A Surgeon Who Uses Martial Arts [EN]: Chapter 131

Surgeon Who Uses Martial Arts 131

Chapter 24: Training (1)

After finishing rounds, Jun-hoo exited the intensive care unit.

He noticed a woman lingering near the waiting area for guardians.

Kim Sun-hye.

She was the wife of the vegetative state patient Jun-hoo had just examined.

Sun-hye was 40 years old, the same age as her husband.

“Hello. Are you a guardian?”

“Yes, hello, doctor.”

“Is there something you’re worried about? You seem very anxious.”

Jun-hoo cut straight to the point with Sun-hye.

It was a manner of speaking Jun-hoo used freely.

It was a manner of speaking he only used with those he was close to.

Since his internship, Jun-hoo had been striving to build rapport [a close and harmonious relationship] with patients and their guardians.

When the relationship between the patient/guardian and the doctor is close.

The patient’s treatment and recovery were faster.

They could also gain psychological stability.

The opposite was also true.

When a doctor is close to the patient/guardian.

The doctor felt a sense of responsibility and could provide higher quality treatment services.

The risk of misdiagnosis also decreased.

“Thank you for your concern, but it’s nothing.”

“Is it perhaps due to hospital bill issues?”

“How did you know…?”

Sun-hye’s eyes widened as she spoke.

“It’s not magic. Usually, patients and guardians worry about hospital bills or treatment and progress issues.”

“Actually… I received the interim hospital bill earlier.”

“Yes, please tell me.”

“It came out to 2 million won this month alone, and I suddenly became overwhelmed.”

A dark cloud hung over Sun-hye’s face.

A sigh that seemed to make the ground sink also escaped her lips.

For an average household to spend 2 million won [approximately $1,500 USD] per month on hospital bills?

It couldn’t help but be a huge drain.

Moreover, Sun-hye’s husband was in a vegetative state.

There was no knowing when he would wake up.

And how much the hospital bills would amount to until then.

“ICU hospitalization fees are quite high, aren’t they? Usually, it costs about 100,000 to 150,000 won [approximately $75-$115 USD] per day.”

“Yes. Everything is money in the hospital.”

“Indeed.”

A self-deprecating smile appeared on Jun-hoo’s lips.

It had already been a year since he started working at the hospital.

Patients, guardians, hospitals, and doctors.

Everything was constrained by money.

It was an unavoidable situation in a capitalist society, but.

It was still bitter.

“The treatment… until when… are you planning?”

It was a question that was hard to bring up, so Jun-hoo asked painfully.

Life-sustaining treatment for a patient in a vegetative state.

This was an issue that had to be addressed.

The difficulties of the guardian taking care of the patient could not be ignored either.

There was a serious impact in terms of economic and psychological aspects.

“Before that, I have a question. When will my husband wake up?”

“I’m sorry, but… we can’t guarantee that either. There are cases where they regain consciousness, but those are rare cases.”

“So, I have to wait endlessly?”

“If the guardian doesn’t give up on the patient.”

“That means…”

“I asked the professor yesterday, and he said that the patient met the conditions to discontinue life-sustaining treatment.”

“……”

“The committee has made a decision.”

Unlike brain death, discontinuing life-sustaining treatment for a person in a vegetative state had complicated regulations and procedures.

First, there must be no possibility of recovery.

And the condition had to deteriorate rapidly to the terminal stage.

Whether it was right to say it was fortunate or not, the patient met the conditions.

“Now, only the guardian’s decision remains.”

Jun-hoo gave the guardian a new option.

Now, if only the guardian wanted it.

Life-sustaining treatment did not have to be continued.

For reference, Jun-hoo did not view the discontinuation of life-sustaining treatment negatively.

It was regrettable to let the patient go, but he couldn’t turn a blind eye to the suffering of the remaining family.

“Ah…”

Sun-hye lowered her head.

After contemplating for a while, she raised her head and stared at Jun-hoo.

“What would you do if you were in my position, doctor?”

Sun-hye asked for Jun-hoo’s opinion.

“I have my own answer, but I can’t tell the guardian.”

“Why?”

“My judgment may affect the guardian.”

“Then I… want to protect my husband a little more. I don’t know if it’s the right thing to do, though.”

“I respect the guardian’s decision. I’ll tell the professor. And could I have your account number?”

“Why…?”

“I want to personally support the hospital bills.”

“There’s no need for that. I’ll gratefully accept your heart.”

The guardian refused persistently, but.

Jun-hoo stubbornly persuaded the guardian and found out the account number.

He had been running NewTube [a fictional video-sharing platform, similar to YouTube] for moments like this.

To safeguard even the areas where kindness and consideration don’t reach.

Only money could provide comfort in those areas.

After parting ways with the grateful guardian.

Jun-hoo hurried his steps toward the operating room.

He didn’t forget to deposit 800,000 won [approximately $600 USD] into the guardian’s account along the way.

-What would you do if you were in my position, doctor?

The guardian’s question suddenly echoed in his head.

Jun-hoo’s answer was already determined.

* * *

Thump. Thump. Thump.

At the operating room sink, Jun-hoo was scrubbing (pre-operative disinfection).

He was roughly rubbing his forearms, the backs of his hands, fingers, and nails with a brush soaked in disinfectant.

The surgical assist was two hours away, but Min-kyung had summoned him to the operating room immediately.

He wondered what was going on.

With the help of a nurse, Jun-hoo put on a surgical gown, gloves, mask, etc., and headed to operating room number 3.

Whirr.

Whirr.

The automatic door opened, and an air shower (disinfectant gas) poured down from the ceiling.

The cool operating room air brushed against his skin, and the smell of disinfectant stung his nose.

Min-kyung, a second-year resident, and Kyung-soo, a colleague, were already in the operating room.

The two were standing in front of the operating table, and the patient was lying on the operating table.

“Jun-hoo, you’re a bit late?”

“I’m sorry. I had a consultation with a guardian.”

“Well, you don’t have to apologize.”

Standing next to Min-kyung, Jun-hoo looked down at the patient.

He had been called in urgently, so.

There was no time to learn about the patient.

The patient was a man in his 60s and was under general anesthesia.

“This patient recently underwent surgery for a cerebral aneurysm and also has COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) [a lung disease that blocks airflow].”

“I guess you’re going to do a tracheostomy [surgical procedure to create an opening in the trachea]?”

“Bingo. You’re quick on the uptake. Today, just observe and assist, and try it yourself next time.”

Min-kyung stared at Jun-hoo and continued.

“Can you explain the indications for a tracheostomy?”

“Chronic upper airway obstruction, prevention of pulmonary aspiration [inhaling foreign objects into the lungs], removal of phlegm and foreign substances, and when long-term ventilator use is required.”

“Was that too easy of a question for you, who has read the General Principles of Neurosurgery three times?”

There was playfulness in Min-kyung’s voice.

“Maybe so. But, senior.”

“Why? You’re making me anxious.”

“Can I do the tracheostomy myself?”

What Jun-hoo needed was not education but practical experience.

Because he had already memorized the process of tracheostomy.

He had assisted with about five tracheostomies during his internship, and he had acquired all the necessary information at that time.

“It’s a mistake to take tracheostomy lightly. It’s a minor surgery, you know.”

“……”

“If you do it wrong, you can damage the nerves and blood vessels around the trachea.”

“But isn’t it a procedure that I have to learn anyway?”

“That’s true, but…”

“I can do well. Please trust me and let me do it.”

Jun-hoo did not budge.

Jun-hoo wanted to know even one more piece of medical knowledge.

He wanted to accumulate even one more practical experience.

Jun-hoo had a long way to go.

He wanted to conquer the three parts of neurosurgery (brain part, spine part, stereotactic nerve part).

Furthermore, he wanted to conquer hand surgery, which sutures severed limbs.

He wanted to conquer trauma surgery, which specializes in trauma surgery.

In order to achieve that grand goal.

Jun-hoo needed to run faster than anyone else.

“Sigh. Anyway, Jun-hoo, your eyes sparkle whenever there’s talk about procedures or surgery. I know. Do it.”

“Thank you, senior.”

As Jun-hoo was decided to be the surgeon for the tracheostomy, there was a change in position.

Jun-hoo stood in the surgeon’s position, and the scrub nurse stood next to Jun-hoo.

Min-kyung and Kyung-soo stood opposite him.

Before the full-scale surgery, Jun-hoo quietly closed his eyes.

Using the black darkness as a canvas, he drew the process of the tracheostomy that he had memorized.

The review was fast and accurate.

“What, is the great Seo Jun-hoo nervous too?”

“Nervous? I don’t know what that is.”

Jun-hoo said jokingly.

Apparently, Min-kyung had mistaken Jun-hoo’s closing his eyes as being nervous.

In the world of martial arts, Jun-hoo.

He had witnessed countless horrific scenes of people’s limbs being cut off, organs spilling out, and heads being severed.

He even had experience making wicked heretics into that state with his swordsmanship.

So, there was no way he would be afraid or nervous in the current situation.

“Then, I will now perform a tracheostomy. Give me a number 10.”

Jun-hoo held the scalpel he received from the scrub nurse in his right hand.

The scalpel was as light as a feather.

Jun-hoo placed the scalpel on the patient’s neck, which Min-kyung had disinfected.

Swoosh.

With one cut, the skin was cut smoothly.

A 3-centimeter-long horizontal incision was created.

A neat and quick horizontal cut.

It was making use of the principle of Clear Breeze Bright Moon, the third form of the Azure Cloud Sword Technique.

Jun-hoo’s excellence in using the scalpel, which contained the principles of swordsmanship, was unmatched.

At least when it came to using a scalpel.

No surgeon in Korea would be able to catch up to Jun-hoo.

Like cutting paper.

The vivid sensation transmitted to his hand.

Jun-hoo’s senses were very sensitive. It was like using a sword in the world of martial arts.

Perhaps that’s why.

The thought that he would fail the tracheostomy didn’t even cross his mind.

* * *

He’s showing off without knowing it, it’s about time he gets a taste of his own medicine.

Kyung-soo watched Jun-hoo’s surgery and snorted.

Kyung-soo also acknowledged that Jun-hoo was a remarkable talent.

He could process chart input and orders in an instant with 2,000 English characters.

Even though he was a first-year resident, he had time left over and studied on his own.

Jun-hoo performed various procedures without hesitation.

But still.

No matter how good you are, there are limits.

Tracheostomy was by no means an easy surgery. There was a risk of bleeding and nerve damage during the surgery.

Min-kyung was also concerned about that point.

That’s why he recommended observation first.

Seo Jun-hoo. You don’t know how to socialize.

You’re supposed to just go halfway in everything.

Passion for patients and medicine?

Outstanding skills compared to others?

That kind of thing is all erased with one mistake.

Although they had worked together for a short time.

Kyung-soo thought of Jun-hoo as pathetic.

Because the world is not about living sincerely, but about living with social skills.

“The incision was good. The length and depth are also excellent. Like someone who only practiced with a scalpel after eating. Keep going.”

“Yes, senior.”

With Min-kyung’s help, Jun-hoo incised the subcutaneous muscle and exposed the muscle.

Jun-hoo’s use of the scalpel was still dazzling.

It was precise and without hesitation.

It was as if he was born with golden hands.

“Kyung-soo. Can you do some retraction?”

“Yes.”

Kyung-soo held the retractor with both hands and widened the incision up and down.

As the incision widened, the surgical field of view was clear.

The trachea was cylindrical.

The band-shaped tracheal rings were lined up at appropriate intervals.

The thyroid gland, shaped like a bow tie, was attached to the trachea.

“It’s going to be really difficult from now on, okay? Can you start with a briefing before the incision?”

“First, I need to expose the tracheal ring (the ring that surrounds the trachea). I plan to incise the fascia [a layer of connective tissue], ligate [tie off] the bleeding points with forceps, and then incise the trachea.”

Jun-hoo’s answer was as cool as usual.

Kyung-soo thought, anyone can say that.

“Kyung-soo, what’s your judgment?”

“I have no objection either.”

“Don’t just say that, ask if you have any doubts or anything strange. You need to understand it properly so that it will help you when you do the tracheostomy yourself.”

“Is there anything to add or subtract? It’s exactly what’s in the textbook.”

Kyung-soo shrugged and continued.

“The problem is whether you can put words into practice or not.”

“You’re still cynical.”

“If you’re too hot like someone else, you’ll get burned.”

Kyung-soo indirectly criticized Jun-hoo.

After a brief conversation, the tracheostomy resumed.

Jun-hoo vertically incised the fascia with skillful skill.

He exposed the tracheal ring.

He clamped the blood vessels nearby with vascular forceps.

Click!

He managed to finish the pre-treatment.

Now, all that remained was the long-awaited tracheal incision.

If his hand shakes and the incision deviates.

If too much force is applied to his hand and the incision becomes too deep.

The patient’s trachea will be damaged.

A major disaster that could lead to a medical lawsuit will occur.

Even though the pressure was extreme.

Jun-hoo’s eyes were calmly sunken.

And Jun-hoo’s appearance looked like a moth flying into the fire to Kyung-soo.

You need to know your place.

Why are you rushing to do a tracheostomy already?

You need to taste the bitterness of the world this time to come to your senses.

In a situation where time seemed to have stopped.

Jun-hoo’s scalpel headed for the patient’s trachea.

There was no shaking in his hand.

His fingers and wrist were like machines.

The direction of the scalpel was exactly between the patient’s second and third tracheal rings.

The blade of the scalpel was exactly horizontal to the target point.

Aside from being reckless.

Kyung-soo had no choice but to admit that Jun-hoo’s hand movements were extraordinary.

Swoosh!

Sizzle!

The moment the trachea was cut horizontally.

Blood gushed out from the cut gap.

I knew it.

I had a feeling he would cause an accident.

Kyung-soo felt proud as if he had become a fortune teller, but somehow the atmosphere was strange.

Jun-hoo was still calm.

Min-kyung, who should have scolded him sternly, remained silent.

So, Kyung-soo had a hard time understanding the current situation.

What?

Am I the only weird one?