Chapter 770: The Life-Threatening Pleural Reaction

Even in a semi-upright position, Ji Xiang felt his breathing becoming increasingly difficult.

Countless golden stars danced before his eyes, and Ji Xiang vaguely saw the figure of Meng Qingfei.

A hallucination, this must be a hallucination caused by hypoxia! Ji Xiang told himself in his heart.

Yet every time Ji Xiang took a breath, the oxygen should have been sufficient, but an obstruction appeared when the gas passed through the alveolar membrane.

Ji Xiang also knew that there was no problem with his own bodily functions, but rather that the air escaping from the rupture in his lung was compressing the lung tissue, preventing oxygen from passing through the alveolar membrane, respiratory membrane, and the blood within the capillaries to undergo oxygenation, which caused the oxygen content in the blood to rise.

But no matter what, he just felt that he was already broken.

In a trance, Ji Xiang no longer saw Meng Qingfei, but instead felt that he was a mecha damaged in battle, with parts from his whole body clattering onto the ground; he could clearly hear the sound of the parts colliding with the floor.

Ji Xiang had experienced Empathy many times—agonizing, tearless, and terrifyingly bizarre ones.

However, when he perceived the pain of Traumatic Hemopneumothorax, those previous experiences seemed insignificant.

The strength in his body drained away rapidly, and Ji Xiang slumped, leaning against the back of the Emergency Doctor.

"Young man, breathe evenly, not too deep and not too shallow, don't be nervous." The Emergency Doctor kept telling Ji Xiang the precautions.

Especially about being nervous.

Ji Xiang also knew that even a normal person would experience breathing difficulties due to emotional tension.

If he were the Emergency Doctor, he would also tell the Patient not to be nervous.

But!

When he was experiencing Empathy, he felt an infinite terror descending; he was on the verge of death, and he didn't even know if he could manage the next breath.

With this, how could he not be nervous?

Even if Ji Xiang forced himself to be calm, he was completely unable to stop being nervous.

"Hoo~"

"Hoo-hoo~~"

A faint wheezing sound came from Ji Xiang's throat.

He knew this was caused by the trachea beginning to spasm; if it were an elderly person with underlying conditions, they would likely have already started having an asthma attack.

With several illnesses compounded...

The consequences would be unimaginable.

This is fucking miserable! Ji Xiang shouted in his heart.

Ji Xiang even felt that if he had to stay in this state, it would be better to just die.

"Young man, don't be nervous, it's just a simple little problem; once we get to the hospital and insert a tube to drain the air out, you'll be fine." The Emergency Doctor comforted Ji Xiang.

"Don't worry, your oxygen saturation is still 91%, and your trachea hasn't shifted. If it really gets bad, I'll use a Syringe to help you draw the gas out."

"You must not be nervous, I'm here."

The Emergency Doctor kept comforting Ji Xiang.

However, there was only one thought in Ji Xiang's mind—if you're so capable, why don't you try having a Hemopneumothorax yourself!

It's easy to talk when you're standing on the sidelines.

He no longer had the strength to think about his questioning of Meng Qingfei in the Emergency Department just moments ago; golden stars flickered before his eyes, and Ji Xiang even vaguely saw a great light.

Ji Xiang did not know what the great light meant; he no longer had the strength to think.

Fortunately, the ambulance driver was experienced, and the private cars along the way were very cooperative, so there were no delays, and they raced all the way to the hospital.

"Traumatic Hemopneumothorax!" the Emergency Doctor roared, "Hurry!"

He had already called the Emergency Department while in the ambulance, but the Emergency Doctor still roared it out at this moment.

The gurney took Ji Xiang away immediately; the doctor following the gurney glanced at the blood oxygen reading, listened with a stethoscope, and said calmly, "Nothing much, why does it look so serious? This young man is quite dramatic."

The voice was not loud, as if they were communicating with the Emergency Department doctor, but Ji Xiang heard it.

If the oxygen saturation was 91%, there was indeed nothing much to worry about; he could just go to the Thoracic Surgery Department later to have a Closed Thoracic Drainage inserted.

If it were before the Empathy, Ji Xiang would definitely have thought so.

But now!

Ji Xiang had already started cursing in his heart.

The usually gentle, elegant, and composed Ji Xiang had already started cursing!

"Hurry up and take an X-ray, then get the tube in," the Emergency Department doctor replied.

The gurney rumbled; Ji Xiang had heard many doctors say similar things—the sound of an emergency gurney was the most annoying thing of all.

Now, Ji Xiang felt that if he heard this sound in the future, he might suffer a coronary artery spasm and have a Myocardial Infarction instantly.

"Young man, stand still, it will only take a few dozen seconds."

The Thoracic Surgery doctor comforted Ji Xiang.

At this moment, Ji Xiang could no longer speak; he felt like a dead fish thrown onto the shore, rolling his eyes, unable to even struggle.

The Thoracic Surgery doctor was fairly reliable; although he thought Ji Xiang was being dramatic, because there were no family members present, he wore his Lead Clothing and stayed in the room with Ji Xiang to prevent him from falling if his posture shifted.

After taking an "upright" X-ray at a 45-degree angle, the Thoracic Surgery doctor leaned in to take a look.

"Not much blood, lung tissue compressed by 60%, not bad," the Radiology doctor said very easily. "Looking at the Patient's condition, I thought they were about to die."

"Heh, who would have thought a young man could be so dramatic. A few days ago, I encountered a patient with 85% lung tissue compression; I tried to admit him to the hospital, but he wouldn't do it, saying he didn't feel anything at all and still wanted to go cycling."

The Thoracic Surgery doctor said, glancing at Ji Xiang.

Ji Xiang was weeping in his heart.

Was he being dramatic?

It seemed so, but these negative sensations were all things he clearly felt!

Now the feeling of impending death was becoming heavier and heavier, to the point where his thinking was becoming chaotic.

Only one sentence circled in Ji Xiang's mind—individual differences.

In the past, Ji Xiang never imagined that individual differences could be so severe; a pneumothorax with less than 80% lung tissue compression had already made him wish he were dead.

No!

It had already made him not want to live anymore...

That said, the Thoracic Surgery Department doctor did not waste time; he hurried to take Ji Xiang back to the ward.

"Are you ready?"

After returning to the ward, the Thoracic Surgery Department doctor asked immediately.

"Ready!"

The Nurse said simply and crisply.

Ji Xiang had no strength to sit, and after lying down, breathing became even more difficult; no matter the position or posture, it was unbearably uncomfortable.

The light had already faded from his eyes as he watched the Thoracic Surgery Department doctor quickly organize the incision kit, while the Nurse assisted on the side in preparing the Closed Thoracic Drainage Bottle.

The blade, sterile drapes, incision kit, Chest Tube, and Saline poured into the Chest Bottle—every step was methodical; it seemed this hospital was still quite professional.

However, Ji Xiang felt the power of relativity.

The Thoracic Surgery Department doctor was professional enough, and the Nurse's cooperation had no issues at all.

Yet Ji Xiang felt all their movements were like slow motion, playing frame by frame, which was extremely irresponsible to the Patient.

Damn it!

Ji Xiang also knew this was a false perception of his own in a near-death state, but this perception was so clear and real.

"I'm giving you a shot, don't move around," the Thoracic Surgery Department doctor said coldly while holding the Syringe after disinfecting.

Yes, Ji Xiang felt the Thoracic Surgery Department doctor's attitude was cold.

He even felt the Thoracic Surgery Department doctor's expression was somewhat ferocious; hurry up and do it!

The needle prick felt like a mosquito bite, with no pain at all, but the little monster in Ji Xiang's heart was gradually growing, roaring crazily.

The incision also had no pain.

During the Blunt Dissection of the muscle tissue, until the Hemostatic Forceps touched the pleura, the muscles all over Ji Xiang's body stiffened abruptly.

The parietal pleura was like a switch; the slightest touch left Ji Xiang unable to move.

"Bear with it!" the Thoracic Surgery Department doctor said, "Just a moment, it'll be fine once it's poked in."

Ji Xiang was covered in sweat and used all his strength to grunt an "Mm."

He had performed Closed Thoracic Drainage during his internship, and the words the Thoracic Surgery Department doctor said were words Ji Xiang had also said.

Indeed, the moment the pleura was punctured, some patients would struggle violently.

But as long as it was connected to the Closed Thoracic Drainage Bottle and the gas and blood were drained, his near-death feeling would disappear.

The final step! Ji Xiang encouraged himself in his heart.

The Hemostatic Forceps were a bit cold, and the light in the Treatment Room was somewhat dim.

The next second, a "puchi" sound came, accompanied by a "hissing" sound of air leaking.

"Aww~~~"

Ji Xiang let out a miserable scream.

He was like a fish, tossed up and then slammed heavily back onto the examination bed in the Treatment Room.

"Too young, body too fit; the pleura and intercostal muscles are extremely tense," the Thoracic Surgery Department doctor sighed, "Right away, it'll be fine once the Chest Tube is in."

A great light appeared before Ji Xiang's eyes.

As for what the Thoracic Surgery Department doctor said, he didn't hear it clearly at all.

That sensation just now was painful to the Extreme Point; Ji Xiang never expected that the moment the pleura was punctured, he would feel as if he had died once.

The Thoracic Surgery Department doctor used the Hemostatic Forceps to clamp the Chest Tube and reached into the incision that had been cut and subjected to Blunt Dissection.

"Hmph!"

The Thoracic Surgery Department doctor exerted force, wanting to insert the Chest Tube.

But just as he had said, Ji Xiang was young, his muscles were tense, and his pleura was taut; the Thoracic Surgery Department doctor did not manage to insert the Chest Tube in one go.

"Damn it!" the Thoracic Surgery Department doctor was somewhat annoyed.

Especially after hearing Ji Xiang's scream, he almost dropped the instruments.

"Brother Wang, the old Steel-core Chest Tube was so easy to use, why is it gone?" the Nurse asked in a low voice, unable to bear it.

"They say there's an issue with the procurement of High-value Consumables, or that medical insurance won't reimburse it, or something else. Using one means losing money on one, it all comes out of our bonuses..." the Thoracic Surgery Department doctor said gloomily; his voice grew quieter and quieter, until it was as faint as a mosquito's buzz and inaudible.

But Ji Xiang could guess what he was saying.

Ji Xiang almost cried out.

He had money; he could use that kind of Chest Tube with a steel core!

There used to be a type of High-value Consumable, a Chest Tube equipped with a steel core inside the lumen, which meant the tube was rigid, making it incredibly convenient to poke into the thoracic cavity.

But now, the Thoracic Surgery Department doctor was using Hemostatic Forceps to clamp the Chest Tube, relying on the metal part at the tip of the Hemostatic Forceps to push the Chest Tube in.

The latter required forceful shoving, otherwise, it wouldn't go in.

Ji Xiang was in pain and having difficulty breathing, tears streaming down his face.

Damn surgery, hurry up and end!

"Bear with it, right away," the Thoracic Surgery Department doctor used the word "right away" again.

Ji Xiang wanted to say, you should just shut up; hurrying to get the Chest Tube in is what actually matters.

But the next second, the Thoracic Surgery Department doctor used the strength of his body to thrust hard.

Ji Xiang's body moved several centimeters, and Ji Xiang even felt the examination bed beneath him shift along with the Thoracic Surgery Department doctor's force.

Although the force was sufficient, the Chest Tube still didn't go in.

Both Ji Xiang and the Thoracic Surgery Department doctor fell silent.

Ji Xiang was already soaked through with cold sweat, as if he had just taken a shower, and his whole body was shivering uncontrollably.

It was truly hellish suffering; Ji Xiang even wanted to stop the Empathy and return to Meng Qingfei's side.

But Ji Xiang did not chicken out; he only had the thought for a flash before suppressing the urge to go back.

The Empathy continued.

After three purgatory-like attempts, Ji Xiang even felt that the Thoracic Surgery Department doctor was about to break his ribs before the Chest Tube was finally sent into his chest cavity.

"Connect the Chest Bottle!" the Thoracic Surgery Department doctor's voice was even a few decibels louder.

Finally, Ji Xiang heard the gurgling sound of bubbles in the Chest Bottle.

He knew very well that this was the gas in his chest cavity being drawn out; the Pneumothorax was better, the lung tissue had expanded, and the subsequent healing and such were minor matters—the most important thing was that he no longer had to suffer.

However!

Because of the sense of impending death, Ji Xiang had forgotten one thing—what the condition of the Patient he had encountered in the Emergency Department was.

As the gas in the chest cavity was drawn out, Ji Xiang's body had just relaxed when, immediately, more severe symptoms swept through his entire body.

He didn't have a shred of strength left; even the strength to breathe was suddenly sucked away.

His eyelids wouldn't open, his whole body was itching, and his heart felt like it was pounding in a large, empty cavity; the thumping sound was right in his ears.

Moreover, his heart was beating faster and faster; Ji Xiang felt his heart rate had already reached about 180 beats per minute.

The situation before him was even more severe than just a moment ago, but Ji Xiang instead entered a state of ethereal detachment.

He felt as if his soul had left his body, and his whole person became quiet.

Was this the state of Traumatic Shock?

A state of shock caused by the discharge of gas and fluid after Thoracic Cavity Closed Drainage Surgery, leading to vagus nerve dysfunction and the body's misjudgment?

It should be.

Ji Xiang never imagined that a small procedure, which didn't even count as a surgery, could actually put him into shock!

"Hmm? What's going on here?" the Thoracic Surgery Department doctor looked at Ji Xiang in confusion.

"It seems the situation isn't right."

"Hook up the Cardiac Monitor," the Thoracic Surgery Department doctor said. "Hurry and push the Zabo over here."

Zabo...

It had been a long time since Ji Xiang had heard that name.

The Second Affiliated Hospital Emergency Department didn't have a Zabo; he had only encountered one at the Affiliated Hospital when he was an intern.

Its full name was Zabo Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation Device, using a machine to replace manual heart compressions.

He never thought there would come a day when he would actually need to use a Zabo himself.

This thing was indeed good, but it had only one drawback—it was very expensive.

While Ji Xiang was letting his mind wander, the Cardiac Monitor had already been connected, and the Thoracic Surgery Department doctor frowned as he looked at the values on it.

"Push 5mg of Dexamethasone."

"Is there an allergy?" the Nurse asked.

"Push it in first and see, prepare Epinephrine," the Thoracic Surgery Department doctor said. "It should be fine, it's caused by a Pleural Reaction; it doesn't look severe, but still, be careful."

"It's very rare to see a Patient have this kind of situation," the young Nurse asked because she didn't know.

"During the process of Thoracic Cavity Puncture, the Patient experiences a series of reactions such as dizziness, chest tightness, pale complexion, sweating, and even fainting. Pleural Reaction is a relatively serious complication during the process of thoracic puncture; through nursing intervention for the Patient, Pleural Reaction can be significantly reduced."

"..."

"I heard this question when your Nursing Department was having exams; didn't you memorize it?"

"I didn't have time..."

The young Nurse stopped talking; she lowered her head and busied herself.

As the medication was pushed in, he didn't know how much time had passed, but Ji Xiang felt much better.

This "better" was not the kind of recovery that happens slowly like pulling silk from a cocoon, but rather a sudden, cliff-like improvement; his whole person broke free from the state of impending death, and he was full of spirit.

"Doctor, I think I'm fine now," Ji Xiang said tentatively.

"You scared me," the Thoracic Surgery Department doctor saw that Ji Xiang was speaking clearly, and although the vital signs on the Monitoring Instrument hadn't fully recovered yet, he knew it was fine and let out a long breath.

"I'm fine..."

"Fine?" The Thoracic Surgery Department doctor crossed his arms and leaned against the windowsill, resting for a moment while chatting with Ji Xiang.

Although Ji Xiang looked fine, the Thoracic Surgery Department doctor didn't dare to leave at all; who knew what would happen in the next second.

"When I was an intern, I was rotating in the Thoracic Surgery Department. A classmate was pulling a Chest Tube for a Patient—just pulling the tube out and tying it with the reserved suture. Such a tiny, trivial operation, but it ended in disaster."

"Hmm? What happened?" Ji Xiang naturally knew that pulling a Chest Tube was simple, because when he was an intern, Ji Xiang also often did similar things.

Although he had just been pulled back from the edge of death, Ji Xiang had already been infected with Gossip Syndrome by Shen Lang, and his ears had pricked up without him realizing it.

"The Chest Tube was pulled out, a small amount of bright red blood gushed out from the incision, and the Patient suddenly fainted.

We were stunned with fear at the time, and a Family Member immediately went to find a doctor.

I immediately pressed on the wound, the bleeding stopped—the blood loss was about 50ml—and I immediately measured the blood pressure; the blood pressure dropped sharply to 90/50mmHg.

The teacher rushed over, immediately started rapid fluid infusion and subcutaneous injection of Epinephrine, but then the blood pressure dropped to 50/30mmHg. There was no response to calls, so we immediately performed Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation. Half an hour later, the Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation failed, and we declared clinical death."

"Damn!!!" Ji Xiang was surprised.

"It was finally determined to be caused by a Pleural Reaction," the Thoracic Surgery Department doctor's eyes were fixed tightly on Ji Xiang. "The possibility of a Pleural Reaction occurring during tube removal is extremely slim; the probability is probably about the same as winning the lottery."

"My teacher also said he had worked in Thoracic Surgery for his whole life and had never encountered a similar situation. But once you encounter it, it's 100 percent."

The Thoracic Surgery Department doctor said it simply, but Ji Xiang understood what he meant.

"You say you're a grown man, why are you so nervous," the Thoracic Surgery Department doctor complained.

"Nine out of ten people who moan and groan during the same operation are men; if the matter of giving birth were switched to men, the population would at least be reduced by half," Ji Xiang retorted.

"..." The Thoracic Surgery Department doctor laughed, "What you said is actually true; women are really quite capable of enduring pain; some people say it's because their pain threshold is high."

"Perhaps the race with a high pain threshold for men and a low one for women would have gone extinct long ago, who knows."

Ji Xiang was truly better; he even had the Spirit to chat and joke with the Thoracic Surgery doctor.

Even though his speech was still weak, he had plenty of Spirit for idle chatter.

Next, Ji Xiang asked a lot about the case of a Patient suffering sudden death during the removal of a Chest Tube, which the Thoracic Surgery doctor had encountered during their internship.

The Thoracic Surgery doctor had also just emerged from the tension and chatted idly with Ji Xiang, saying a great many things.

This was all Clinical experience, and Ji Xiang noted down everything that should be noted.

Although he estimated he would have no chance to work in Thoracic Surgery in this lifetime, it would serve as a reference if he ever encountered it in the future.

Pleural Reaction, Shock—although the probability of them occurring is not high, if you buy a lottery ticket, as long as no one is cheating, there will always be a lucky person.

It's just that this kind of "Luck" doesn't seem that good.

After a while, Ji Xiang gradually fell silent.

Because the excitement after the feeling of near-death faded away and the hormone levels in his body dropped, every time Ji Xiang breathed, he could feel the Chest Tube poking his lung.

It was a bit uncomfortable, a bit painful, and there was also the pain caused by the Chest Tube compressing the intercostal nerves.

Ji Xiang certainly knew that his experience this time was caused by many coincidences pieced together; Patients with so many symptoms appearing in a Clinical setting are as rare as phoenix feathers and unicorn horns.

As his vital signs stabilized, the Thoracic Surgery doctor was also relieved and let Ji Xiang carry the Chest Bottle himself.

"Pay attention, the Chest Bottle must be lower than the position of the chest wall, otherwise the water inside will backflow into the thoracic cavity."

"Mm, I know." Ji Xiang skillfully held the hook on the Chest Bottle and followed behind the Doctor.

"It's fine now, you gave me a scare just now," the Thoracic Surgery doctor said with lingering fear. "Once you run into bad luck, you're unlucky, and I end up unlucky too."

"Doctor, can't it be prevented in advance?" Ji Xiang asked.

"How do you prevent it? It's something the vast majority of thoracic doctors never encounter in their entire lives; are we supposed to go to the ICU and prepare in advance?" The Thoracic Surgery doctor seemed to have many grievances. He hesitated for a moment, "I chose the wrong profession in this life. If there is a next life, I won't be a Doctor no matter what."

Ji Xiang smiled.

Arriving at the ward, light flashed before Ji Xiang's eyes, and the next second he opened his eyes and saw the system NPC.

"Teacher, I'm back." Ji Xiang hadn't finished talking to the Thoracic Surgery doctor when he suddenly saw the system NPC and paused for a moment.

"Put your hand down, don't keep that posture of holding the Chest Bottle, it looks uncomfortable," the system NPC reminded Ji Xiang.

Ji Xiang paused, laughed, and rubbed his hands together vigorously.

"Did you feel the severity of the Pleural Reaction?" the system NPC asked teasingly.

"It wasn't just the Pleural Reaction; the Hemopneumothorax was also hard to bear. When the Chest Tube was inserted, I felt like I was being tortured," Ji Xiang sighed. "Teacher, how wonderful it would be if one could never get sick."

"You will," the system NPC said.

Ji Xiang stared intently at the system NPC, as if he had heard some secret.

"That is how the Patient feels; in the future, when you encounter similar situations, never think it doesn't matter," the system NPC began instilling a worldview again.

Ji Xiang instantly activated his passive skill to block the system NPC's spoon-feeding indoctrination.

I don't know how much time passed, but the system NPC said with a chuckle, "Cases of death caused by Pleural Reaction during tube removal are not many. According to my statistics, although it is more than Heart Tumor, when I was a director in the past, encountering it 2-3 times a year was the absolute maximum."

"I see."

"You must still take it seriously; grasping the details in between is part of Clinical experience," the system NPC said, then waved his hand.

Ji Xiang returned to reality.

The sound of the flat cart seemed to still be echoing in his ears, but Ji Xiang's heart was no longer the same as it had been just moments ago.

"Xiao Ji, do you know what the Patient's problem was?" Meng Qingfei asked.

"A very rare Pleural Reaction."

"..." Meng Qingfei was stunned for a moment.

Ji Xiang had just had a flustered expression, so how did he suddenly state a clear diagnosis?

And looking at him, he seemed certain in his heart, and as if he had some unspeakable secret.

(End of this chapter)