Chapter 1690: line with translation of chapter title

After capturing the bullet, intraoperative echocardiography showed tricuspid regurgitation increasing from mild to moderate, but the tricuspid valve leaflets and subvalvular structures were not mechanically affected.

This proves the bullet is not "embedded" in the heart.

Using a snare to capture the bullet from outside to inside to ensure it applies to any structure; then carefully manipulate the Agilis catheter and rotate it counterclockwise into the right atrium.

When the bullet entered the right atrium, echocardiography showed tricuspid regurgitation decreasing from moderate to mild.

Such postoperative changes are foreseeable; Zheng Ren's hand is steady, with minute manipulations.

Exiting the right atrium, he gradually pulled the bullet to the groin area. To prevent the bullet from slipping, Zheng Ren drew a figure‑8 suture near the bullet in the groin.

This maneuver was difficult; Zheng Ren failed consecutively 12 times, and only after adjusting the shape of the snare to suit his surgical technique did he finally succeed.

Subsequently, they selected a component consisting of a 24‑Fr sheath, a JR5‑Fr guide catheter, and a 15 mm gooseneck snare, which was introduced via the right femoral vein, and the gooseneck snare was manipulated within the right femoral vein.

Using two snares simultaneously to capture the bullet, they safely retrieved it within the right femoral vein through the 24‑Fr sheath, and finally sutured the vein with an 8‑0 suture.

During the later stages of the procedure, Zheng Ren failed several times in succession.

The bullet migrated and dislodged many times.

Zheng Ren felt the procedure was extremely difficult; despite being at the peak level of interventional surgery, he still failed so many times.

If someone else were to do it, perhaps it would be impossible altogether.

Actually, Zheng Ren knew it was due to the Longwind Micro‑creation equipment.

If it were a foreign manufacturer…… the chances wouldn't be much better. Foreign vendors sell only ordinary consumables domestically; the items he used to retrieve the bullet might not even be available for sale in China.

After several hours of training, Zheng Ren finally managed three consecutive successful bullet extractions in a single attempt.

"Alright then," Zheng Ren exhaled, and the surgical training ended.

Next, complete the surgery!

He emerged from the System Space and immediately heard Director Tian shouting angrily beside his ear: "That's impossible!"

"What's impossible?" Zheng Ren asked, turning his head.

"How could a bullet be in the heart!" Director Tian flushed with anger, "The cardiac ultrasound didn't detect any bullet!"

"But the CT shows the bullet isn't in the mediastinum either." Zheng Ren smiled, pointed at the film, and said: "The bullet struck the clavicle, causing a clavicle fracture. Due to body position and the clavicle causing a reduction in speed, the bullet entered the subclavian vein."

"I know this is hard to grasp, but that's the fact."

His fingers tapped on the viewbox, producing a thumping sound.

"Then the bullet traveled with the venous blood into the heart. Echocardiography shows mild valve regurgitation, which is caused by the bullet entering the right ventricle." Zheng Ren said firmly.

"Impossible!"

"Besides saying 'impossible,' what else do you have to say?" Lin Ge stepped forward, coldly saying: "If you thought it were possible, we wouldn't be here. We sought Zheng Lao Ban to solve the problem precisely because you deem it impossible and cannot do it!"

Director Ma became troubled again.

Director Tian may be a bit overbearing, but I can scold him; however, I cannot let the people from 912 both beat and berate him.

"Director Lin..."

"Director Ma, give me a straight answer: do we need Zheng Lao Ban to perform the surgery? If we do, we'll stay; if not, we'll dust off our pants and leave, reporting back to the institute. Director Yan is hospitalized, but Vice President Yuan will report this to the department." Lin Ge gave Director Ma no chance to speak.

He sensed from Zheng Lao Ban's gaze that Zheng Lao Ban could handle this matter.

Such a heaven‑sent opportunity to teach someone a lesson—if I don't seize it to give Zheng Lao Ban a vent, I might as well just quit and go home.

"……" Director Ma was left speechless.

"It's impossible for it to be in the heart; that defies logic," Director Tian argued.

"Then where do you say it is?" Lin Ge curled his lip in a faint sneer and pressed: "The images are yours; you've looked at them countless times, right. A single bullet just vanished like that? Is it a supernatural phenomenon or what?"

Director Tian remained silent.

I just can't find it; I can't find it. Over the past few days I've gone through the images over and over, yet still haven't located the bullet.

Especially after a surgical failure, Director Tian completely lost confidence in finding this bullet.

Dragging this out will certainly not work; the bullet contains various metal components, and if left in the body it will become a major hazard.

But to say it's in the heart, Director Tian truly does not think so.

He is very torn.

Zheng Lao Ban from 912 gave a diagnosis; I want to say it's not that, yet I still can't locate the bullet.

Aside from the clavicle fracture and subclavian vein rupture, there are no other injuries. The young man is now up and about, constantly arranging his discharge and return abroad; I estimate he'll soon be unable to stay.

"Director Lin, we……" Director Ma asked.

But before he could finish his sentence, Lin Ge turned his head away, not looking at him.

"Surgery, Zheng Lao Ban, are you preparing to do a median sternotomy?" Lin Ge ignored Director Ma's words and turned to ask.

"No, interventional surgery can remove it." Zheng Ren said.

Interventional…

Surgery…

Extracting the bullet…

All the men in the room fell silent.

There were no women, so there was no sound of weeping.

Lin Ge trusts Zheng Lao Ban immensely—nonsense! Massachusetts General Hospital even sent a letter inviting Zheng Lao Ban to serve as a lifetime professor.

Although I don't know what happened in Nanyang, that's Massachusetts General Hospital!

Without even mentioning the cases I've personally witnessed, just this invitation alone is enough to wager on.

My clinical skills aren't up to par; could Massachusetts General Hospital possibly be inadequate as well?

Most importantly, I've already decided to cling to Zheng Lao Ban's thigh for a living. If the Medical University Affiliated Hospital outright refuses to give Zheng Lao Ban face, do I still need to be polite?

"All right." Lin Ge paused for 1.24 seconds, then said without hesitation:

Afterwards, he turned his face to Director Ma and asked: "Director Ma, Zheng Lao Ban will perform interventional surgery."

"……" Director Ma was stunned.

Lin Ge is a veteran deputy director of the Medical Department—what is he saying? Does he really know?

Is this a do-or-die move, or is he just venting anger over Director Tian's matter?

After working in the Medical Department for decades, how can he still be so hot-blooded? Is he already starting to pressure the palace over such a small matter?

"If you agree, we'll do it at the Medical University Affiliated Hospital. If not, I'll immediately report to Vice President Yuan, consult with the department, and transfer the patient to our 912." Lin Ge spoke aggressively, laid his cards on the table, ready to turn hostile.

Director Ma felt bitter beyond words.

Although he absolutely doesn't believe the bullet is in the heart, what if it is?

Losing face all the way to the department—although it's not a directly managed one—but if the surgery succeeds in 912, will the Capital Medical University Affiliated Hospital still have any face?

The hospital's reputation would be ruined; at the very least, the higher-ups would definitely think the Medical University Affiliated Hospital is subpar.

He still believes the possibility of the bullet entering the heart is low.

Bullet, heart—when these two words are put together, they mean—death!

But this risk, even if it's only one in ten thousand, cannot be taken.

"I... I'll call the director."