A Surgeon Who Uses Martial Arts [EN]: Chapter 98

The Martial Surgeon – Chapter 98

Chapter 17: The Hunt (3)

The robotic gastrectomy was nearing its end.

The mesentery infiltrated by cancer cells.

The lymph nodes around the blood vessels.

The cancerous tissue inside the stomach had all been removed.

They were now at the stage of anastomosing [surgically connecting] the widely resected [removed] stomach and duodenum [the first part of the small intestine].

‘When I see things like this, medical technology seems even more OP [overpowered] than martial arts.’

Jun-hoo thought to himself.

The advancement of medical science and technology was dazzling.

As far as Jun-hoo knew, robotic surgery was unthinkable even a decade ago.

The environment for laparoscopic surgery [minimally invasive surgery using a camera and small incisions] was also much more challenging than it is now.

Even when using laparoscopy.

They used to pull the stomach out of the abdomen to resect the cancerous tissue, anastomose the stomach and duodenum, and then put it back in.

It was laparoscopy in name only.

But those days were gone.

The endoscopic surgical tools had advanced remarkably.

All procedures could be performed inside the abdomen without pulling the stomach out.

Click! Click! Click!

Even the automatic stapler that Seung-yong was using now was like that.

A long rod was attached to the entrance of the gun-shaped handle.

At the end of the rod, there was a structure that looked exactly like a stapler.

When the surgeon pulled the handle, the automatic stapler would automatically suture [stitch together].

Click! Click! Click!

Seung-yong was using the automatic stapler without hesitation.

However, just because the automatic stapler simplified the suturing process did not mean that the surgeon’s capabilities were not important.

Determining the degree of suturing.

Determining the suturing site.

And making the connections between the knots uniform was still the role of the surgeon.

In that respect, Seung-yong was an excellent surgeon.

He was not at all inferior to the renowned doctors Jun-hoo had seen while scrubbing in [preparing for surgery].

-In that sense, the best surgery is the most expensive surgery. That’s why I insist on robotic surgery. Is that an answer now?

Seung-yong’s earlier answer suddenly popped into his head.

Jun-hoo frowned without realizing it.

In fact, Jun-hoo knew it well.

That the professional ethics of sacrifice and service could not be forced on all doctors.

But even so, Seung-yong had gone too far.

No matter how much he loved money.

He should not forget that the patient he was treating, or the guardian [family member], was a person like him and someone’s family.

Seung-yong seemed to have abandoned even that minimal level of sensitivity.

Otherwise, how could he utter the outrageous statement that the most expensive surgery is the best surgery?

Back when he was living as a member of the orthodox faction in the Murim world [a world of martial arts experts], it was no coincidence that the image of Samun-ryeong of the Sichuan Tang Clan, who was constantly at odds with him, overlapped with Seung-yong’s image.

“Whew, the anastomosis is finally over.”

Seung-yong said as he got up from the controls, looking relieved.

“I’ll leave the closing of the incision and the finishing touches to Sang-hyuk.”

“Yes, thank you for your hard work, Chief.”

“Thank you for your hard work, Chief.”

“You two worked hard too.”

Seung-yong approached the two of them and suddenly fixed his gaze on Jun-hoo.

“Seo Jun-hoo.”

Seung-yong called Jun-hoo’s name in a low voice.

“Yes, Chief.”

“Do you happen to know Icarus from Greek and Roman mythology?”

“I know him as the person who flew with wings made of wax.”

“Then you must know the end of Icarus as well, right?”

“Yes.”

“Then that’s enough.”

Seung-yong nodded and left the operating room.

Jun-hoo felt like he knew why Seung-yong had bothered to mention Icarus.

Icarus dreamed of higher skies, but the wings made of wax melted, and he fell to his death.

If Jun-hoo pursued ideals like Icarus, he would not be able to avoid a miserable end later on.

Seung-yong was giving him a kind of warning.

Perhaps it was because Seung-yong had used Greek and Roman mythology as an analogy.

The receding figure of Seung-yong looked just like a Minotaur to Jun-hoo.

* * *

After Seung-yong left, the gastrectomy was completed in 30 minutes.

All that was left to do was to suture the 1-2 centimeter incisions in the abdomen.

Contrary to expectations, the surgery went smoothly, even though the patient was 70 years old.

In a way, this was also Seung-yong’s ability.

‘I’ve extracted enough to make it worthwhile.’

While moving to the break room with Sang-hyuk, Jun-hoo reviewed the surgery process.

This was possible because he had understood, analyzed, and memorized Seung-yong’s robotic gastrectomy as a single martial arts technique.

If he steadily learned the surgical skills of renowned doctors like this.

It was obvious that it would be easier to perform surgeries later on.

After arriving at the break room.

Jun-hoo pulled out two canned coffees from the vending machine and handed one to Sang-hyuk.

“Wow, Seo Jun-hoo, you’re providing great service?”

“I’ve always been good at service. Thank you for your hard work, Senior.”

Jun-hoo sat next to Sang-hyuk on the sofa and drank his canned coffee.

“You’re so easygoing, I don’t know why Mi-ho said that.”

“Yes? What do you mean?”

“Oops. Forget I said that just now.”

Sang-hyuk smiled awkwardly, looking embarrassed.

But Jun-hoo, who had smelled something fishy, was not about to let this situation pass.

“What did Senior Mi-ho say about me?”

“Hey, let’s just move on.”

“It’s difficult to move on without saying anything after receiving my service. I promise to keep the secret, so please just give me a hint.”

“Geez, you’re making it difficult for me. You really have to keep the secret.”

Sang-hyuk’s next words were shocking.

Sang-hyuk had a chat with Mi-ho in the morning, and Mi-ho had spoken ill of Jun-hoo.

Saying that he treated his seniors like dirt.

And that his work ethic was terrible.

From Jun-hoo’s perspective, it was an absurd rumor.

It was a ridiculous false incitement.

The only senior Jun-hoo treated like dirt was Mi-ho.

And the only person with a terrible work ethic was also Mi-ho. Didn’t she try to gloss over the gastrointestinal bleeding patient?

“Did you believe those words at face value, Senior?”

“Hmm hmm. To be honest, I was a little concerned. I’ve been with Mi-ho for quite a while, and she’s a good worker.”

“So, has your opinion of me changed?”

“It has changed. Jun-hoo, you’re so friendly and you’re such a good worker.”

Sang-hyuk took a sip of his canned coffee and continued.

“Especially when you were removing the lymph nodes, it was amazing, right? I thought I was watching a martial arts movie.”

“…….”

“Your hands were moving so fast!”

Jun-hoo resisted the urge to answer, ‘Of course, I’ve mastered martial arts.’

“The way you asked and answered questions confidently in front of the chief was also quite impressive. I would have been too intimidated to do that.”

“I guess it’s because I’m an intern and I’m not mature yet.”

Jun-hoo answered modestly.

In any case, the important thing was that Mi-ho had slandered Jun-hoo.

And that it was intentional and malicious.

It was clear that she was upset because Jun-hoo didn’t follow her obediently like Dae-jin.

“But Senior. Is Senior Mi-ho really good at her job?”

“She is good. If you ask her to do something, she finishes it quickly and accurately. Dae-jin is a bit slow.”

“Hmm… is that so? It seemed the opposite to me.”

“In what way?”

“From what I’ve seen, it looked like Senior Mi-ho kept passing her work on to Senior Dae-jin.”

Jun-hoo reproduced the slander he had suffered from Mi-ho exactly as it had happened.

He couldn’t just be taken advantage of by Mi-ho.

An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth.

This was the code of conduct that had been passed down to Jun-hoo since his days in the Murim world.

If he only returned to the other person as much as he had suffered, he could also guard against himself from being tainted by evil.

It was like killing two birds with one stone.

“Senior, take this opportunity to observe Senior Mi-ho closely. With your keen eye, you’ll quickly realize what I’m talking about, right?”

“I’ve never thought about it that way. Okay, I’ll keep it in mind.”

After the chat, Sang-hyuk left the break room first.

Jun-hoo, having achieved his goal, leisurely drank the rest of his coffee.

With Jun-hoo’s one word.

A seed of doubt about Mi-ho would have been planted in Sang-hyuk’s heart.

And that seed would gradually grow and reveal Mi-ho’s true nature.

All that was needed was time.

Jun-hoo performed meditative breathing exercises in that spot for about 10 minutes.

He had been exhausted from meticulously analyzing Seung-yong’s surgery, but after finishing the meditative breathing exercises, his body felt light.

His mind was also refreshed.

It was as if he had slept soundly for 2-3 hours.

The meditative breathing exercises, which restored his mental and physical strength to their original state, were always OP no matter how he thought about it.

After becoming a surgeon, it would do its part even more effectively than it does now.

Thud. Thud.

Jun-hoo got up from the sofa and moved towards the door of the break room.

Then he realized that he was still holding the coffee can in his hand.

Jun-hoo didn’t look back.

He simply threw the coffee can behind his back in an indifferent manner.

Thunk!

The heavy sound was heard only once.

It was proof that the can had accurately landed in the trash can.

Robotic surgery is definitely one of the good surgeries.

But even without using a robot, Jun-hoo believed that he could perform surgery more precisely and cleanly than a robot.

The ability to throw a can into the trash can behind his back without looking was something that a robot didn’t have.

* * *

Beep, beep, beep.

While returning to the ward, the pager in his gown pocket vibrated.

“Yes, Doctor.”

-Jun-hoo, did you just finish surgery?

“Ah. It’s you, Senior?”

He thought it was a station call, but the person who called was unexpectedly Dae-jin.

“Yes. I just finished and I’m on my way up now.”

-That’s good. Then, could you stop by the ICU (Intensive Care Unit) on your way? I was supposed to do the rounds, but I’m a little busy. Sorry.

Dae-jin conveyed the message, looking embarrassed.

“It’s okay, but did Senior Mi-ho ask you to do something again?”

Jun-hoo frowned and asked.

Originally, Mi-ho was supposed to be in charge of the ICU rounds at this time.

Because it was the time for Dae-jin to assist in the surgery.

-Well, that’s how it is.

“You’re going to ruin your health at this rate, Senior. I’ve told you repeatedly that it’s better to refuse appropriately.”

-What’s going to happen if I do a little more work? Anyway, please.

Dae-jin hung up first.

Jun-hoo stared silently at the pager.

At this point, wasn’t Mi-ho a vampire rather than Dae-jin’s peer?

It seemed necessary to go up to the on-call room and have a serious conversation about Dae-jin and Mi-ho.

Jun-hoo went straight to the gastroenterology ICU on the 3rd floor.

He quickly took care of the tasks such as examining patients while rounding.

ABAG [Arterial Blood Gas analysis], dressing, Foley catheter [urinary catheter], and nasogastric tube replacement.

Even with his left hand.

Jun-hoo had recently become interested in using his left hand.

The treatment was not as familiar as with his right hand, but the accuracy and speed of the left-handed treatment were developing remarkably.

The Ambidextrous Palm Technique was a bizarre martial art, but its performance was certain.

Jun-hoo didn’t even know that he would master his left hand so quickly.

If he steadily practiced the Ambidextrous Palm Technique until the end of the year, he would probably reach a level that was not inferior to his right hand.

To the point where it would make Professor Lee Dong-joon, an orthopedic surgeon who had trained his left hand for a whopping 6 years, pale in comparison.

“Hello, Doctor.”

As he was leaving the ICU, a familiar face greeted him from the waiting room for guardians.

It was the daughter of Son Dae-cheol, the patient who had just undergone robotic gastrectomy.

“Hello, Guardian. Did you hear the story from the professor? The surgery was successful.”

“Yes. Thanks to you, I’m relieved. I think I’ll be able to stretch my legs and sleep well tonight. Thank you for your hard work too, Doctor.”

“The professor did all the surgery, though.”

Jun-hoo said shyly and changed the subject.

“By the way, about changing the robotic surgery to laparoscopic surgery…”

“…….”

“I heard that you had a direct conversation with the professor. What did the professor say?”

Jun-hoo asked out of curiosity.

-It means that the guardian has agreed to the robotic surgery. I persuaded them myself, so there won’t be any complaints.

When he had just entered the operating room.

Seung-yong had clearly said that, but he was curious about the specific details.

“Ah. That? The professor said that it was possible to change to laparoscopic surgery.”

“Then why robotic surgery… I remember you saying that the surgery costs were a burden?”

Jun-hoo asked, tilting his head.

The guardian’s words seemed inconsistent at first glance.

“He said that the laparoscopic surgery schedule was full. He said that if we changed the surgery method, we would have to wait two more weeks.”

“Ah… I didn’t think of that.”

“Me neither. I decided to get the surgery quickly because my father’s condition could worsen while waiting for the surgery.”

“You did a good job. I will also take good care of your father so that he can recover quickly.”

“Thank you, Doctor.”

Jun-hoo’s face was still clouded as he returned to the ward after the conversation.

But it was at that moment.

When he looked towards the lobby, he saw Seung-yong and Seung-beom standing face to face and talking.

Jun-hoo glared at Seung-yong with an angry face.

He didn’t show it in front of the guardian, but in fact, the laparoscopic surgery schedule was not very full.

As far as Jun-hoo knew, he could schedule it within a week at least.

In other words, Seung-yong had lied to the guardian in order to induce robotic surgery.