Chapter 32 - CRASHED (1/2)

Luo Jingyi rushed inside the hospital. She went to change her clothes first in the locker room and left her bag there instead of running to her office first.

”Trauma bay 5.” The ER nurse reported when Luo Jingyi walked past the nurses station.

Luo Jingyi made a beeline to the trauma room. Just a step away from the room, the metallic scent of blood assailed her nose, which she'd been used to. But she sensed something much worse. Inside the room, she found the patient lain on the trauma bed with blood gushing out from his throat.

The patient was in a state of shock and respiratory distress.

”Has the new attending been paged?”

”He's currently in OR 5.” It was the head nurse who reported.

'Well, I guess it's going to be me who's going to revive you.'

”Status?” Luo Jingyi asked Intern B.

”25-year-old, deep stab wound on the neck. He has a weak pulse and his heart rate is 150/min.”

Luo Jingyi made a quick assessment of the wound. He was stabbed in front and mid part of the neck. Adding to that were deep bruises all over his body. Knowing where to focus at, she ordered, ”Let's stabilize his cervical spine first.”

One moved to hold the patient's head firmly with both hands. Followed by supporting the lower jaw and moving the patient's head to eyes-forward position. While the position was maintained, Luo Jingyi inserted a tracheostomy tube in the trachea to secure the airway as she barked orders.

”Intern B, start him on intravenous crystalloids.”

”I need a junior resident to hold this and apply pressure.” One stepped forward and took her place.

”Inform the OR team that we are going up. Be quick!”

….

Luo Jingyi scrubbed her hands before walking in the OR. After all the preparations, she started the surgical neck exploration. Upon assessment, it was discovered that his internal jugular vein was partially transected. Albeit, she already had this conjecture earlier the minute she spotted his injuries. Hence she imagined it was going to be tedious.

The mortality rate of cut-throat injuries was very high. This was because of the presence of the jugular vein and carotid arteries in the neck. With his injury; vascular, tracheal and esophageal repairs had to be done.

”What happened to him?” She couldn't help herself from asking.

”He was involved in a gang fight.” It was the junior resident who answered plainly. Dr. Lin wasn't assisting this time because there was another patient who was rushed in. In Luo Jingyi's opinion, Dr. Lin would manage on her own.

”Let's save him then. Hopefully, he won't be brought back to the ER in the future for the same reason.” People around her couldn't ascertain if it was sarcasm or glee that was hinted in her voice. Nevertheless, there was a collective chorus of agreement from them.

The patient's vitals were stabilized first before the esophageal reconstruction was started because his trachea was separated from his larynx. Following that was repairing the posterior layer of the transected trachea.

For the next two hours, Luo Jingyi repaired and sutured what need's fixing before she was called to another injured patient. On top of that, she had scheduled surgery too.

Hence, that is how Luo Jingyi spent her last shift at GM General Hospital. Saving lives.

Twelve hours later, while she was washing her hands, she looked at herself in the mirror.

”You look beat.” She complained but there was a contented smile on her face. Only she knew the euphoric feeling of saving one's life gave her.

.....

The first hint of dawn was already visible in the sky when Luo Jingyi stepped out of the hospital door and walked towards her car. Just when she inserted her key, someone suddenly appeared behind her.

”Shrek!” she cursed in fright. At the same time, her body automatically jerked away and was in a fighting stance to protect herself.

”What are you doing?” Luo Jingyi asked with a hiss when she saw who scared her out.

”Sorry.” Yun Jinghan picked her bag and keys on the ground.

Luo Jingyi eyed him angrily as she patted her chest.

”What are you doing here?” She snatched her things from him.

”I'll take you home.”