A Surgeon Who Uses Martial Arts [EN]: Chapter 197

Chapter 37: Reckless (2)

Like a fool, Hyejin stared blankly at the finely fragmented hematoma.

Having worked as a scrub nurse and PA for five years, it was a sight she had never seen before.

A hematoma that hadn’t been treated with thrombolytic agents [medications that dissolve blood clots].

Or broken down with an ultrasonic aspirator, spontaneously fragmenting like that was unheard of.

It was nothing short of a miracle.

Could it be that heaven had heard Junhoo’s wish to save the patient?

Hmm… but…

Looking closely, something was strange.

The cut surfaces were too artificial. How could the fragmented hematoma pieces all be the same size?

Hyejin focused on the shape and size of the fragmented hematoma.

Upon closer inspection, all eight hematoma fragments had the exact same shape and size.

It felt unsettling to dismiss it as mere coincidence.

“Doctor, doesn’t something seem off?”

“What is it?”

“The fragmented hematoma. Of course, it’s a good thing, but… it feels unnatural somehow.”

As Hyejin shared her opinion, Junhoo replied as if he had been waiting for it.

“I understand why you might be suspicious, but I think it’s best to see it as a series of abnormal events.”

“…”

“Who could fragment a hematoma without opening the skull? Unless they were a psychic.”

“Hyejin, aren’t you being too sensitive? Just take it easy.”

Seojun chimed in, supporting Junhoo’s statement.

At that point, Hyejin readily accepted reality.

Right.

It must be a lucky coincidence, a miracle on top of a miracle.

Fragmenting a hematoma without surgery was practically impossible.

“Seojun, lower the patient’s head again and stop the mannitol [a diuretic drug used to reduce swelling and pressure inside the brain] and hyperventilation therapy.”

“Why?”

“Because the intracranial pressure is normal, so we should stop the treatment to reduce it.”

“Isn’t it better to have lower intracranial pressure? Wouldn’t it be better to get it to 0 mmHg or below if possible?”

Seojun asked what Hyejin wanted to ask.

Junhoo shook his head.

“Too low intracranial pressure is also a problem. There’s a condition called intracranial hypotension [abnormally low pressure of the fluid surrounding the brain]. It can cause epidural rather than subdural hemorrhages.”

“…”

“If it goes wrong, the cerebellum could herniate through the foramen magnum [the opening in the base of the skull through which the spinal cord passes].”

“Too low intracranial pressure can be a problem. I thought it should always be as low as possible.”

“Everything is about balance.”

Junhoo’s explanation was clear.

He seemed to have a wealth of medical knowledge as well as surgical skills.

Who would think of Junhoo as a first-year resident?

Hyejin’s distrust of Junhoo was gradually turning into blind faith.

Even while operating on emergency patients.

Even while operating on patients beyond his level, Junhoo never lost his composure.

Using both hands like a ghost to quickly gather the broken bone fragments.

Giving precise orders to the staff while observing the surgery, and so on.

It was no coincidence that Hyejin suddenly saw the professor’s image in Junhoo.

At least when it came to subdural hematoma surgery, Junhoo was perfect.

“Shall we resume the surgery?”

“Yes, Doctor. Suction, please.”

With the suction Hyejin handed over, Junhoo began to aspirate the fragmented hematomas.

Sweeek!

Sweeek!

The hematomas couldn’t withstand the suction’s pressure.

Like dust being sucked into a vacuum cleaner.

The hematomas were helplessly drawn into the suction tip.

Watching the hematomas disappear one by one, Hyejin even felt a slight sense of pleasure.

It was like getting rid of a nuisance.

At the same time, she also thought about how delicate and fragile the human body was.

Because of a hematoma the size of a thumb.

A person’s brain could be damaged, leading to brain death or a vegetative state.

After the suction was finished, Hyejin handed over the Bovie [electrocautery device].

Junhoo began to cauterize the microvessels where bleeding had occurred.

Cheeee.

White smoke fluttered over the patient’s head. There was also a sweet smell, like burning dalgona candy [a Korean sugar candy made by melting sugar and adding baking soda].

Thirty minutes later, the SDH [subdural hematoma] surgery was successfully completed.

Usually, SDH surgery takes nearly three hours, but this surgery was shortened by an hour, finishing in just two hours.

Considering that there was a depressed skull fracture, it was a remarkable speed.

Because the surgeon was Junhoo.

After the surgery was completed.

The surgical site was restored to its original state.

Skull reconstruction was to be performed later, depending on the patient’s condition.

The ICP (intracranial pressure monitoring device) was maintained.

“Good work, senior.”

“Good work, Doctor.”

“Thank you all for trusting me until the end, even though I’m sure I was unreliable. You all worked hard.”

A warm greeting was exchanged among the staff.

Junhoo led the way out of the operating room.

Followed by Hyejin.

Behind Hyejin, Seojun followed, pushing the patient’s bed.

Watching Junhoo’s reliable back, Hyejin thought.

What if Junhoo hadn’t insisted on operating?

What if they had ended up transferring the patient?

Considering the size of the hematoma.

It wouldn’t have been surprising if the patient had become brain dead or a vegetable.

In other words, Junhoo’s recklessness had saved the patient.

“What did I tell you? I said the surgery would go well, right? You can worry about surgery in general, but not about Senior Junhoo.”

Seojun, who was following behind, said jokingly.

“I didn’t know he was such a skilled doctor. I don’t think I’ll be worried about Doctor Seo in the future either.”

Zzzzz.

Hyejin left operating room 4, chatting with Seojun, and entered the recovery room.

The feared curse of room 4 was absent.

The surgery was perfect.

“Oh, right. There’s something I wanted to tell you two.”

Junhoo, who had already taken off his surgical gown, mask, cap, and gloves, turned around.

Hyejin was once again surprised by Junhoo’s beauty (?), not his skill.

She was momentarily confused as to whether Junhoo was a doctor or an actor.

Sparkling eyes.

A sharp nose and a sleek jawline.

Thick eyebrows and lips with a soft smile.

As she stared at Junhoo, her cheeks felt strangely hot.

“Wh-what is it you wanted to say? The surgery went well.”

“It’s nothing big. Let’s change out of our surgical attire and talk comfortably. It’ll only take a moment.”

Junhoo smiled brightly.

* * *

Operating room 7.

Having finished the scheduled lumbar laminectomy [a surgical procedure that removes a portion of the vertebral bone called the lamina], Hee-joon, a third-year resident, hurriedly left the operating room.

Zzzzz.

Hee-joon nervously threw off his surgical attire and tossed it into the medical waste bag.

There was something that had been grating on Hee-joon’s nerves throughout the surgery.

It was the subdural hematoma surgery that Junhoo had been assigned to.

That Min-kyung is a problem too.

What’s she doing, just saying yes to Junhoo because he wants to do it?

Who’s going to clean up the mess?

At the time he received Min-kyung’s call.

Hee-joon was already in the middle of performing the lumbar laminectomy. He was cutting into the patient’s lower back skin.

If he hadn’t been in surgery.

Hee-joon would have stopped Junhoo from operating, even if he had to hit him.

It wasn’t that he didn’t understand the desperation to save the patient with his own hands.

But that didn’t mean he should overstep his bounds.

If a first-year resident operated and something went wrong, a bomb would explode in the department.

Hospital internal disciplinary action was certain.

To make matters worse, if the incident leaked to the media, no one would be able to handle it.

In other words, Junhoo’s actions were overly reckless and dangerous.

“Haa… Damn it. Are we already screwed?”

Hee-joon scanned the operating room and finally spat out an expletive.

The light on the top of the entrance to operating room 4 was not lit.

It meant the surgery was over.

The fact that the surgery, which should have been in full swing, was over could be interpreted in two ways.

The patient had died on the table.

Or they were in an untreatable condition and had been moved to the intensive care unit.

“Doctor, how did the surgery in room 4 go?”

Hee-joon asked a nurse working in the operating room.

“I was away for a moment. I’m not sure.”

“I see.”

Imagining all sorts of ominous scenarios, Hee-joon left the operating room for now.

He was about to call Junhoo.

When he saw Junhoo in the distance.

He was talking to people who appeared to be guardians [family members].

Hee-joon reluctantly headed to the scene.

How should he scold Junhoo and what excuses should he make to the guardians?

The thought alone made his temples throb.

“This is the doctor who operated on the patient.”

Junhoo, who recognized Hee-joon, introduced him to the guardians.

In that moment, Hee-joon’s head nearly exploded.

Seo Junhoo, you bastard.

He didn’t think he was like this, but he failed the surgery and is using me as a shield?

But Hee-joon was simply bewildered by the guardians’ next words.

“Thank you for your hard work, Doctor. I heard that Hajin’s surgery was successfully completed thanks to you.”

“I ignored you because you were a resident, but I think I was short-sighted. I apologize.”

The female guardian and the male guardian took turns thanking Hee-joon.

“Ah. Yes.”

After answering without knowing what was going on, Hee-joon stared at Junhoo. Junhoo’s eyes and attitude were full of composure.

Judging by the atmosphere, it seemed the SDH surgery had been successful.

Crazy!

A first-year resident successfully performed SDH surgery?

Even though he started the surgery later than him, he finished it faster?

A sense of relief, emptiness, and admiration swirled around, making it difficult for Hee-joon to come to his senses.

It was hard to feel real.

“Are you going to the lounge?”

“Uh… uh? I should.”

“Then we’ll be on our way. We’ll do our best to help the patient recover and report frequently.”

After reassuring the guardians, Junhoo started walking first.

Hee-joon belatedly followed Junhoo.

“What the hell happened? Did the surgery really go well? You’re not fooling the guardians, are you?”

Hee-joon asked with a bit of remaining worry.

“Senior, that’s too harsh. Fooling the guardians? Then I’d be a con artist, not a doctor.”

“Then you really succeeded in the SDH surgery?”

“Yes.”

Junhoo’s explanation followed.

As he listened to the surgery process from beginning to end, Hee-joon could only groan inwardly.

The surgery was much more difficult than Hee-joon had expected.

The patient had a depressed fracture.

Min-kyung must have downplayed the patient’s condition so that Junhoo could operate.

“Seo Junhoo.”

“Yes, Senior.”

“I’ll let it go this once because it’s the first time, but don’t ever do this again.”

“…”

“It’s only a moment before your career is ruined… The hospital world is narrow enough as it is… If your reputation spreads, no hospital will accept you.”

“…”

“And do you think the head would have left you alone? I feel like my lifespan would have been shortened by years if I imagined the surgery failing.”

After finishing his affectionate nagging, Hee-joon looked at Junhoo.

For some reason, Junhoo didn’t seem convinced.

“Senior, let me ask you something.”

“What?”

“You kept assuming what would happen if I failed the surgery.”

“I did.”

“But why didn’t you consider what would happen if we transferred the patient?”

“…”

“Have you thought about what would have happened to the patient by now if we had transferred them?”

“Th-that’s…”.

Hee-joon couldn’t answer easily.

Junhoo’s question had caught Hee-joon off guard.

If Junhoo hadn’t operated.

If they had transferred the patient.

The patient would probably be brain dead or in a vegetative state by now.

And that, too, was a tragedy.

The guardians he had just met would have had to live with the sorrow of losing their child for the rest of their lives.

“I’m not interested in self-preservation. I’ll act the same way if the same situation comes up. Even if everyone around me foams at the mouth and opposes it.”

Hee-joon realized at Junhoo’s confident answer.

That he had been seriously misunderstanding Junhoo until now.

That Junhoo wasn’t just a surgeon with a wealth of medical knowledge and good manual dexterity.

That even his sincerity towards patients was on another level.