A Surgeon Who Uses Martial Arts [EN]: Chapter 174

Chapter 32: Palette (4)

The neurosurgery morning conference began.

The chief resident led the meeting as usual.

The chief presented various documents and charts on the monitor connected to the beam projector, proceeding with the conference.

Residents stared at the materials with tired eyes.

About a third of them nodded off, looking like sleepy chickens.

The professors were just as lifeless.

A yawn from one professor spread like an epidemic.

Professors spent their days busy with surgeries on days they had them,
and outpatient care, research, and preparing papers on days they didn’t.

“Becoming a professor guarantees tenure and comfort.”

…That saying never applied in neurosurgery.

Neurosurgery was a battlefield.

Where in a battlefield is there an easy, comfortable, and safe place?

Scanning the staff who lived as if just trying to survive each day, Jun-hoo felt a pang of sympathy.

He also felt saddened by the thought that yesterday was like today,
and today would be like tomorrow.

Perhaps Professor Jae-hyun’s radical argument was right.

The argument that reforming the medical system was more urgent than saving patients.

At this rate, surgery might become extinct like dinosaurs in the distant future.

“Alright, everyone, let’s wake up a bit.”

Just as the scheduling of surgical patients was finishing, the head professor clapped his hands to get their attention.

“We can’t be this down in the morning, can we? We have to fight hard today too.”

“Yes, Professor.”

“Yes, Professor.”

Some of the residents replied lifelessly to the head professor’s forced encouragement.

“Ah, right, Professor Shin.”

“Yes, please speak.”

“How is the preparation for the awake surgery going?”

The head professor looked at Dong-hoon, a specialist in brain tumors, with shining eyes.

“It’s progressing without any issues. The resection [surgical removal] range has also been determined, and only the surgery tomorrow remains.”

“I’ve planted some articles. If you search on portal sites, you’ll find about six or so.”

At the head professor’s words, Jun-hoo quickly searched for articles about pianist Myung-han on his phone.

[Famous pianist Myung-han to undergo awake surgery at Shinwon University Neurosurgery. What is awake surgery?]

[World’s top pianist. High-difficulty awake surgery to be performed at Shinwon University Neurosurgery.]

Indeed, articles that couldn’t be found just a few days ago were noticeable.

This was all the head professor’s doing……

Jun-hoo couldn’t help but acknowledge the head professor’s ability in media play and showmanship.

However, the problem was that these articles put a lot of pressure on the surgical staff.

“Oh… I see. Thank you for your hard work.”

Dong-hoon smiled awkwardly.

“Well, the hard work is being done by Professor Shin, not me, but this is nothing. Anyway, don’t disappoint me. There are many eyes watching this surgery in particular.”

“I will do my best.”

“Doing your best is not enough; you must succeed.”

“I would like to do that too, but… Where is there a surgery with a 100 percent success rate?”

“Ahem, don’t talk weakly now. Do you think I brought Professor Shin here to hear this kind of talk?”

The head professor’s voice was sharp.

As the head professor grilled Dong-hoon, the conference atmosphere began to plummet uncontrollably.

“Then I will definitely succeed.”

“Yes, that’s right.”

Jun-hoo found the head professor, who smiled brightly only after hearing a definite answer, annoying.

How could he make such unreasonable demands on the professor when he also performed surgeries himself?

For reference, the head professor’s specialty was adult cerebrovascular [blood vessel] surgery.

After a while, in a gloomy atmosphere.

The morning conference ended, and even the rounds were over. The staff began to scatter according to their schedules.

“Seo Jun-hoo. Where are you running off to! You have to tell me about the romance you’re having with Ah-young.”

Min-kyung grabbed Jun-hoo, who was trying to move towards the on-call room.

“I’ll tell you later. I’m busy.”

“The rounds just ended, what could you be busy with? Are you perhaps exchanging love texts with Ah-young?”

Min-kyung wiggled her eyebrows and asked slyly.

“Yes. So please don’t disturb me.”

“How sweet. I’ll make an exception this time.”

“Please do.”

After finishing his conversation with Min-kyung, Jun-hoo ran to the on-call room. He grabbed the backpack he had put in the locker and crossed the hospital ward.

He had something important to say to Dong-hoon, the surgeon for the awake surgery.

* * *

“Professor. Are you on your way down to the outpatient clinic?”

“Yes, why?”

Dong-hoon, who was waiting for the elevator, looked at Jun-hoo, who was rushing towards him, fluttering his gown.

He tilted his head.

Because he didn’t know why Jun-hoo was in such a hurry.

“Could you spare some time for me?”

“Alright.”

Dong-hoon moved to a nearby window.

In the sunlight streaming in from the window, Dong-hoon’s left face became warm. Suddenly, the morning hospital scenery he looked down on was serene.

“What’s so busy from the morning? Anyone would think you have an emergency surgery.”

Dong-hoon asked, staring at Jun-hoo, who was facing him.

“I have something to tell you about the awake surgery for patient Myung-han.”

“Really? We already did brain mapping last time. There’s nothing to add, is there?”

“Actually, I went to observe Professor Park Jae-hyun’s awake surgery yesterday.”

“Oh… That’s great passion.”

Dong-hoon clicked his tongue in admiration.

For a resident, an off day was like gold.

To observe surgery in another hospital’s neurosurgery department during that precious time…

It was an idea that an ordinary resident couldn’t even imagine.

“It seems you saw something there.”

“Yes, that’s right. Professor Park Jae-hyun said that stabilizing the patient is as important as determining the resection range of the tumor.”

“Of course.”

“So, I’m suggesting, how about playing the piano piece that the patient played after waking him up during surgery?”

Jun-hoo’s explanation continued.

The awake surgery that Jae-hyun performed was on a baseball player.

He said that Jae-hyun played the cheering song of the professional team to encourage the patient.

“Hmm… I’ve never thought of that…”

Dong-hoon stroked his chin quietly.

Perhaps it was because he was the best in the country and the first triple-board certified (brain, spine, stereotactic neurosurgery) neurosurgeon in the country.

Jae-hyun’s awake surgery was also unique.

“It would help stabilize the patient, but wouldn’t it be uncomfortable for us? It seems like it would be distracting.”

“…”

“I especially like a quiet surgical environment.”

“It’s not a noisy cheering song, but a calm piano piece, so I think it would be okay.”

“…”

“Once the patient is stabilized, we can turn off the music.”

“Listening to you, it sounds like a good idea. Let’s proceed that way.”

Dong-hoon readily nodded and lightly patted Jun-hoo’s shoulder with one hand.

Even though he was a first-year resident.

He liked Jun-hoo’s guts for coming to him, a professor, and saying everything he wanted to say.

He also liked Jun-hoo’s attitude of constantly worrying and striving for the completeness of the surgery.

“But Professor. I have one more suggestion.”

“Huh? Again?”

“Yes.”

Jun-hoo raised the backpack he was holding in his hand.

Dong-hoon had been curious about the identity of that backpack since earlier.

He didn’t think he would have bought a gift because it was his day off…

What on earth was in that backpack?

“I bought this because I thought it would also help with the surgery.”

What Jun-hoo took out of his bag was a portable electronic keyboard.

To put it simply, it was a portable small piano.

Perhaps because it was a new product.

The white and black keys were clean and glossy.

“Why did you buy this?”

“I think it would be good to use an electronic keyboard when waking up the patient during surgery and performing nerve stimulation.”

“You can just move your hands, can’t you?”

“Still, I don’t think it can match the patient actually playing the keyboard.”

“…”

“If the patient plays the keyboard, I think we can preserve the nerves related to hearing, or even the nerves related to the emotions needed for playing.”

Dong-hoon opened his mouth like a fool at Jun-hoo’s clear answer.

What to say.

It felt like he had been hit hard on the back of the head.

He didn’t know that Jun-hoo was thinking about the patient so carefully and meticulously.

Playing a piano piece was understandable.

He never thought he would buy an electronic keyboard.

Dong-hoon was rather ashamed of himself at Jun-hoo’s actions.

It seemed like he was taking the surgery too lightly.

“Yes. You’re right. Playing is not just done with the fingers.”

Dong-hoon nodded and continued.

“If we perform nerve stimulation on a patient who is playing the keyboard, we can preserve the comprehensive nerves related to playing.”

“…”

“Let’s play the piano piece and use the keyboard. But.”

“But if…”

“Disinfect the electronic keyboard thoroughly before bringing it into the operating room. I’ll leave that role to you.”

“Of course.”

Jun-hoo continued in a cheerful voice.

“Thank you for understanding that I said something presumptuous and arrogant, Professor.”

“You’re also polite, aren’t you? Actually, I feel like I want to bow to you because I’m so grateful.”

Dong-hoon laughed and continued.

“Thanks to you, Jun-hoo, the completeness of the surgery will be improved. After the surgery, I can brag to the head professor.”

“Thank you for seeing it favorably.”

“Okay. I’ll tell Chan-young about the changes in advance, so you don’t have to say it twice. You’ve worked hard, so go now.”

“Yes. Professor. Good work.”

Dong-hoon couldn’t take his eyes off Jun-hoo’s receding figure.

The more he watched Jun-hoo by his side, the more admiration he felt.

How could that be a first-year resident?

The attitude and posture towards patients.

The determination for a perfect surgery, etc.

To exaggerate a little, Jun-hoo seemed to have already reached the ranks of a completed renowned doctor.

No wonder Jae-hyun, who had declared that he would not take on any disciples, secretly made Jun-hoo his disciple.

It’s a pity.

It’s a pity.

If his appointment had been a little earlier, he could have made Jun-hoo his own.

He wanted to separate Jun-hoo from Jae-hyun right away, but Dong-hoon barely controlled his rampant greed.

That was not respectful to Jae-hyun.

He wondered if he could even keep this feeling if Jun-hoo became more active in the future.

“Professor Shin. You must have heavy shoulders because of the awake surgery.”

Turning his head towards the voice, Kwak Min-seok was already standing there.

Min-seok was an associate professor who specialized in adult and pediatric cerebrovascular diseases.

He was like the head professor’s left arm. If Dong-hoon was a rolling stone, Min-seok was like a fixed stone.

“Our head professor is a bit sensitive to results.”

“It’s not like I didn’t know, so I’ll just go with it.”

“Will that work out well? If you take the head professor’s nagging lightly, you’ll get into big trouble.”

“Why does it sound like you want me to get into big trouble?”

“Oh, come on. What do you think of me? I’m not such a mean person as to be happy about another professor’s misfortune.”

Min-seok chuckled.

But Dong-hoon couldn’t possibly not know his true intentions.

Min-seok wanted Dong-hoon’s downfall.

Only then could Min-seok be appointed as an associate professor next year, surpassing Dong-hoon.

The two were engaged in a tense war of nerves with barbed words.

This was no different from war, except they weren’t holding guns.

“But Professor Kwak, you’re also a bit late for your outpatient clinic time?”

“Me? The head professor said he had something to say separately, so I was called in for a moment.”

“Did you happen to share what you talked about?”

“Hahaha. That’s… Top secret, so I can’t tell you.”

Min-seok indirectly expressed his refusal in a joking tone.

You sly fox.

Just succeed in the awake surgery.

You won’t be able to smirk like you do now.