This family’s situation was too complex, and it involved their family privacy. Liu Banxia didn’t have the ti to play guessing gas with them, so he had to lay out the situation bluntly. As for what they chose to do, that was their business. As a doctor, he had done what he was supposed to do.
"So, can we start the surgery now?" Liu Banxia asked after scrubbing in and entering the operating room.
"We have to wait a bit longer; the anesthetic hasn’t taken full effect yet," Li Liwei said.
"This is the Dr. Liu you’ve been looking forward to," Li Liwei continued, addressing the patient. "Even with your condition, he still dares to perform a small-incision appendectomy. He’s the only one."
"On the way here, I looked at the ultrasound and CT scans; there’s no major issue. But when I operate, I need to be steady. Your appendix is quite swollen, so I have to be very careful during the procedure to minimize the chance of rupture," Liu Banxia, who had already donned his gloves, said.
"Dr. Liu, can you make sure there won’t be any scars? I’m not married yet," the patient lying on the operating table asked.
Liu Banxia nodded. "I’ve seen the surgical request. With such a small incision, there shouldn’t be a problem. You’re quite brave, though. Most people would have opted for laparoscopic surgery. I’m curious, are all young won this determined?"
"Of course! Laparoscopic surgery uses three puncture holes, while your small-incision thod only uses one," the patient said.
"It seems the anesthetic is gradually taking effect; you’re quite relaxed now. Try to maintain this state. The surgery won’t be very complicated," Liu Banxia said.
"Liwei probably told you, right? The specific surgical approach we take will depend on the condition of your appendix. If it has already ruptured, we might need to extend the incision."
"However, even if that happens, by using costic suturing, I can ensure you won’t have a scar. Even with a conventional incision, we try to keep the incision length to a minimum."
"Dr. Liu, it hasn’t already ruptured, has it?" the patient asked anxiously.
"We’ll have to wait until we make the incision to see. However, based on the imaging, there doesn’t seem to be a problem. You don’t need to worry; that’s just our standard procedure to inform you," Liu Banxia said.
"Alright, President Liu, we can start the surgery now," Li Liwei said.
"Alright. Su Wenhao, watch my technique carefully," Liu Banxia nodded, and the surgery began imdiately.
"Actually, regardless of the type of appendix, as long as it hasn’t perforated, it’s operable for us. We just need to be steady and precise during the procedure, and definitely not rough."
"Dr. Liu, why can’t you be rough? Wouldn’t being rough make it faster?" asked the patient lying on the table.
The anesthetic had fully taken effect by now. She couldn’t feel any pain, and her spirits were high.
"Speed is relative. If I’m too rough, it’s easy to tear the appendix," Liu Banxia said with a smile.
"A swollen appendix has a much thinner wall. Even when I’m exploring with my fingers, I have to be extrely careful. Otherwise, if I use too much force, I might puncture it."
"And before elevating the appendix, we also need to protect your incision properly. So, rest assured, no matter what, we’ll get this appendix out today."
"Very good. There’s so exudate from the appendix, but it hasn’t perforated. Su Wenhao, pay close attention; sotis, being fast isn’t the best approach."
"When we elevate an appendix like this, we must be steady; it’s okay to be a bit slow. Being slower can actually reduce the overall surgery ti; it won’t cause delays."
"Even if it’s slow, how many seconds could it possibly add? Young lady, do you feel any kind of pulling sensation? Don’t worry about sparing my feelings; if you feel sothing, just say it. I need to know your most genuine sensations."
"Dr. Liu, you’re so amusing! I don’t feel anything right now. Hmm, maybe a little? I can’t quite tell," the patient said.
"Isn’t it because I’m afraid you’ll be nervous? Looking at your appendix now, its condition seems to be inversely proportional to your body weight," Liu Banxia said.
"Su Wenhao, ligate it. We’ve basically completed the most difficult part. You can handle the rest. I’ll do the tension-reducing sutures. We made a promise to her, so we have to deliver."
"Teacher Liu, I have to praise your technique; I really do. The appendix wall had beco so thin. If it were , it definitely would have perforated when I tried to elevate it," Su Wenhao said after ligating and cutting the appendix.
"It’s really nothing. I’ve perford so many appendectomies; I’ve seen all kinds. Young lady, want to take a look at your appendix?" Liu Banxia asked.
"Um... I think I’d rather not. I’m scared," the patient, who had been quite cheerful just monts ago, hesitated.
"Actually, it’s nothing much to look at. But I have to comnd you for coming in today; it was very tily. If you had delayed by about half an hour, this appendix would have definitely perforated," Liu Banxia said.
"At that point, it would have beco very troubleso and could even have been life-threatening. I’m not trying to scare you. If I were, I would have scared you before the surgery."
Just as Liu Banxia finished speaking, the phone in the operating room rang. The circulating nurse quickly went to answer it.
"Teacher Liu, it’s Teacher Peng from Neurology. He said your patient’s stool test showed occult blood, and they’re sending her for an endoscopy now," the circulating nurse said after hanging up the phone.
Liu Banxia nodded, his mood souring a little. Even without the system’s confirmation prompt, this little patient, Jiajia, could almost be definitively diagnosed.
The indicators are too clear now. Occult blood definitely ans upper gastrointestinal bleeding. It’s just that the bleeding might not be very severe; otherwise, she might even be vomiting blood.
"Dr. Liu, you’re operating on , but you also have to manage other patients?" the patient asked curiously.
"Of course. I was in the middle of consulting with another patient when you were brought in," Liu Banxia said.
"We always have to prioritize ergency patients since their conditions can be life-threatening. However, that little patient also has her own attending physician; I was just involved in the consultation."
"Alright, now it’s my turn to do the tension-reducing sutures. This surgery is fast, right? Excluding the preparation ti, the actual procedure is just a matter of about ten-odd minutes."
"It really is! I was quite worried before. They made sign so many forms before the surgery, and I was scared there might be so complications," the patient said.
"Those are all standard requirents," Liu Banxia said while suturing.
"Any surgery carries a certain amount of risk. To put it nicely, it’s a matter of probability. To put it less nicely, it cos down to fate."
"There are too many potential influencing factors. So can be explained by dical science, while others can’t. So, you have to rely on fate. Okay, suturing complete. Prepare to transfer her to the ward."
DING! Surgery completed.
Experience gained: 300 points. Suturing Technique proficiency gained: 200 points. Dressing Change Technique proficiency gained: 100 points. Appendectomy proficiency gained: 400 points.
Mission Rating: Flawless. Reward: Experience 200 points, Suturing Technique proficiency 200 points, Dressing Change Technique proficiency 100 points, Appendectomy proficiency 500 points, Glory Points 3 ( 1).
"It’s... it’s sutured already?" the patient asked, surprised.
"With such a small incision, how long did you expect the suturing to take? If you ever have a C-section in the future and have concerns, you can co to our hospital. I can close the abdon for you," Liu Banxia said with a smile.
"That incision is much longer, so the suturing also takes longer. You’d get to experience it thoroughly then. The purpose of tension-reducing sutures is actually to minimize tension on the wound edges, which makes it less likely to form a scar."
"Dr. Liu, do all you doctors promote your services like this?" the patient asked, half-amused, half-exasperated.
"Haha, it just slipped out. But your appendix was genuinely quite dangerous, so operating on it was very fulfilling. Don’t worry. Once your vitals are stable in a few days, you’ll be able to go ho," Liu Banxia said.
"Dr. Su will explain the relevant post-operative instructions. I have to go check on another patient."
"Teacher Liu, why don’t you head over now? The examination might just be starting," Su Wenhao suggested.
"Alright, then. That’s all for now. Go back and make sure to fill out the surgical record properly," Liu Banxia nodded.
Walking out, Liu Banxia felt quite emotional. Lately, I’ve been so busy with teaching and training, as well as dealing with the campaign for deputy director, that I’ve taken on fewer patients and perford fewer surgeries. The system hasn’t given many rewards either.
Once this busy period is over, I really need to go on a surgery spree. Otherwise, it’ll be too difficult to level up my Dressing Change and Suturing skills.
As my abilities improve, minor cases hardly give any skill proficiency rewards anymore. If it weren’t for this appendix being on the verge of rupturing, the reward would probably have been much smaller.
"Dr. Liu, thank you so much," Jiajia’s father said quickly when he saw Liu Banxia approaching.
"Ah... please don’t dwell on it. The child was present earlier, so I couldn’t speak too directly. Has the examination started yet?" Liu Banxia asked.
"Yes, it’s started. The doctors are doing it for our Jiajia without even taking a break. Dr. Liu, if it’s really confird, can it be treated?" the child’s mother asked.
"If I say anything now, it would just be to scare you. We have to wait for the actual results before we can say," Liu Banxia said.
"Dr. Liu, please just tell us the truth so we can be ntally prepared. If she really has this disease, we have to treat it, no matter what," the child’s father said.
Liu Banxia frowned. Although he wanted to speak frankly, he held back. "Even with the sa disease, the presentation can differ from person to person."
"This condition is most likely to cause arteriovenous malformations. So, even if it’s confird, we’ll still need to do further detailed investigations. Only when those results are out can we study treatnt options and determine how treatable it is."
"Let’s wait a little longer. We’ll see what the initial test results show and then determine if more detailed investigations are needed. As I’ve said before, now that you’re at our hospital, we will do our absolute best to diagnose and treat her."
Hearing him say this, although the couple was extrely worried, they didn’t feel it was appropriate to press further.
Even though they had been sowhat dissatisfied with Liu Banxia during the examination in the ENT departnt, he had now beco their main source of hope.
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