Chapter 612: Making Working Like a Horse or an Ox Sound So Pleasant

"Ji Yisheng Xiang, you haven't gone back yet?" After finishing his wash, Miao Zong saw Ji Xiang and Zhao Zhe still chatting, so he came over to greet them.

Ji Xiang had just said he was going back to rest; he hadn't expected him to still be here.

"I took a call, I'm leaving now," Ji Xiang said. "Miao Zong, get some sleep early."

"Sure thing. My shifts are always great; there are basically no emergency surgeries. Unlike those unlucky bastards who get emergencies the moment they're on duty," Miao Zong said with a hint of smugness.

Hearing Miao Zong say this, a chill immediately ran down Ji Xiang's back, and he broke out in goosebumps all over.

Miao Zong had actually said such a jinxed thing while on duty; this was just asking for trouble.

Zhao Zhe's expression changed, looking as if he were constipated, and he grabbed Ji Xiang, intending to leave.

But no matter how fast Zhao Zhe reacted, the words Miao Zong had just spoken were like a curse, exploding the instant the sound of his voice faded.

A cell phone rang.

Miao Zong was slightly startled and answered the call.

"Radiology? How old?"

"You're doing an air enema on a seventy-something-year-old with intussusception? Did you tell the patient's family!"

"They need to be admitted to the hospital, what are you people doing!"

Ji Xiang focused his gaze on Miao Zong; he was clearly somewhat angry. Although Miao Zong's brief exchange with the person on the other end of the line was sloppy, one could roughly guess what it meant.

Intussusception refers to a segment of the intestine telescoping into the adjacent intestinal lumen, causing an obstruction to the passage of intestinal contents. Intussusception accounts for 15% to 20% of intestinal obstructions.

There are two types: primary and secondary. Primary intussusception mostly occurs in infants and young children, while secondary intussusception is more common in adults.

Children have active intestinal peristalsis; at the age when complementary foods are introduced, intussusception can occur due to peristaltic disorders. Upper respiratory or gastrointestinal infections in children are often accompanied by mesenteric lymph node enlargement, which may also affect the normal peristalsis of the intestine, leading to intussusception.

However, adult intussusception is different from pediatric intussusception.

Although both are called intussusception, adult intussusception mostly occurs in intestines with lesions, such as benign or malignant tumors, polyps, tuberculosis, adhesions, and Meckel's diverticulum, which can affect normal intestinal peristalsis and become inducing factors for intussusception.

Pediatric intussusception is treated with air enema, while most adult cases require surgical operation.

Although both are intussusception, the treatment methods are completely different.

It's no wonder Miao Zong was so angry; he likely figured some idiot doctor in the Emergency Department didn't know the difference in age-related intussusception or the subsequent treatment, which is why they called Miao Zong to ask him to come for a consultation.

Ji Xiang thought for a moment, focused his mind slightly, and arrived at the System Operating Room.

Upon seeing the system NPC, Ji Xiang bowed to pay his respects first, then explained the situation.

The system NPC was knowledgeable and experienced; he wasn't surprised, just smiling slightly. "Similar situations are rare, but they do exist. Doctor Xiao Ji, let me ask you, if you encountered a similar situation in a clinical setting, what would you do?"

"Me?!"

Ji Xiang's thoughts flashed like lightning; in an instant, he thought of empathy and analyzing the pros and cons, pondering the matter from the perspectives of the patient, the family member, and the doctor.

"Have you thought it through?" The system NPC, who saw through everything, asked while looking at Ji Xiang with a smile.

"I want to experience it from the patient's perspective," Ji Xiang said.

"Why?"

"The patient's family member's perspective is quite strange; either they don't understand and are talking nonsense, or there are other reasons. If I were to experience it from the family member's perspective, I would have to stop the air enema immediately. But..."

Ji Xiang didn't finish, and the system NPC nodded. "The line of reasoning is basically correct, but the experience of feeling from each perspective is different. Give it a try. It won't be very painful; there's no harm in trying."

"Teacher, can I experience it from every perspective?" Ji Xiang suddenly asked.

"That is the reward for completing one thousand instances of empathy," the system NPC said. "Actually, it doesn't count as much of a reward; you are helping me collect data. It's just that guy Zhou Congwen who likes to play smart, making the act of working like a horse or an ox sound so pleasant."

Ji Xiang raised an eyebrow and said with a smile, "I actually enjoy it; it's like a simulation game, which is quite nice."

The system NPC smiled and said nothing; his cloudy eyes gradually became clear, revealing a hint of joy.

Ji Xiang intentionally avoided the topic of data collection, and the system NPC didn't elaborate, taking Ji Xiang to the operating room next door.

Light and shadow flickered, and Ji Xiang felt a chill on his body.

Carefully observing the surrounding environment, Ji Xiang discovered he was lying on a flat cart, with cold wind blowing in gusts from the direction of his feet.

Fortunately, he was covered with another piece of clothing, which allowed him to stay a little warmer.

Searching his memory, Ji Xiang was speechless.

He was a 73-year-old male who had developed symptoms of intestinal obstruction over the past few days: abdominal distension, very little flatulence, and no bowel movements.

He came to the hospital for an examination, and after a Fubu CT, it was discovered to be intussusception.

The Emergency Department doctor said he needed to be admitted for a surgical operation, but his son insisted that a surgery must absolutely not be performed and that the treatment method should be an air enema.

That wasn't entirely wrong; a few years ago, when his grandson was little, he had also gotten intussusception once. At the time, seeing his grandson with bloody stools and a belly swollen like a balloon, the whole family had panicked like crazy.

Especially since there was only one hospital in the entire city that could perform air enemas; at the time, they had rushed around in a panic to various hospitals for help, and in the end, the doctor at this hospital solved the problem in half an hour, and the child was as good as new.

This incident left a deep impression on everyone in the family, and they still bring it up even now.

Intussusception, he had encountered intussusception again; no wonder his "son" was so stubborn.

This was all path dependence.

His son wasn't wrong either; an air enema was indeed very useful, but...

Ji Xiang groaned inwardly.

"Wait a moment," the radiologist said coldly. "The Gastrointestinal Surgery doctor will be down immediately, but let me tell you all first, the same thing: adult intussusception is different from pediatric intussusception."

"Heh."

Ji Xiang's "son" sneered.

"Xiao Hua, come here," Ji Xiang gestured.

His body moved, and even a simple action like gesturing involved muscles and the nervous system, sending a sharp pain through his abdomen.

Damn it!

Ji Xiang cursed in his heart.

The previous position had been the most comfortable one; moving even a little, with the slightest change in position, caused excruciating pain.

Just like that, cold sweat broke out.

Ji Xiang changed positions a few more times, finding a slightly more comfortable spot.

"Dad, what's wrong?" the son asked in a gentle, soft voice.

"I think what the Doctor said makes sense," Ji Xiang said in a low voice, "Why don't we just go ahead with the surgery."

"Dad, don't you believe them," the man curled his lip and said with disdain, "It's all just Intussusception, what other tricks could there be for treatment, right? Let's say, for example, even with Appendicitis, whether it's a child or an old person, no matter the age, isn't it either conservative treatment with an IV drip, or else surgery?"

"..." Ji Xiang wanted to explain, but the moment he tried to speak, a wave of knife-twisting pain surged from his stomach.

(End of chapter)