Chapter 21 (1/2)

Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation

The pregnant woman was lifted onto the operating table, which was then angled downward 15 degrees to the left.

It provided better access to the appendix as the gravid uterus s.h.i.+fted to the left. At the same time, this position was better for reducing agitation to the uterus during the operation and minimizing the risk of miscarriage or complications.

Preoperative preparations were swift and Xie Yiren was already in position.

Zheng Ren scrubbed and gowned up. The sterile surgical drapes were in place as he stood before the operating table.

“0.5% lidocaine and half a syringe of milk,” Zheng Ren said.

Milk was the nickname for propofol—an intravenous anesthetic commonly used in the induction of general and continuous epidural anesthesia. It was not as useful as a local anesthetic agent.

Shocked, the anesthesiologist considered protesting, but the determined look on Zheng Ren’s face made him think twice.

This surgeon was going to operate on a case of appendicitis in pregnancy without general anesthesia. Nothing else in the world could faze him.

“Five-milliliter syringe, but use a one-milliliter syringe needle tip.” Zheng Ren’s profile loomed under the shadowless surgical light. His every order was firm and left no room for doubt.

A smaller needle tip meant less pain for the patient but made it more difficult to deliver the anesthetic.

Local infiltration anesthesia began and the anesthesiologist watched with rapt attention as the needle rhythmically and expertly pierced the patient’s skin.

After each injection, there was a pause to allow the mixture of lidocaine and propofol to take effect before moving on to the next site. Zheng Ren’s technique was attentive but accurate. Judging from the patient’s vitals, there was no sign of any pain response from each injection.

Amazing! No wonder he chose local anesthesia for this appendectomy.

The anesthesiologist recognized talent when he saw it. His eyes remained fixated on the scene.

In the surgical demonstration cla.s.sroom, Old Chief Physician Pan and Chief Surgeon Liu exchanged a look.

Old Chief Physician Pan put down his copy of Limited Views when he realized the ongoing appendectomy was on a pregnant woman.

At the sight of Zheng Ren prepping for local anesthesia, anxiety rose in Old Pan.

“Old Chief Physician Pan, you have sharp eyes.” Chief Surgeon Liu felt victory in his hands already. This time, Zheng Ren’s suicidal attempt had nothing to do with him. Chief Surgeon Liu felt more relaxed as he began to denigrate his compet.i.tor, who had bitten off more than he could chew.

“Appendectomy on local anesthesia; it’s been many years since my last one. Old Chief Physician Pan, you must be familiar with the procedure, especially after your time at county-level hospitals. Today, I shall watch and learn.”

Satisfied, Chief Surgeon Liu s.h.i.+fted into a more comfortable position and continued watching the projection with a small smile on his lips. Zheng Ren had started local anesthesia.

Old Chief Physician Pan wanted to fire back, but now was not the time.

It was already midnight when over a hundred Xinglin Garden accounts came online and rushed to watch the livestream.

[My my, what am I seeing, a case of appendicitis in pregnancy? And operating on local anesthesia! Is the G.o.d livestreaming a shortcut to death?]

[What do you know? Just sit down, you’re blocking my view.]

[I’ve never done locally anesthetized appendectomy before. This is a good opportunity to learn. Hopefully our G.o.d operates slowly, I’m gonna tell others to come and watch.]

[Have any of you done a local anesthesia appendectomy before? Not me. Sit down and learn from the G.o.d.]

[Nope +1]

[Never +2]

[…]

[Never +10086]

Behind each Xinglin Garden account was a physician. It was a website for professionals and came with strict requirements—one’s real identification and legitimate, verified physician’s certificate—for user registration.

A routine appendectomy called for continuous epidural anesthesia.

Those staying up for this livestream were young physicians around thirty years of age. None of them had ever performed an appendectomy on local anesthesia before, despite being professionals.

[Why is the syringe so turbid?]

[I think I heard something about propofol just now. Is there an anesthesiologist in this room? Can you shed some light on this outrageous practice?]

[I’m the deputy chief anesthesiologist from one of the Cla.s.s Three Grade A Hospitals. I am dumbfounded, no idea what’s going on.]

As the surgery commenced, the professionals entered a collective state of confusion.

Local anesthesia appendectomy was an uncommon surgery to begin with, but the surgeon was pus.h.i.+ng his luck if even an anesthesiologist could not make sense of the anesthetic being used.