The Surgeon's Studio

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.

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“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 chest.

[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 few 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 circumstances, 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.

Xie Yiren was facing a similar situation. Once the surgical instruments were prepared, she was left with nothing to do.

The patient was transported in. Her blood pressure was at 70/50 mmHg, her breathing rate was 25 breaths per minute and her blood oxygen saturation was at 92%. Her face was pale and she was sweating profusely, the classic symptoms of hemorrhagic shock.

Her intravenous tube was connected to a fresh bag of blood. The dark red flow was symbolic of the patient’s lifeline.

Those present knew that the blood transfusion was short-term treatment. Excessive bleeding would lead to severe complications such as disseminated intravascular coagulation.

Stopping the bleed was imperative and Zheng Ren would decide whether it would be by a drastic hysterectomy or a minimally-invasive interventional surgery.

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