When the Doctor Uses A Hack

The relationship between the Digestive Department and the Endoscopy Room could be described as inseparable, constantly like a honeymoon phase.

After all, one of the purposes for patients of the Digestive Department to be hospitalized might be to have a gastroscopy, or to have a polyp removed via gastroscopy; thus, the relationship between the two departments is like that of brotherly or best friend departments.

After Xiao He made arrangements with Su Jun, the head of the Digestive Department, he immediately settled the Yang family.

The next morning, after Xiao He went to work, he checked on old Yang again, and seeing that old Yang was already much better, he finally breathed a sigh of relief.

Upon leaving the ward, Su Jun couldn’t help but worryingly ask, “This patient won’t cause trouble, right? After all, it was iatrogenic.”

Xiao He shook his head and smiled, “Don’t worry, old Su, with our relationship, I wouldn’t put you in a bind. He’s from my hometown, just an honest family, who have developed esophageal changes from frequent endoscopies. The surgery just now was very successful, and he should be able to be discharged after recovering over the next few days.”

Su Jun sighed, “I’ve been so stressed lately with all the trouble in the department!

Xiao He had a very close relationship with Su Jun, often meeting up, and they would attend conferences on the spleen and stomach system together, which helped to solidify their relationship.

Hearing Su Jun’s sigh, Xiao He became curious and asked, “What happened?”

Su Jun shook his head, “What a mess! Let’s go, sit in my office for a bit, I’ve got something else to talk to you about!”

As they talked, the two entered the office. After closing the door, Su Jun brewed a cup of tea for Xiao He. Neither of them smoked, and whenever there was a chance, they enjoyed drinking tea and chatting.

“Recently, one incident after another has happened in the department, to the point that I’m starting to wonder if I should be superstitious!”

Xiao He was taken aback, “Are you talking about that jumping incident in your department?”

Su Jun nodded, “Exactly. Since that day, there’s been no peace! Just done with one troublesome patient, and then an infection control issue pops up in the department. We found one case of AIDS, two cases of hepatitis B, and I’m just speechless with all these bad things piling up!”

“Just yesterday, we had a patient with an esophageal fistula, who, after admission, was found to have subcutaneous emphysema, hydro-pneumothorax, and clear signs of systemic poisoning. We had the respiratory department scrambling back and forth, stabilizing the patient for half a day, and just today, the patient was transferred to the Provincial People’s Hospital.”

“Such bad luck!” After saying this, Su Jun couldn’t help but sigh deeply.

Xiao He provided comfort, commenting that this is just the nature of working in a hospital; as a department head, one is bound to encounter numerous troubles, sometimes making one wonder whether being an ordinary doctor would be preferable.

Suddenly, Xiao He remembered that Su Jun had something to discuss with him, “Oh right, you mentioned earlier you had something to talk to me about?”

Su Jun nodded, “Yes, Shen Fengmao’s mother needs to have an esophageal polyp removed. She just called me, so I wanted to give you a heads up.”

Xiao He was surprised, “Shen Fengmao? The Dean Shen?”

Su Jun affirmed with a hum, “Yes, her mother has been hospitalized with us before. A polyp was found during her last examination, and this time, she wants it removed. Just letting you know ahead of time. Shen Fengmao is quite particular and hard to please, so watch out for any trouble she might cause you.”

Xiao He couldn’t help but purse his lips in disdain, “It’s not like it’s the first or second time this has happened. Last time, we needed a batch of new equipment, and despite several applications, not a single one was approved.”

Shen Fengmao was the hospital’s vice president in charge of medical equipment, a coveted position, and Xiao He had wanted a new machine for the endoscopy room, but she just wouldn’t approve it.

Seeing Xiao He’s expression, Su Jun smiled and said, “This is an opportunity. Don’t fall out with her completely; smooth things over, and maybe the equipment will be approved. In this hospital, you really need to maintain good relations with such people, otherwise, nothing will go smoothly for you!”

Xiao He sighed, “Ah… these administrative types are such a hassle. We work ourselves to exhaustion every day, yet their word is law.”

Xiao He was still speaking when his phone suddenly rang.

“Director Xiao, are you in the department?”

A frantic female voice came through the phone, causing Xiao He to freeze for a moment. Upon checking the caller ID, he saw it was Liu Wenjun, the head of the gynecology department.

Xiao He quickly responded, “I’m in the Digestive Department visiting a patient. What’s the matter, Director Liu?”

Liu Wenjun spoke urgently, “We have a patient in the gynecology ward who suddenly became extremely breathless during childbirth. Now the patient is experiencing severe pain behind the sternum, and I’m concerned it might be an issue with the esophagus or trachea. Please come down quickly.”

Xiao He promptly got to his feet, “Okay, Director Liu, I’m on my way!”

After hanging up the phone, Xiao He glanced at Su Jun, “I have to go, there’s an urgent case in gynecology.”

Rushing out of the spleen and stomach department, he called his department to bring the endoscope and headed straight for the operating room.

…

…

Inside the gynecology operating room, Liu Wenjun was closely monitoring her patient’s condition. The baby was almost out, but the patient’s heartbeat had quickened, and she was breathing rapidly, clutching her chest in intense pain.

This situation baffled the delivering obstetrician; childbirth is painful, but not usually chest pain!

The patient, clutching her chest, complained of pain so severe she couldn’t exert any effort, and with the child halfway out, this was a serious complication!

So, the attending surgeon Zhang Yan hurriedly called Director Liu Wenjun down.

Zhang Jinfeng had looked over the medical history, and the patient was very healthy with no complications, no heart disease, nothing. What on earth was going on?

Could there be some sort of acute illness?

With this thought, Zhang Jinfeng had no time for anything else and urgently made calls for a consultation, to the pulmonologist Yang Xiaoming, the emergency department’s Li Baoshan, and the chief of cardiothoracic surgery, Tao Zi.

At this time, the patient was stuck, unable to deliver the baby.

The attending surgeon, Zhang Yan, was sweating profusely in anxiety, “You’ve got to push, push hard!”

The pregnant woman, Liu Wenjun, was almost crying in desperation, “I can’t muster any strength. Whenever I try, my heart hurts, it… it hurts so much!”

Her words immediately plunged the operation into a state of tense crisis.

Zhang Yan was at a loss, “What to do? Director?”

Zhang Jinfeng’s mind spun like an i7 processor, trying to contemplate the situation. What could it be?

“Go tell the family it’s critical and get them to sign!”

Zhang Yan nodded, instructing the nurses to urgently prepare the notification and contact the family.

Outside the operating room at this moment, Liu Wenjun’s family was anxiously waiting at the door!

The whole family of several people were all waiting at the door of the operating room, including Liu Wenjun’s parents, her husband Zhang Yue, and Zhang Yue’s parents as well.

This was supposed to be the happiest time for a family, and also the most anxious.

Watching Zhang Yue pacing back and forth at the door of the operating room, Liu Wenjun’s mother couldn’t help but laugh, “Xiao Zhang, you’re so worried. Women, we all go through this! Sit down and rest!”

Zhang Yue gave an embarrassed smile, “Mom, I can’t sit still. Whenever I sit, my heart thumps wildly, so restless, I just can’t sit down!”

At Zhang Yue’s words, the whole family couldn’t help but laugh.

They were about to welcome a new family member soon; this was a happy event for both the Zhang and Liu families.

Liu Wenjun’s mother smiled, “In-laws, ah, I’ve prepared clothes for Yan Yan, I’ll send them over to you later.”

Liu Wenjun’s father laughed heartily, “You’ve been buying clothes for a year now, bringing something new every few days. If this child doesn’t come out soon, we might run out of room for all the clothes at home!”

At this, everyone burst into hearty laughter.

This was truly a time full of hope, awaiting the happy nurturance.

Just then, suddenly, the door to the operating room flung open, and everyone’s hearts tightened. Was the operation over?

All of them couldn’t help but stand up. Had the child been born?

There was a touch of nervousness in everyone’s hearts.

But they saw a nurse rush out rapidly, carrying several papers, and asking, “Who is Liu Wenjun’s family?”

Five people hurriedly said, “I am!”

“We are!”

The nurse approached them and said, “The patient is now in a critical condition, with an unexpected complication arising. We’re worried about unpredictable consequences. This is the medical notice.”

The expressions on the faces of the five family members changed instantly!

Zhang Yue especially, his face turned ashen with fear, “What… what’s going on? What happened? How did such a situation arise all of a sudden?”

This news was too hard for them to accept!

They had been awaiting happiness, yet what they got was akin to devastating news.

The nurse was about to speak when Zhang Yan came out. Feeling that the nurse might not be clear enough, she decided to come out herself.

Upon seeing Zhang Yan, Liu Wenjun’s family hurried up to her, “Dr. Zhang! What’s going… what’s happening? What’s wrong with Wenjun?”

Zhang Yan looked at the anxious faces all around and patiently gave them a detailed explanation.

After finishing, Zhang Yan said to everyone, “The patient’s condition is uncertain, our director is personally delivering the baby, so don’t worry. Moreover, we’ve already called for consultations from various department chiefs; currently, the symptoms are unclear, the patient can’t exert force in her abdomen, and the baby is halfway out. A cesarean section may be necessary, but we can’t predict the various situations we’ll encounter… that’s the situation. So… please sign.”

Her words left the family utterly perplexed!

Zhang Yue’s face changed, “Doctor! Save the adult at all costs! It’s fine if the child doesn’t make it, but my wife must be saved.”

Zhang Yan shook her head, “It’s not about the child, turning to a cesarean isn’t a big issue for the baby. The actual reason for the patient’s condition still needs to be determined. We will certainly do our best! Of course, it may not be that serious, but I need to inform you all about every possibility.”