Chapter 478: Stillness Amidst the Procedure

The surgery begins.

Ji Xiang assists Li Zhuren, and everything goes smoothly.

After super-selection and then further super-selection, the guide wire enters the external iliac artery along the femoral artery, then finds the superior mesenteric artery.

This surgery must be performed with extreme precision, otherwise the patient will suffer from large-scale intestinal necrosis.

Angiography; seeing the place that is "smoking," Li Zhuren continues to advance the guide wire, continuing to perform super-selection.

"Professor Shen, what does the smoke mean just now?" a guest asks.

"That is the contrast agent," Professor Shen replies. "Normally, the contrast agent travels within the blood vessels, but there is a small arterial rupture at that spot, which is the bleeding point. During angiography, the contrast agent 'leaks' out from the blood vessel, and we can see the smoke, which means we have found the bleeding point."

Professor Shen's explanation is somewhat vague; he does not know the specific details very well either.

Being able to explain this much shows that Professor Shen's clinical foundation is extremely solid. After all, at least 90% of doctors in hospitals cannot clearly explain what interventional surgery actually is; it is a niche discipline.

"Next is finding the branches of the blood vessels at each level; this segment is when the operator's ability is tested," Professor Shen continues to explain. "The most perfect outcome is to perform embolization at the terminal branch of the small artery. The lower the position of the embolization, the less intestine needs to be resected, and the lighter the trauma and impact on the patient."

"Then..." a guest is about to ask why they don't do that, but as the words leave their mouth, they realize it's not that the operator doesn't want to, but that the operator simply cannot do it.

Although they do not know how the surgery should be performed, the logic should be this.

"Li Zhuren's level is very high; he has already super-selected to a Level 4 Blood Vessel," Professor Shen says, looking at the surgical screen, having formed his own judgment. "Next, I expect he will start the embolization. The range of the surgical resection of the intestinal tract will be around 40cm."

He pauses for a moment, then glances at the guests present.

"This is already the top level in the country. Li Zhuren's level is similar to the level of the Interventional Department in our hospital, perhaps even slightly higher."

Professor Shen then gives a definitive answer.

Top level in the country!

As for the "slightly higher" part he mentioned, it is likely commercial flattery; the guests filter this part out, and no one takes it seriously.

The problem is that this explanation is too professional, and everyone in the Review Room, including Mao Mao, only half-understands it.

The other guests cannot get a word in, and even the Guangtou Zhuchiren does not know what to say next. After all, this is the most professional type of surgery, and asking random questions is meaningless as they wouldn't hit the mark.

Seeing the scene go cold, the Guangtou Zhuchiren bites the bullet and asks, "Professor Shen, hearing what you just said, your hospital can perform similar surgeries. Are there many such surgeries?"

"We can do them; our Interventional Department director's level is about the same as Li Zhuren's," Professor Shen smiles. "I have seen him perform this kind of surgery, so I know a little bit about it. There aren't many similar surgeries; after all, it belongs to the category of destructive surgery."

"Are there many doctors in the country who can perform similar surgeries?"

"Not many, or one could say very few," Professor Shen says.

He hesitates for a moment and does not continue to explain why.

If one were to explain, it would be due to health reasons, physical reasons, and income.

If given enough money, people will do even more dangerous things. But the current hospital performance assessment... although the mere appearance of the phrase "performance assessment" in a hospital is an irony in itself, it is unavoidable.

So, it is better not to explain.

This is a variety show; one should maintain positive energy if possible, even if Professor Shen looks down on the term "positive energy."

"The level at the Affiliated Hospital is indeed high," one guest says, praising it despite not understanding.

While they are chatting, the screen suddenly "stutters."

The signal had been smooth the whole time, and the sudden stutter makes everyone freeze for a moment.

On the screen, Liu Zhuren is motionless, and Ji Xiang's head is tilted slightly, pressed against Liu Zhuren's ear.

The two are still, like a painting, like a sculpture.

The image carries the professional "beauty" of a doctor and the solemnity of saving lives.

The Guangtou Zhuchiren freezes for a moment, wanting to find someone to check the situation, but the camera frame moves slightly; it is likely caused by the cameraman holding the shoulder-mounted camera shaking their hand.

The cameraman can move normally, and the image moves too; the only ones not moving are Ji Xiang and Li Zhuren.

What is going on...

The Guangtou Zhuchiren looks at Professor Shen.

Professor Shen is also bewildered, not knowing what Li Zhuren and Ji Xiang are actually doing on the operating table. Could it be that this is some kind of ritual for interventional surgery?

Most doctors believe in some metaphysics, but this kind of metaphysical action during surgery is a bit absurd.

But before Professor Shen can figure out what happened, the image returns to normal.

Li Zhuren moves toward the patient's head, and Ji Xiang stands in Li Zhuren's position and begins to continue the operation.

Professor Shen watches, dumbfounded.

This action implies one thing—the difficulty of the upcoming surgery is extremely high, Li Zhuren cannot do it, and Ji Xiang still wants to give it a try.

Although this is the most reasonable explanation.

Yet Professor Shen finds it hard to believe, to the point that a question asked by the Guangtou Zhuchiren is completely ignored.

He stares blankly as the guide wire continues to move inward, and a right-angle bend, thin to the extreme, appears before his eyes.

The small arterial branch ahead is extremely narrow; this must be the point where Li Zhuren gave up. Professor Shen watches with intense focus, having no time to think about the show's production value.

In Professor Shen's understanding, this is already the limit for an operator.

Yet Ji Xiang still wants to try; this is a ridiculous thing, perhaps also for the sake of the show's effect.

If that is the case, Professor Shen does not approve.

Even if Fan Dao has covered the patient's ongoing treatment costs, he does not approve of using the patient for experiments.

Although in clinical practice, teachers will let students try, otherwise where would clinical experience come from, and how would there be a passing down of knowledge.

But what is happening before his eyes is not that; continuing the surgery is meaningless and will only increase the patient's surgical time.

Professor Shen believes this is an arrangement by the Camera Crew.

To let that little guy who got a perfect score and was first in the country make an appearance.

But!

The patient is still bleeding!

Can't you reduce the redundant process and hurry up to stop the bleeding!

Thinking of this, Professor Shen's expression was extremely ugly.

Doctors are relatively rigid; although many are slick and worldly, one can see the whole picture by looking at the high-level doctor division.

Professor Shen felt displeased, one could say quite unhappy. If he were on the scene, Professor Shen feared he would start cursing the moment he opened his mouth.

"Professor Shen, this is..." Guangtou Zhuchiren asked again.

Professor Shen had just wanted to pull a long face and say a few unpleasant things, but before he could speak, an image suddenly flashed across that narrow, right-angled bend in the blood vessel.

The Guide Wire seemed to have gained a spirit, using the force of hitting the wall to turn slightly, and it passed the right-angled bend without any hesitation.

This is...

Professor Shen rubbed his eyes, unable to believe the scene he had just witnessed.

(End of chapter)