Chapter 2601: with translation of chapter title

Zheng Ren first told Wen Xiaonuan the Shou Bing was very successful, then he explained the Shou Bing procedure. Seeing her slightly tense expression, Zheng Ren also knew that mere verbal comfort had no power.

Only when Xiao Shitou was steadily transferred out of the ICU could Wen Xiaonuan relax.

There were still patients in the ward needing Shou Bing today; Zheng Ren didn't chat with her much and hurriedly went to perform the Shou Bing.

The next morning, Zheng Ren had just arrived at the Hospital, stood by the ICU bed, and had just seen Xiao Shitou when his phone rang.

"Director Luo, why are you looking for me so early?" Zheng Ren said with a smile.

Xiao Shitou still hadn't been extubated, because the neck Shou Bing was performed to prevent any Capillary from rupturing and bleeding, causing a local hematoma that compresses the airway, which could ultimately lead to death, so the ventilator needs to be kept for a period.

Zheng Ren took Director Luo's call while monitoring Xiao Shitou's various vital signs; seeing they were stable as usual, he felt a slight joy.

"Oh, okay, I'm looking at patients in the ICU; I'll be over shortly, please wait a moment." Zheng Ren said quickly.

"So early, what could Director Luo possibly need?" Su Yun asked, frowning.

"A patient who swallowed a fish bone… with the fish bone still attached." Zheng Ren said, "The fish bone is pointing upward, lodged and cannot be removed."

"Even such a large piece can be eaten?" Su Yun wasn't surprised; in the Hospital, nothing is unseen—this trivial matter isn't even worth mentioning.

Zheng Ren put his phone into the White Coat pocket and carefully examined every value on the ventilator, monitor, and micro pump.

Like a twig-like small hand moving before his eyes, Zheng Ren looked at Xiao Shitou.

Seeing him slightly open his eyes, he gave two light clicks.

"Lie still; in 2-3 days you can be extubated and speak." Zheng Ren said softly.

But Xiao Shitou slightly shook his head and gave his eyes two light clicks again.

Because a tube is inserted in the airway, even if he tries to speak, he can only produce meaningless sounds. Moreover, doing so increases airway resistance, causing the ventilator to alarm, and medical staff must then take appropriate measures.

Zheng Ren felt somewhat doubtful; he quickly recalled all the values, Xiao Shitou's Shou Bing was very successful, and the 10% Shou Bing completion from the Scholar's ability increase played a crucial role.

His recovery is faster than that of a patient with 100% Shou Bing completion!

Something can't be wrong, what is Xiao Shitou doing? Normally, post-Shou Bing patients with ventilator-assisted breathing issues are mostly due to phlegm blocking the airway, causing breathing difficulty.

Just a glance showed the ventilator's values were very stable and normal, not like there was a large amount of phlegm in the airway.

But Zheng Ren still took out a ballpoint pen from his pocket and waved it at Xiao Shitou.

Xiao Shitou strained to show a faint smile, indicating that was his meaning; but with a tube inserted in his mouth, his expression was somewhat stiff.

He handed the ballpoint pen to him, took an A4 sheet, and Zheng Ren then found something to place underneath.

A thin, withered hand held the ballpoint pen and began writing twisted, misshapen characters on the A4 paper.

Post-Shou Bing weakness plus an uncomfortable posture, Zheng Ren has seen many people use writing after Shou Bing to express their thoughts, but only half succeed; and such success mostly relies on guesswork.

The patient lying on the hospital bed is like a toddler learning to speak, as if life were starting over.

【No Sedation】

Xiao Shitou wrote these four characters on the A4 paper, then put down the pen; these simple four words had exhausted all his strength.

Zheng Ren first stared, the Shou Bing went well, did he himself look very calm? Or… no, could it be about not using sedatives?

Enduring the tube is a major problem.

If there is a foreign object in the respiratory tract, when the patient wakes from general anesthesia, they will naturally fall into a near-death state. Of course, this near-death state is merely imagined in the hazy condition before the anesthetic drugs are fully metabolized.

However, many patients, even after fully waking, cannot tolerate having a tube inserted in the respiratory tract.

Zheng Ren then recalled an incident in the Operating Room where he encountered a rather unsavory anesthesiologist who drove a car straight into flight.

"Xiao Shitou, are you not being given sedatives?" Su Yun asked from the side.

Upon hearing Su Yun's words, Zheng Ren immediately cast aside his distracting thoughts.

Xiao Shitou blinked, indicating that was the case.

"Can you tolerate it?" Zheng Ren asked.

This time Xiao Shitou made no movement; he simply lay obediently on the hospital bed, his limbs' muscles began to relax, the ventilator and monitor readings were normal, with only the sound of the machines operating and no sharp alarm.

He was using concrete action to show there would be no problem.

"Alright, then no sedatives." Zheng Ren said at Xiao Shitou's bedside: "The Shou Bing was very successful; estimated in another 48 hours we can extubate and transfer back to a regular ward."

Xiao Shitou opened his eyes and slightly raised his left hand; the fingertip still had the oxygen saturation monitor's clip attached, connected by a line.

Zheng Ren didn't go to bump fists with him, but instead held his cold little hand and said: "Rest well; I'll come see you after I finish my Shou Bing this morning."

The cold little hand moved in Zheng Ren's hand; Zheng Ren then briefed the ICU's on-duty Inpatient Chief on some points and left the ICU.

"Xiao Shitou is fine, your Shou Bing… Boss, I feel he's recovering faster than I imagined." Su Yun asked.

"Because you coordinated the table well." Zheng Ren brushed off casually.

"Right, I thought the same." Su Yun laughed: "Abroad, basically all major Shou Bing procedures need only two people on stage. Your Shou Bing was wise, you didn't bring in others. The two of us doing it is more than enough."

Zheng Ren was somewhat surprised; was he really serious, or just making casual conversation?

However, whatever Su Yun was thinking, Zheng Ren wasn't really taking it seriously; his mind began to ponder the patient Director Luo mentioned.

"A fish bone lodged in the esophagus; Director Luo's patient is quite troublesome." Zheng Ren said.

"Of course, Mao Chi, Director Mao, even when eating fish bones they have to be dried and ground into powder before use. This time it was swallowed directly; what do you think is going on?"

It could be deep-fried small fish, eaten straight away without chewing thoroughly.

"Yo, Boss, you actually know about deep-fried fish?" Su Yun said while taking off his sterile gown: "I always thought you, old sir, don't eat earthly food, lofty above, overlooking the mortal world."

"Don't spout nonsense; listening to Director Luo means there are barbs, the fish bone is already caught, but it cannot be pulled out of the esophagus."

"Surely, the esophageal wall is so thick; as long as one's mind is sound, no violent maneuver would be done. One slip, and what comes out first might not be the fish bone." Su Yun blew a breath, his forehead black hair fluttering, "A mouthful of blood would spurt out along the gastroscope, leaving the person no chance for rescue."