Chapter 1721: 1662 Turning the Tide (Part 2) (Alliance Leader, a National Hero Unmatched, Bonus Chapter 3)

Director Wei's complexion was also grim.

It's not the anesthesia's fault; could it be a gastroenterology surgery issue?

As a director, protecting one's subordinates is a necessary trait.

Your people can't even defend you; who still acknowledges you as chief director? You take the benefits, then disappear when trouble arises!

This isn't nonsense, is it?

But today's opponent is Zheng Lao Ban—his surgical skill is superb, and his basic theory and professional knowledge are solid to an astonishing degree.

Argue with Zheng Lao Ban?

Director Wei didn't think he could win; upon seeing Zheng Lao Ban's honest, simple face, his heart trembled.

When rescuing patients or performing surgery, seeing that face made him feel reassured. But now, when they're on opposite sides……

Director Wei hadn't even clashed yet, and he was already defeated.

But at this point, even if he loses, he must grit his teeth and go on.

"Zheng Lao Ban, you said it's not an anesthesia issue—then what's causing the bleeding?" Director Wei stood up, bluntly asking.

Su Yun poked Zheng Ren, indicating Director Wei was angry.

Zheng Ren smiled, stood, gave a slight bow, and said, "Definitely not a complication from laparoscopic appendectomy, Director Wei—you can rest easy."

Hearing Zheng Ren say that, Director Wei's expression immediately improved.

Zheng Lao Ban, after all, is Zheng Lao Ban—he still argues reasonably. But since it's nobody's business, where exactly is this bleeding coming from?

"Cough, let me briefly share my view," Zheng Ren said loudly, striding to the projector and taking the laser pointer from Professor Wu's hand.

Everyone waited for Zheng Ren to explain the images, but after Professor Wu returned to his seat, Zheng Ren just grabbed the case file and began reading it himself.

Everyone looked at each other; after a few seconds, they all realized what Zheng Ren was doing.

Damn, he didn't even check the records or surgical notes, yet he rushed to the hospital-wide consultation to spout nonsense?!

This is going too far, isn't it?

If Zheng Lao Ban hadn't recently been throwing his weight around the hospital, sweeping through the Medical University Affiliated Hospital, someone would have already stood up to denounce him.

Zheng Ren flipped through the records extremely fast, almost sweeping each page in one go. Before anyone grew impatient, he picked up the laser pointer and said, "The patient is a middle‑aged woman……"

The whole hall fell silent.

That's Section Chief Mao of the Science and Education Department—according to Zheng Lao Ban, he's become the patient. Moreover…… damn, a middle‑aged woman.

Never mind anything else—just those four words "middle‑aged woman" are enough to make Section Chief Mao furious.

"Previously healthy; recently, due to feeling unwell, he has been resting at home."

Watching Zheng Ren speak fluently, many who knew the inside story felt even more helpless.

"Don't you have any idea, old man? Why is Section Chief Mao recuperating at home? Isn't it because you failed to go solo with him?"

Can this even be considered medical history?

"After admission, Professor Wu recommended emergency surgery, but the patient refused, and the family signed a refusal of treatment," Zheng Ren said.

"Doctor Zheng Ren, what you're saying isn't related to our discussion, is it?" Vice President Yuan frowned and said.

"There is a connection," Zheng Ren declared loudly. "Let's first look at the images, then I'll explain the link."

As he spoke, he turned on the laser pointer in his hand, and a red dot appeared on the screen's imaging data.

"According to the anesthesiologist's account and the anesthesia record, the continuous epidural needle was inserted at T12–L1. Yet the patient's CT shows bleeding at T8 and T9 vertebrae. That defies common sense and is one of the doubts."

"On the high‑density image, I believe everyone can agree it's bleeding—this point is beyond doubt."

"But the problem lies right here."

"Based on the condition, if it were an operative error causing intra‑spinal bleeding that compresses the nerves, at least five hours would have passed from the procedure to the CT. During that time, microscopic clots would form locally."

Hearing Zheng Ren say that, Lao He's head jerked up.

But then it immediately drooped again.

On the CT image, there truly is no clot; but it's also normal for none to appear after just a few hours.

Zheng Lao Ban is just making excuses for himself—surely that won't work.

But Zheng Lao Ban, being loyal to himself, spouted nonsense at the hospital‑wide consultation chaired by Vice President Yuan—a major overdraft on his future academic authority.

Ordinary people would simply give up on themselves.

But Zheng Lao Ban didn't; instead, he used his honor and reputation to defend himself as much as possible.

Lao He thought of this and felt a surge of "die for one who knows you." But wanting to die also requires qualification—losing his medical license, he couldn't even step onto an operating table.

"Let's look at the images," Zheng Ren said, placing the red dot of his laser pointer on the bleed site. "Here, six hours after the bleeding, I see no sign of clotting."

"Zheng Lao Ban, what you're saying… doesn't hold up. CT isn't clear enough to see clots," Director Chu couldn't help but mutter.

Although whoever jumps in now is just playing opposite Zheng Lao Ban, they might end up feuding later.

But letting him spout nonsense on stage isn't just that either.

"Director Chu is right—I'm just offering a viewpoint. To see clearly, we need magnetic resonance imaging to confirm."

Having said that, Zheng Ren scanned the audience of senior directors.

The hall fell silent; everyone pondered Zheng Ren's words.

Su Yun's forehead hair fluttered; she quickly reconstructed and, after a few seconds, exclaimed excitedly, "The MRI shows no image of old‑age hemoglobin!"

"Exactly, that's it," Zheng Ren said.

"Doctor Zheng Ren, what condition are you considering?" Vice President Yuan asked in a low voice.

"I'm considering that the bleeding between the vertebrae indicates endometriosis!"

One sentence, and Shi Potian was startled.

Uterus……

Endometrium……

Endometriosis……

Director Wei nearly spat out a mouthful of old blood.

Zheng Lao Ban, your imagination is too rich.

Never mind other things, diagnosis isn't actually that important. Soon the Spine Surgery department will undergo surgery to remove this hematoma.

As for whether it's bleeding or endometriosis, postoperative pathology will tell directly.

Is there any point in arguing like this?

The Spine Surgery Department's Director Xu was stunned for a moment—endometriosis, in the spine……

"My suggestion: first do a nuclear magnetic resonance, then the emergency department will go on stage to remove the endometriosis hematoma."

Before anyone could voice opposition, Zheng Ren continued speaking.

"The reason for preoperative diagnosis is that during surgery we must perfectly detach this hematoma, not leaving a bit of endometrium." Zheng Ren said: "If endometrium is left, bleeding and pressure symptoms accompanying menstruation will soon recur."

"……"

The many senior directors in the conference room were dumbfounded.

Zheng Ren smiled faintly and said: "I know you don't believe me, but this is the only reasonable explanation."

"I haven't even seen the patient yet; according to the chart description, the patient probably wasn't menstruating when admitted. Please ask Director Wei whether the patient has any menstrual bleeding now, and we can make a preliminary judgment."