What was the use of Limitless Charm?
His thoughts stopped there as Miao Xiaohua's motionless body called him back to reality.
"How much blood did we give her?" Zheng Ren asked.
"6 units so far. We're transfusing 200ml of plasma now," Chu Yanran replied.
"Good. Prepare for transport to the ICU. Su Yun, you take the lead."
Su Yun nodded, still reeling from what he had just witnessed.
The breathing tube remained affixed to the patient's throat as they moved her to the ICU. It was best to keep her on the ventilator for 12 to 24 hours to reduce the strain on her cardiopulmonary system.
Although the bleeding had stopped, Miao Xiaohua's blood pressure was still on the low side. There were still risks of her developing complications.
The critical period was not over yet.
This was the first time Zheng Ren needed Su Yun to stay in the ICU to monitor a patient's status.
He had given his all. It was up to fate now.
Zheng Ren placed his hands into the front pocket of his scrubs and found a stool to sit on.
"Tired?" Chu Yanzhi bounced over and asked.
"I'm alright."
"Watching you operate scared me." Chu Yanzhi motioned to express the shock she had experienced. "You were so quick. Weren't you worried about causing damage?"
"No. I knew what I was doing." Zheng Ren leaned back against the wall and let out a breath.
The jump in his general surgery skill was all thanks to the System. However, Zheng Ren was drained from handling this high-mortality case.
His ascent to Master in general surgery was a very different experience compared to that of interventional surgery.
What was the meaning behind it? Zheng Ren did not know. All he knew was that he was bone-tired and needed rest.
Chu Yanzhi was still buoyed by the surgery's success. She glanced at the matron and whispered conspiratorially into Zheng Ren's ear, "I think you frightened the matron."
"Really?"
"They were still counting the tools when you started opening the abdomen. I don't think the matron can keep up with your pace. Little Yiren is still your best partner," Chu Yanzhi said with a cheeky smile.
"How is Yiren?" Zheng Ren slowed down his breathing and felt much better.
"She's still in the control room. I'll go check on her."
"I'll come too." Zheng Ren stood from his seat. He checked with the matron and scrub nurse to ascertain that all surgical tools and materials were accounted for before following Chu Yanzhi out of the operating room.
Xie Yiren was curled up in the corner of the room. She lifted her head at the sound of approaching footsteps.
She was in a calmer state of mind. Zheng Ren smiled at her.
"Was the surgery a success?" Xie Yiren said softly, a hint of fear in her tone.
"It was successful," Zheng Ren said confidently and patted her head.
Hearing his confirmation, the energy went out of Xie Yiren's body. She collapsed on the floor and sobbed.
It was a cry of relief.
Zheng Ren understood the need to vent one's emotions.
He gave Chu Yanzhi a knowing look—a silent request to look after Xie Yiren—before going back into the operating room.
Chu Yanzhi was initially confused, but eventually understood the meaning behind his look.
She smiled at him.
Zheng Ren was the real deal. His focus was wholly fixed on honing his surgical skill. Nothing could distract him, not even his bachelor status.
This was a rare opportunity for him to ride in like a knight in shining armor and yet, he was passing the baton to her.
He was a simple and honest man.
Before, Chu Yanzhi had regarded Zheng Ren as a man of low EQ. No one would sympathize if he spent his whole life as a bachelor. However, she changed her mind after witnessing his actions today.
Having a boyfriend like him would have some advantages, one of which was not needing to worry about him cheating.
Chapter 167 - Brother
Miao Xiaohua did not wake from anesthesia. When the effects of the muscle relaxant faded, Chu Yanran administered a dose of sedative to stabilize the patient before transporting her to the ICU.
Miao Xiaohua's family had yet to arrive at the hospital as there were some delays in contacting the family. The surgery was prioritized as it was critical to the patient's survival.
Chu Yanzhi was on the stretcher trolley operating the ventilation bag while Zheng Ren and Su Yun pushed. Chu Yanran escorted the party and ensured the right buttons were pressed at the elevators.
They reached the ICU at record speed and quickly hooked the patient up to the ventilator and monitors. Once everything was set up, everyone breathed a sigh of relief.
Miao Xiaohua's vital signs remained outside the healthy range but the numbers were gradually improving. The electrocardiogram showed a steady rhythm. Things were looking good for her.
Su Yun's arrival in the ICU was like a homecoming. The surrounding nurses all greeted him with cheer. He moved a folding chair to Miao Xiaohua's bedside and started noting down her vitals on a piece of A4 paper.
Zheng Ren had nothing to say against Su Yun's experience in intensive care.
He felt better with Su Yun in charge of the post-surgery monitoring. Although the nancy boy was a pain in the neck, he had demonstrated his proficiency in patient aftercare.
Their attention was on the patient's vital signs. After a few minutes, Zheng Ren decided the patient was stable after transport and said to Su Yun, "All yours"
Su Yun nodded. He was to record the infusion and excretion volumes every five minutes. He also arranged for a medical test to determine the appropriate course of action.
Zheng Ren turned to leave the ICU. The department was a cacophony of beeps from all sorts of medical equipment.
It was the melody of life.
As Zheng Ren walked out of the ICU, he replayed the surgery in his mind.
The System scored the surgery 92%. Under such dire circ.u.mstances, the score was undoubtedly stellar but was not perfect.
There was a niggling doubt in Zheng Ren's heart. He surmised that his first incision might have been overly hasty and the electrocautery used to stop the bleed might have damaged the blood vessel. These factors likely led to a lower score.
'Is it possible to improve the surgery?' Zheng Ren thought.
In that scenario, the main objective was to stop the internal bleeding. Minor damages to the skin and muscle layers were not important.
He could not value perfection over the life of the patient.
The Master level general surgery skill was impressive but was still a long way from Prime.
As he had had a brief experience of being at the peak, Zheng Ren was not overjoyed with his skills. Instead, he focused on the gap between the present and the future.
He called Xie Yiren as he walked through the hospital.
He had some time on his hands and thought to chat with her, hoping to distract her from her sadness.
It was Chu Yanzhi who answered the call. She told him Xie Yiren was taking a shower. They planned to go out and eat away their sorrow.
Zheng Ren smiled and ended the call.
If she could eat, she had to be feeling better.
He was back in the emergency department when he saw a young girl with pigtails bouncing around the corridor.
The girl was familiar but he could not recall who she was.
"Brother. Hi again." The pigtailed girl ran to Zheng Ren's side and smiled adorably at him.
"Liu…" Zheng Ren vaguely remembered her last name. It was the young patient who had acute appendicitis. She looked older now; Zheng Ren figured she was about 18 years old1.
"It's Liu Xinyu!" The pigtailed girl pouted in faux anger.
"Ah. Why are you here? Are you unwell?" The name jogged his memory.
Liu Xinyu did not answer his question. Instead, she took the pen in Zheng Ren's white coat
and wrote a Chinese character on his palm.
"It's this 'yu' character. Don't forget it," Liu Xinyu said.
Zheng Ren looked at the neat handwriting and chuckled.
He would not be forgetting anytime soon.
"I'm taking the night train to Jinmen."
"Oh. I remembered you were going to attend a training camp," Zheng Ren said.
Liu Xinyu was a music scholar who played the cello. She was on course to apply to the Jinmen Academy of Music but before that, she had to improve her cello skill.
"Exactly. I dropped by to bid you farewell." Liu Xinyu's eyes brightened at the mention of her future in Jinmen.
"Study hard and good luck," Zheng Ren encouraged.
"I definitely will." Liu Xinyu gave him a playful smile and said, "When I get into Jinmen Academy of Music, you have to treat me to a meal."
"Sure."
"Hand me your phone. Let's exchange contacts so you won't ghost me." Liu Xinyu unlocked his phone and opened the WeChat app. She swiped to the 2D barcode page.
During this whole exchange, Zheng Ren was in a muddled state of mind. All his energy had been consumed by the emergency surgery and his 140-IQ brain was not functioning at its best.
With their contacts swapped, Liu Xinyu bade him a final goodbye before skipping away.
The bouncing pigtails reminded Zheng Ren of his last day of high school, when he parted ways with his deskmate.
Zheng Ren smiled at the independent girl.
When he got back to the emergency wards, Zheng Ren saw a middle-aged couple in the office. The woman was rubbing tears from her eyes while the man paced around.
"You are…" Zheng Ren had an inkling of who they were but it was best to confirm.
"They are Miao Xiaohua's parents. They arrived five minutes ago and I told them to wait here," Chang Yue introduced.
"Nice to meet you." Zheng Ren extended his hand for a shake.
Throughout the exchange, Zheng Ren felt the coldness of their hands.
"Let's get to the point: Miao Xiaohua's rescue surgery was successful. She is currently resting in the ICU, monitored by the best intensive care doctor we have." Zheng Ren delivered the good news in one breath without keeping the parents in suspense.
Hearing this, an expression of relief and respect broke out on the couple's faces.
"Have a seat, I'll explain the incident." Zheng Ren gestured to the chairs and explained the whole situation to the parents.
He told them everything — the gastroenterology procedure, the interventional radiology procedure and the abdominal surgery. They listened in shock.
Their reaction was understandable as the gory details Zheng Ren went through had happened to their daughter.
A few minutes too late and she would have died.
Had Xie Yiren not been by her side…
If Zheng Ren had not rushed to the gastroenterology department to perform the emergency rescue…
If interventional radiology had not been an available option…
If the search for the left gastric artery rupture had been too slow…
There were many turning points in the story that could have led to their daughter's death.
Fortunately, fate had taken the right turn at every juncture. I guess the author really meant the patient was 15-16 years old back in chapter 132.
Chapter 168 - I’m A Vegan. Can We Use Antibiotics That Don’t Kill Germs
Zheng Ren described the whole emergency process to Miao Xiaohua's parents, then comforted them with words of reassurance. Finally, he led them to the entrance of the ICU.
Once they knew that their daughter was in stable condition and the necessary care was being provided, they felt the weight lift from their shoulders.
Zheng Ren went back to the emergency department and was greeted by Chang Yue, "Chief Zheng, it seems your communication skills have improved."
"Really?" Zheng Ren was befuddled by her comment.
Chang Yue was not the type of employee who would curry favor. However, his communication skills… were never a thing worth pointing out. He was above average at best.
Seeing the confusion on Zheng Ren's face, Chang Yue laughed. She explained, "The parents were incredibly worried but when you entered the room, I could tell they calmed down even before you started explaining the situation."
"Really?"
"Just a gut feeling. I couldn't show you any evidence." Chang Yue turned around and continued busying herself with patient records and surgery reports.
Although the patient had been admitted into the ICU, the paperwork had to be done by the emergency department.
With her back facing Zheng Ren, she started to question him about the incident while making notes on the patient's history.
Zheng Ren was tired. The surgical emergency had been a critical one and Xie Yiren's cries of anguish had leadened his body and soul.
He managed to complete the surgical journal before leaving for the on-call room to get some well-deserved rest.
However, his plans were foiled. The adrenaline from the surgery and his ascension to the general surgery Master rank made him restless.
Right: he recalled the gold c.h.e.s.t given to him by the System. He ought to have a look inside.
He still had three silver c.h.e.s.ts that were unopened.
Since he could not fall asleep, he might as well entertain himself.
In the System, Zheng Ren saw a golden treasure c.h.e.s.t floating off the ground. Below it were three silver c.h.e.s.ts.
'Open,' Zheng Ren ordered in his mind.
There was no fanfare or ritual of luck.
Zheng Ren was dull like that.
A skill book appeared before him. His skill points and experience points jumped up by several figures.
His eyes skimmed through the skill book and found that it was worth the experience of 3000 prostate anatomical dissections.
Zheng Ren swore under his breath.
3000 cases!
The best the System had given him was only worth the experience of 300 cardiac surgeries. Although an anatomical dissection was a far cry from an actual surgery, the amount of experience awarded was significant.
It would have been better if it was related to gastroenterology.
Zheng Ren was a tad disappointed but the System must have had a reason. He suspected it had to do with the new procedure in Imperial Capital.
He tapped on the skill book and he was blessed with the experience of having performed 3000 prostate anatomical dissections.
His mind was filled with medical knowledge regarding the prostate. He was sure his experience and knowledge surpassed that of the urology department chief in Sea City General Hospital.
After all, the department chief was unlikely to receive a prostate case every day.
It was not as useful as Zheng Ren had initially thought. He lamented the System's choice of reward.
He then had a look at his skill trees and saw that his skill points had increased from 271 to 455 points. His experience was now at 113200 points.
Impressive.
As Zheng Ren sat down in hopes to rest his tired body, his phone in the real world rang.
Such was a chief resident's life. Zheng Ren gathered his strength and exited the System.
The number was from the emergency department.
He answered the call. There was a patient with acute appendicitis waiting to be admitted.
Patient's admissions into the hospital were automatic, but there were times where his evaluation was needed.
The on-call doctor's experience was paramount when it came to filtering hospital admissions.
While some doctors were experienced, they habitually got the specialists to make the final call.
Zheng Ren got up from his bed and put on his white coat, heading to the emergency department to have a look.
The patient was a slightly overweight fifty-year-old woman. Zheng Ren did not foresee many complications.
From the patient's history, Zh
eng Ren came to a conclusion that the patient suffered from classical acute appendicitis.
If she began fasting, the surgery could proceed in the afternoon.
A thorough check later, Zheng Ren brought the woman to the emergency wards. A thirty-year-old man who Zheng Ren guessed was her son accompanied her.
A hospital bed was arranged for the patient. An admission ticket was issued and Zheng Ren passed follow-up duties to Chang Yue.
He was immensely grateful to have such a reliable and hardworking resident doctor on his team.
Zheng Ren managed to get three hours of rest. Before his next surgery began, he made his way to the ICU.
Miao Xiaohua's condition had stabilized. Her urine output was improving, indicating the severe blood loss had not impacted kidney function.
Su Yun sat absent-mindedly on the folding chair. There were six pieces of A4 papers in his hand, all filled with numbers.
He was rearranging the order of the fluids that sat on the trolley cart beside him.
Miao Xiaohua's vital signs were stable. She slept peacefully under the lull of the sedative. Zheng Ren walked away with a lighter heart.
He informed Miao Xiaohua's parents of her condition, then contacted Yang Lei to transport the middle-aged patient to the operating room for her appendectomy.
Zheng Ren changed into the appropriate clothing as anesthesia was in progress.
The middle-aged woman lay on her side on the operating table. Chu Yanran was having a chat with her.
Seeing Zheng Ren enter the operating room, the middle-aged woman recognized him as the lead surgeon. She gave him a warm greeting.
"Dr. Zheng, I'm going to be okay, right?" The woman was jittery still.
"Don't worry. It's a minor issue," Zheng Ren replied.
"Will I recover? I have a friend who had an appendectomy wound that would not heal, and she's skinnier than me. They did the redressing for a whole month," the woman anxiously.
"That is due to fat liquefaction. We want to avoid that at all costs but if there's too much adipose tissue in the abdomen, there's no choice," Zheng Ren said calmly.
"Please do your best then, doctor." The woman asked, "How many appendectomies have you done?"
The Surgeon's Studio c1-799 Page 86
