Chapter 576: The Free Ones Are the Most Expensive

The scene shifts, the Patient returns, Zou Zhuren says something to Ji Xiang, and Ji Xiang opens the software system to view the just-completed CT images directly on the computer.

Generally speaking, abdominal discomfort is not suitable for a CT scan.

Even if there is a Tumor, as long as it is not too large, it is very difficult to see on the film due to the interference of overlapping intestines and gas within the intestines.

Especially for many Surgeons with poor image-reading skills, this kind of examination is completely meaningless.

Zou Zhuren sits in front of the computer, Ji Xiang stands to his side, his hand gripping the mouse to scroll the wheel.

As the images scroll by rapidly, Ji Xiang suddenly stops.

The camera lens also freezes and zooms in; one of the two Camera Crews gives Ji Xiang a large close-up, while the other aims at the computer screen.

A small, bright white image appears strikingly in the Patient's right mid-abdomen; its density is different from the surroundings, but because it is too small, it does not look obvious.

From a layperson's perspective, one cannot see anything at all, and even from the perspective of an ordinary Doctor, one cannot understand the abnormality in the image.

But Bai Chuzhang and Liu Zhuren in front of the screen are slightly startled.

There is actually something in the Patient's intestines!

They both have confidence in Ji Xiang's diagnosis, but when they actually see this scene, they are both slightly surprised at the same time.

"What is that?" Liu Zhuren asks with a frown.

"Looking at the position, it seems like Meckel's diverticulum, but the density is not right."

"Didn't they already have an Intestinal Endoscope?" Liu Zhuren asks, confused.

"Pfft." Bai Chuzhang glances at Liu Zhuren with disdain. "Xiao Ji said in advance that the examination supervised by the lower-level hospital might have problems. Look, I knew it. And did you notice anything strange when Xiao Ji was taking the medical history?"

"Strange?"

"He specifically asked if the Patient had undergone a capsule endoscopy. It's Nan Fang, the economy is developed, and even capsule endoscopies are popularized very well. It's not like that on our side; not many people know about it, let alone its popularization."

Liu Zhuren is rendered speechless.

He also knows that the gastrointestinal endoscopy at lower-level hospitals might have problems, and it is even possible that the Patient went to one of those black clinics that only cheat people out of money and don't even have a Physician Qualification Certificate to perform the examination.

"Heh." Liu Zhuren lets out a sound, does not continue, and instead focuses on watching the screen.

On the screen, Ji Xiang and Zou Zhuren begin to mutter something in low voices. Even though the camera is very close, one cannot hear what they are chatting about.

Moreover, the lens is slightly off-angle, and lip-reading Experts cannot decipher it either.

However, this segment is not long, and subsequently, Zou Zhuren begins to take the medical history once more.

This time, the inquiry is clearly more detailed than the previous one; it is not a "cast a wide net" approach, but rather a targeted inquiry.

Generally speaking, medical history taking cannot be leading, as this would introduce a certain subjective driving force, increasing the probability of arriving at an incorrect diagnosis.

But now that there are objective images, Zou Zhuren asks about the Patient's treatment process at the local hospital and which hospital performed the gastrointestinal endoscopy, etc.

What is shocking is that the Patient did not have the gastrointestinal endoscopy done at the local county hospital, but one day, while preparing to go to the county hospital for treatment, they saw the local gastrointestinal hospital had put up a banner: to benefit the local community, gastrointestinal endoscopies were on special for 50 yuan.

Because it was cheap, the examination was completed at the gastrointestinal hospital, and after the examination, they were diagnosed with inflammation and given 7 days of intravenous Antibiotics.

Regarding this medical history, everyone is particularly helpless.

"I actually encountered a similar situation." Liu Zhuren smiles, turns his head to look at Bai Chuzhang, and says, "Three years ago, I performed a surgery on an elderly man with Renal Cancer; he recovered well after the surgery and was discharged smoothly. The day after he was discharged, I received a call from his daughter, who was a bit panicked."

"I thought something had gone wrong with the surgery and was scared for a moment."

"Partial resection or total Kidney Resection?" Bai Chuzhang asks.

Liu Zhuren's face turns slightly red, but he immediately recovers. "Total Kidney Resection."

"Impressive." Bai Chuzhang says with disdain. "What the hell kind of problem could there be with a total resection?"

The difficulty of a partial Kidney Resection is far higher than a total resection; for a direct removal of one Kidney, as long as the Ligation is done well, or if necessary, a couple of stitches are added, as long as there is no bleeding, it is fine.

"Listen to me." Liu Zhuren immediately continues the topic. "I asked about the situation, and the Patient's daughter said she had been at the hospital nursing her father recently, and her gastrointestinal tract felt a bit uncomfortable, so she planned to come to our hospital for a gastrointestinal endoscopy to check it out. But halfway there, she saw an advertisement for the gastrointestinal hospital: free gastrointestinal endoscopy."

"The free ones are the most expensive." Bai Chuzhang hits the nail on the head.

"After they finished, they told her she had precancerous lesions and needed intravenous drips and acupuncture treatment." Liu Zhuren cannot help but laugh as he says, "So, the Family Member was panicked and called me immediately to ask what to do."

Bai Chuzhang does not continue to ask.

Similar situations are as simple as can be; just come to the Second Affiliated Hospital for another check, treat it if there is an illness, and if there is no illness, consider it peace of mind.

"They say the free gastrointestinal endoscopy was done without disinfection, just washing the tubes with tap water." Bai Chuzhang adds an "aside."

"Many don't even screen for Hepatitis B, HIV, or syphilis. They are so bold; have you ever encountered a Patient who was infected because of this?" Liu Zhuren asks.

Bai Chuzhang does not continue the small talk; this topic has no meaning to him at all.

He watches Ji Xiang and Zou Zhuren on the screen; they have already determined the next step for the diagnosis and treatment plan—do another gastrointestinal endoscopy.

Thus, it reaches the crowd-pleasing segment: the animation content.

This segment transitions seamlessly, fast-forwarding directly to the content of the Patient undergoing the gastrointestinal endoscopy.

Sure enough, they discover the Meckel's diverticulum, and also find polypoid hyperplasia and shallow ulcers within the intestinal lumen, as well as... White Membrane.

"Too many Antibiotics used." Bai Chuzhang says with a frown. "This is going to be troublesome."

"What bacteria do you estimate caused the White Membrane?" Liu Zhuren asks.

Generally speaking, there is a large amount of flora in the intestines, and the flora interact with each other to reach a stable living environment.

Under the premise of external intervention, the flora may become imbalanced, and certain bacteria may show dominant growth.

Once White Membrane is found on the surface of the intestines, it means the Patient's flora imbalance is very serious; this is not something that can be solved by surgically removing the Meckel's diverticulum.

The "small" surgery becomes complicated.

"It's usually Clostridioides difficile." Bai Chuzhang says.

"..." Liu Zhuren spreads his hands.

The scene shifts, returning to the Consultation Room, where Ji Xiang and Zou Zhuren are saying something.

After learning the result, Liu Zhuren is not panicked; instead, he has a sense of certainty, as if victory is already in his grasp.

The Patient sits in front of Zou Zhuren, feeling slightly uneasy.

Zou Zhuren first explains the situation and briefly describes the dangers of flora imbalance.

"Meckel's diverticulum can be resected; it's a relatively simple minor surgery, but the dysbiosis has led to a White Membrane covering the interior of the intestine, which is more troublesome to treat."

"Director, then..." The Patient looked at Director Zou speechlessly; he hesitated for a moment and asked, "Will it be very expensive? It must cost a lot of money, right?"

"That's not the case; the next step of the treatment requires the preparation of a Fecal microbiota transplant capsule, which you will take orally for a period of time."

"!!!"

(End of this chapter)