Chapter 2297: 2219 Estimated surgery to remove 400g of heart muscle

"What hysteria are you causing in the middle of the night?"

More than ten minutes later, Su Yun came downstairs, grumbling unhappily.

"I suspect his old man has dilated cardiomyopathy, maybe even late-stage; let's go take a look." Zheng Ren said.

Su Yun saw the tear tracks on the man's face and knew the boss had caused trouble again. However, this time the "picked-up" patient is a thoracic case, so she can tolerate it a bit.

They called a car, and the man, looking dazed, went with Zheng Ren and Su Yun to the hospital.

He took the film down, and by then the alcohol had mostly worn off.

The night breeze was slightly cool; he held the film and documents, feeling somewhat lost, and didn't know why he believed that young person's words.

Even if it could be treated, the cost of several hundred thousand is more than he can afford. Selling his house and land still wouldn't scrape together several hundred thousand. Borrowing money? The interest would grind human bone dregs to powder.

He had encountered a kind soul, but how could even the kindest person help him pay for medical treatment? Nobody's money blows in from the wind.

"May I know your names?" the man asked after carrying the film down, finally thinking to inquire what they were called.

"It's not important." Su Yun took the film bag and pulled out a frontal chest X‑ray.

He glanced at it against the light, and his hand froze in mid‑air.

"Wow, what a huge heart!" Su Yun exclaimed in surprise.

The patient had left pleural effusion, and the cardiac image was mixed within the fluid, hard to distinguish. But this didn't stump Zheng Ren and Su Yun; a single glance revealed the severity of the patient's condition.

The cardiac enlargement was centered on the left ventricle, with the right ventricle and both atria also showing varying degrees of enlargement.

The ECG showed severe right bundle‑branch block, widespread ST‑T changes, high left‑ventricular voltage, left atrial enlargement, and due to myocardial fibrosis pathological Q waves could appear, with low voltage across all leads.

The echocardiogram showed marked left‑ventricular enlargement, enlargement of the left‑ventricular outflow tract, and reduced motion amplitude of the interventricular septum and the left‑ventricular posterior wall.

The patient had a rapid ventricular rhythm accompanied by severe atrioventricular conduction block. In other words, sudden death could occur at any moment.

There were no medical orders, but Zheng Ren guessed that the effect of current internal medicine drug therapy was limited.

The period for anti‑heart‑failure and correcting arrhythmias has passed; the best option now is a heart transplant, i. e., the man's mentioned heart replacement.

For patients with end‑stage dilated cardiomyopathy who undergo heart transplantation, the survival rate beyond one year reaches 85‑90% or higher, which is still quite good.

But the problem arises again: the high cost and shortage of donors make the surgery difficult to perform. It's not even just a matter of money—without a donor, where could one get a heart transplant?

Unless Su Yun's Rongcheng Huaxi project team secures the 3D‑printed heart project as soon as possible.

"Boss, have you calculated it? If we do a reduction surgery, how much heart muscle would need to be removed?" Su Yun mused over countless data and remarked.

"About 350 grams of heart muscle, and that's an underestimate." Zheng Ren said.

"..." The man stared, bewildered. Are they talking about the heart's muscle? Would removing it still allow him to live?

"That's right, we're doctors from 912." Zheng Ren then said solemnly: "We happen to have a project that can perform surgery on patients for free. Post‑operatively, there should also be some subsidies."

Immediately, Zheng Ren saw the man looking at him with doubtful eyes.

Saying that made him seem like an outright fraud, and Zheng Ren inwardly smirked.

"Let me say it instead." Su Yun thought Zheng Ren was wrong and contemptuously cut him off.

"Your father's condition is severe; he could die at any moment." Su Yun spoke frankly.

The man already knew this; the doctors here had said it many times.

"At most, he might live another two or three months. We have a research activity on our side that can offer free surgery. The success rate isn't high, but if you want to give it a try, come find us."

"The exact details of the free arrangement will be explained later." Su Yun looked into the man's eyes, suddenly blew a breath, her black hair fluttering over her forehead, and asked, "Do you think we're trying to deceive you?"

The man remained silent.

"Let me say something unpleasant: just from what you're wearing, I can guess your family's situation. Breaking bones to squeeze oil—how much could you get? Deceiving you wouldn't even be worth the time."

The words may be unpleasant, but that's simply the truth.

"Discuss it with your family: the chance of surgical failure is high, and if it fails you'd die on the operating table. Whether to try it is up to you."

"To be frank, this is basically treating a dead horse as a living one—any hope is a slim one." Su Yun laughed: "I actually suggest you go through with the surgery. Come on, scan the code, add me as a friend, and I'll send you the address."

The man felt that Su Yun made sense.

But is there really such a thing as free medical care in this world? If what he said about a research project is true, then it might be possible.

After scanning the code and adding her as a friend, Su Yun sent him the address.

"If you want the surgery, come find me at the hospital—I'm a proper doctor from 912; I certainly won't short‑change you for a few melons and dates."

Once the 912 banner was raised, the man also believed it.

"If you're going to do it, hurry up—your old man could collapse at any time. Don't drag out discussions for three or five days, only to end up waiting for death; that's pointless." Su Yun kept speaking blunt truths.

The man nodded firmly.

He felt somewhat dazed and confused, and at times he thought he was dreaming. Whatever comes, what else could it be if not a dream?

If this is a dream, I hope it never ends.

"Alright, it's very late; let's go back to sleep. Once you've decided, tell me on WeChat." After saying that, Su Yun pulled Zheng Ren and they turned and left.

In the night breeze, the man watched the two receding figures and fell into endless turmoil.

"Boss, how likely is the surgery to succeed?" Su Yun asked.

"Not likely." Zheng Ren said: "Given the extent of left‑ventricular deformity and myocardial hypertrophy, removing 350 g of heart muscle is an underestimate. A normal heart is only about 300 g, so cutting out more than a whole heart makes postoperative care extremely difficult."

"I don't want to hear you talk like that." Su Yun said contemptuously: "Do you think only you are capable? Our 912 critical care is strong. Liver transplant patients recover well enough to be discharged without issue."

Zheng Ren chuckled.

"Have you figured it out? Exactly how is the surgery to be done?" Su Yun pressed.

"M equals 4.18 times R cubed; calculating with this formula…… without an esophageal ultrasound we can only make a preliminary judgment……"

"Boss, it's just the two of us here—don't talk to me like you're briefing a patient's family, okay?" Su Yun said unhappily.

"Cut around 400 g of heart muscle." That was Zheng Ren's final answer.

Su Yun confirmed her own guess.

She hadn't miscalculated—400 g! The weight of heart muscle removed in successful left‑ventricular reduction surgeries worldwide is only 302 g.

Damn! How come it's so hard?