient from the MRI machine, but the truth behind her condition saddened him.

  He thought of reporting the turn of events to Old Chief Physician Pan. He knew the Old Chief would be shocked.

  If the patient had gone to the MRI room, she would be dead now.

  After some consideration, he decided it would be too difficult to explain how he knew, so he abandoned that plan.

  Zheng Ren appreciated the +8 luck points that came with the past few System missions.

  If he followed a similar vein of thought, Zheng Ren believed the important reward from the 'Main Mission: The Crown Jewel - Second Stage' was the +2 to surgical progress instead of the radiofrequency ablation experience.

  It was 3:00 p.m. Zheng Ren was reading a book while Su Yun left to check on Yang Lili.

  According to Su Yun, the last leg of the recovery was the most important. He was going to make sure everything was proceeding smoothly.

  A knock at the door got Zheng Ren's attention. There was a man in a Chinese tunic suit at the office door.

  The man asked, "Is there a Dr. Zheng here?"

  Zheng Ren stood from his table. "That would be me. And you are?"

  Based on the man's wardrobe, he had an idea who it was.

  The mayor of Zhonghe District was here.

  "Dr. Zheng, nice to meet you. I'm the mayor of Zhonghe District, Pan Ziyao." The man approached Zheng Ren and earnestly shook his hand.