Chapter 1717: 1658 The Appendicitis That Couldn't Be Saved

Section Chief Mao, the diagnosis is acute appendicitis, nothing serious. The on-duty professor was summoned by the Inpatient Chief to confirm Section Chief Mao's diagnosis.

Section Chief Mao had been resting at home for a while because of the previous incident.

Time did not heal her emotional wounds; as her weight gradually increased, her mood grew increasingly low.

Three days ago she experienced periumbilical pain, but it soon subsided.

Intermittent pain left Section Chief Mao feeling as if sitting on pins and needles.

Working at the hospital, she still had basic medical knowledge. Referred lower abdominal pain likely indicates appendicitis.

Sure enough, the pain had localized a day ago to the right lower abdomen.

Section Chief Mao self-administered antibiotics for a day, but her symptoms not only failed to improve, they worsened.

She therefore had to go to the hospital to see a gastroenterology specialist.

Blood tests and an ultrasound were performed; the diagnosis was clear—definitely acute appendicitis.

"Section Chief Mao, I recommend surgical treatment," said Professor Wu on duty politely. "As for the surgery, you needn't worry—just a small incision, a single puncture in the navel."

"Can we avoid surgery?" Section Chief Mao asked.

"Probably not," Professor Wu replied. "The ultrasound shows a small amount of effusion, and her white blood count is high, making conservative treatment difficult. If she insists on non‑surgical management, complications such as perforation may ensue."

Section Chief Mao knew these doctors' habit of always laying out the worst possible complications, just in case they actually occurred and would be hard to explain.

She gave a dismissive nod.

"I'd rather observe conservatively tonight; oral anti‑inflammatories aren't working, but an IV drip might help," Section Chief Mao said, persisting despite the cold sweat beading on her forehead from the pain.

Professor Wu inwardly groaned.

Section Chief Mao's acute appendicitis symptoms were already severe, making perforation highly likely.

Based on years of clinical experience, it is extremely likely she won't make it through tonight.

He truly did not want to perform surgery on Section Chief Mao.

Doing this surgery well is expected; doing it poorly, or causing slightly worse postoperative pain, would earn him a reputation of inadequacy.

But if they didn't operate, a perforation would be hard to explain.

Professor Wu forced a smile and said, "Section Chief Mao, the likelihood of your appendix perforating is high; I recommend……"

"Don't bother advising," Section Chief Mao said, her face slightly pale, the thick makeup unable to conceal her pain.

Cold sweat streamed down, tracing faint lines at her temples.

"Just an IV drip of antibiotics will do; I've had this twice before and it was fine."

Seeing Section Chief Mao insist, Professor Wu felt even more helpless.

"Mao……"

"What 'Mao'?" Section Chief Mao snapped, displeased. "Didn't you hear what I said?"

Generally speaking, the team‑leading professors of each department in the 912 hospital hold a certain stature in the medical world. Not to mention Section Chief Mao—even the director, Ye Qingqiu, would not speak so sharply to a team‑leading professor.

But lately Section Chief Mao's temper has been terrible, and her anxiety over the pain has made her tone unintentionally harsher.

"All right then," Professor Wu thought wearily, saw no point in further persuasion, and simply told the Inpatient Chief to write up the chart properly so Section Chief Mao's partner could sign it.

Section Chief Mao was admitted to a VIP ward, tossing and turning in bed. It felt as if a knife were inside her abdomen, constantly turning and making her whole body miserable.

It was agonizing.

Being sick is something you can't truly empathize with unless you've experienced it yourself.

Section Chief Mao groaned on the bed while silently cursing, wondering why this bout of abdominal pain was worse than ever before.

The two previous episodes of acute appendicitis had never hurt this badly.

But this time it was unusually severe; she even had the thought that if she were to die of a heart attack right now, it would be a kind of blessing.

"Maybe just go ahead with it," her partner urged from the side.

"What's there to do? After all, the knife isn't cutting into your belly!" Section Chief Mao snapped, and her partner immediately wilted.

"Just finish this IV antibiotic and you'll be fine—are you actually hoping I'll have complications from surgery?" Section Chief Mao snapped.

"……" Her partner, helpless, pretended to go get water while feeling glum inside.

Lately, although she was supposed to be resting at home, her temper kept growing until she became everyone's punching bag.

Sigh, this life is simply unbearable.

After muttering a few complaints in his heart, he—being naturally gentle—dared only to grumble inwardly, since Section Chief Mao held the upper hand at home and he would never dare speak them aloud.

"Have a sip of water."

"No drinking! If I have surgery, I must fast beforehand—are you wishing for my appendix to perforate?" Section Chief Mao continued angrily.

His partner could only shut up.

It seemed as if whatever they decided about surgery would be his fault, and he didn't know what to say.

After a while, a wave of intense pain struck, and Section Chief Mao suddenly felt her abdominal pain ease.

It seemed she had passed a critical point, and everything was turning for the better. I hope this time it's fine—no, it definitely will be fine.

With the pain eased, Section Chief Mao felt much more comfortable, shifted her position, and fell into a deep sleep.

Four hours later, a nurse came to take her temperature.

The gun‑style thermometer read a staggering 40 °C, startling the nurse.

Could the thermometer be broken?

She promptly fetched a disinfected mercury thermometer to the ward and placed it under Section Chief Mao's armpit.

Section Chief Mao's partner felt something was off.

She usually wakes up irritable when disturbed after poor sleep—so why, after all this tossing and turning, is there no reaction at all?

He tried calling her twice, but Section Chief Mao uttered not a word, merely sleeping soundly.

A few minutes later, the mercury thermometer also read 40 °C.

The nurse hurriedly looked for the on-duty doctor, and also called over the Gastroenterology Inpatient Chief and Professor Wu.

Professor Wu examined the patient, presenting a typical board-like abdomen with high fever; he considered a perforated ruptured appendix, accompanied by peritonitis and septic shock, to be ruled out.

Let's proceed with emergency surgery; there's nothing left to say.

Before the surgery, Professor Wu personally took charge, explaining the entire course of the illness in a very sorrowful tone.

Section Chief Mao's lover also makes sense; moreover, just a few hours ago they had just signed the papers, and he still remembers.

He signed the papers honestly, preparing for emergency surgery.

The anesthesiologist was examining the patient pre-operatively when Lao He came running over in a hurry.

"Lao He, your shift," Professor Wu said with a smile, "I was still thinking of contacting Director Xu to find someone to handle anesthesia."

"Never mind," Lao He said, "Better to find Director Xu; for the hospital leadership's surgery, it wouldn't be good if Director Xu didn't come."

"You're becoming more and more modest. I heard you set up a stage for Zheng Lao Ban and even went abroad?" Professor Wu asked.

"Hehe," Lao He felt a bit proud, but his mind was still clear; he diverted the small talk, saying, "I see Section Chief Mao; Lao Wu, if you don't want to make the call, I will definitely have to report it."

"It's still better for you to report," Professor Wu said.

It was already past midnight; no matter who you called at this hour, you'd probably get scolded a few times.

Why go through all this trouble?