Chapter 19 (1/2)

Chapter 19: They are All Complicated Cases of Acute Appendicitis 1

Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation

In the surgical demonstration cla.s.sroom, both Chief Surgeon Liu and Chief Physician Pan occupied one side of the room without acknowledging each other.

Just like tigers who had marked their territories, they eyed each other with covetous gazes.

Chief Surgeon Liu appeared dispirited, however, especially with his messy hair and bloodshot eyes that stared blankly into emptiness. On the other hand, Chief Physician Pan, wearing spectacles with presbyopia lenses, sat next to the window leisurely with his legs crossed while reading an old book called Limited Views. 1

Someone popped his head into the room furtively through the half-closed door.

“Chief Surgeon Liu, please come here for a while,” whispered Cen Meng.

The anxious Chief Surgeon Liu, who was on a couch, was momentarily stunned upon hearing Cen Meng’s voice. Pretending as if nothing had happened, he stood up and ensured that his outfit was neat before leaving the room and closing the door.

Chief Physician Pan stared at Chief Surgeon Liu’s back and sneered. “What scheme are you cooking up for us now?”

“Two patients with acute appendicitis are coming in right now.”

“Yeah, and?”

“A twenty-eight-week pregnant woman is suspected to have acute appendicitis as well as symptoms that threaten miscarriage. Her family made it very clear that the baby must survive, and other hospitals didn’t dare to accept this case,” replied Cen Meng with a grin.

“Oh.” Chief Surgeon Liu nodded in response.

Acute appendicitis in pregnancy was one of the trickiest and most troublesome diseases in the world. Moreover, this patient was twenty-eight weeks pregnant with signs pointing to potential miscarriage, which greatly increased the difficulty of an appendectomy.

They would not have accepted this risk into the hospital were it not for the fact that they wanted to make things difficult for Zheng Ren.

Cen Meng smirked. “Let’s give him some fun!”

Chief Surgeon Liu nodded in satisfaction and asked, “What about the other one?” 1

“Thirty-two-year-old male, 168 centimeters, 112.5 kilograms.”

It was a simple introduction, but every surgeon understood the meaning behind it.

A subcutaneous adipose layer approximately ten centimeters thick was enough to be one of the biggest obstacles of an appendectomy. The general surgery department usually called this sort of case ‘well drilling’.

Apart from its intense difficulty, the patient would have an increased risk of complications such as fat liquefaction of the post-surgical incision. Thus, no one would willingly accept such a case, and anyone who did would treat the patient as conservatively as possible.

Chief Surgeon Liu was content with the appendicitis cases today and a smile finally appear on his face. “Very good.”

The compliment exhilarated Cen Meng, who figured all his hard work had been worth it if he got Chief Surgeon Liu’s approval.

“Protect the patients at all costs and prepare to take over the operations at any time. Also, ask Chief Surgeon Su from the obstetrics department to come and consult them. We need to ensure their safety and prevent any intraoperative accidents.” 3

Conspiracies and schemes between doctors were usually simple and ethical. Hardly any doctor would have the heart to exchange a patient’s life for their own success.

Even though a medical dispute involving iatrogenic death would send a doctor straight to the pits of h.e.l.l, few doctors would resort to setting up such an unethical scheme. Perhaps this was why no one had clawed their way to the peak of the medical world after all these years.

“Don’t worry, I’ve made the necessary arrangements. I’ve sent someone for Chief Surgeon Su and they should both arrive very soon.”

Chief Surgeon Liu was grateful to have such a competent chief resident to save him so much trouble.

He tapped Cen Meng’s shoulder gently and returned to the surgical demonstration cla.s.sroom confidently with his hands on the man’s back. 3

…

Zheng Ren and Xie Yiren returned to the hospital as fast as they could. Neither of them cared about their unfinished supper, it was the ‘night of the appendix’ they were having that had them bouncing off the walls. 1

The restaurant was not far from the hospital, so as soon as they arrived, the nurse on duty informed Zheng Ren that the patient had been transferred from elsewhere to Sea City General Hospital via ambulance and was currently in the first general surgery department.

Zheng Ren and Xie Yiren rushed to the inpatient building without a second thought.

Incidentally, at the main entrance of the inpatient department, Zheng Ren pa.s.sed the elderly lady from earlier who had tinnitus and dizziness.

The elderly lady’s son’s expression darkened instantly upon noticing Zheng Ren.