A Surgeon Who Uses Martial Arts [EN]: Chapter 21

Martial Art Using Surgeon 21

Chapter 5: Medical Student (1)

“Ah-young, are you okay?”

Ah-young didn’t respond to Jun-hoo’s urgent question.

Her gaze was still fixed on the ground, and her breathing was as heavy as a marathon runner who had just finished a sprint.

With each breath, a white cloud of breath spread out like a cloud.

Jun-hoo was frustrated because she was conscious but unable to communicate.

‘I need to stay calm.’

Perhaps thanks to his experience in the Murim world [a world of martial arts and cultivation], Jun-hoo quickly regained his composure.

The advantage of experience, habits, and customs was right here.

Something honed over a long period was never forgotten or lost.

“Ah-young, are you okay?”

Jun-hoo asked once more, but Ah-young still didn’t respond.

Jun-hoo decided to exclude communication.

The biggest problem currently facing Ah-young seemed to be difficulty breathing.

Her breathing was too unstable and rough, and she couldn’t control it on her own.

Pneumonia.

Acute respiratory distress syndrome.

Anaphylaxis.

Asthma.

Pneumothorax.

Jun-hoo, who came up with a total of five rule-outs (suspected symptoms), quickly checked each one.

First, he placed his hand on Ah-young’s forehead.

Ah-young’s forehead was lukewarm.

There was no sign of a fever, let alone a slight fever.

Thanks to this, he was able to eliminate pneumonia first.

If she had pneumonia severe enough to cause this level of breathing difficulty, Ah-young should have had at least a slight fever.

Next, Jun-hoo suspected acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS).

However, there were more than 60 causes of acute respiratory distress syndrome, making it difficult to count them all.

So, he began to analyze by extracting only the causes and symptoms that fit Ah-young’s situation.

What if bacteria or infectious substances acutely entered Ah-young’s lungs?

What could be the cause?

The situation where vomit is blocking the lungs seems most plausible…

‘I don’t think it’s ARDS either.’

Jun-hoo shook his head and also ruled out acute respiratory distress syndrome.

It’s not like he’s super close to Ah-young or knows her really well, but…

Jun-hoo had never seen Ah-young eat anything in the morning.

He also seemed to have heard Ah-young say something like, ‘I get drowsy when my stomach is full’ at some point.

Would such an Ah-young consume food right before the college entrance exam?

That couldn’t be.

“Excuse me, how long has this student been like this?”

Jun-hoo first asked the person who was at the scene.

“I think it’s been about 5 minutes?”

“Ah, yes, thank you.”

After hearing the answer from the people around him, Jun-hoo removed acute respiratory distress syndrome from the list without hesitation.

Acute respiratory distress syndrome developing 5 minutes ago…

In that case, it would have been natural for Ah-young to already be losing consciousness.

The symptoms were weak for acute respiratory distress syndrome.

While examining her, Jun-hoo suddenly stared at his wristwatch.

It had been 7 minutes since Ah-young complained of difficulty breathing.

One minute had passed since Jun-hoo arrived at the scene.

So, in just one minute, Jun-hoo had diligently ruled out two suspected conditions with his medical knowledge.

It was truly an amazing diagnostic ability, but…

Now was not the time to be satisfied with his diagnosis.

It was urgent to return Ah-young’s condition to normal.

[The 5 minutes of a doctor and the 5 minutes of an emergency patient have different values and weights.]

It was a wonderful phrase he had read in a medical essay earlier this year.

Jun-hoo was feeling that phrase deeply while treating Ah-young.

Pneumonia.

Acute respiratory distress syndrome.

The next disease Jun-hoo suspected was anaphylaxis.

Anaphylaxis was a systemic allergic reaction that could cause difficulty breathing and cardiac arrest if severe.

Since the season was winter.

It didn’t seem likely that Ah-young had anaphylaxis due to pollen allergies or being stung by a bee.

He examined the area around Ah-young’s neck.

After rolling up the sleeves of her top, there was no sign of a rash.

Diagnosis and treatment in emergency situations were a race against time, so Jun-hoo quickly moved on to the next diagnosis.

He decided to fully utilize the medical knowledge he had accumulated so far for Ah-young.

* * *

‘It’s definitely not asthma.’

Jun-hoo eliminated asthma as quickly as grilling beans in a flash of lightning [a Korean idiom for doing something very quickly].

It was a bold judgment that he could make because he was an acquaintance of Ah-young.

Ah-young was not an asthma patient.

Of course, he had never asked her outright, but he could 충분히 예상 가능했다 [sufficiently predict] enough just by observing.

Ah-young was enthusiastic during physical education class.

She handled breathless exercise without difficulty.

She also didn’t carry an asthma inhaler, which asthma patients should have.

He had never even seen her use it.

Then the remaining disease was pneumothorax…

Pneumothorax was the disease that Jun-hoo wanted the least.

Was it because of that?

A dark cloud hung over Jun-hoo’s face as he boldly 진료를 하던 Jun-hoo’s face [examined her].

Pneumothorax was a disease in which air filled the pleural space and compressed the lungs.

It was a disease that competed for 초응급 [ultra-emergency] in thoracic surgery, and if not treated in time, the patient’s lungs would collapse and die.

There were two main causes of pneumothorax.

One was spontaneous pneumothorax.

It was a pneumothorax that mainly affected tall, thin men in their teens and twenties.

Ah-young was tall for a girl of her age.

She was about 172 centimeters tall.

The other was traumatic pneumothorax, in which rib fractures due to chest trauma caused pneumothorax.

If Ah-young had hit her chest hard somewhere.

It would not be strange if traumatic pneumothorax had occurred.

So, all the circumstances were pointing to Ah-young having pneumothorax.

‘I hoped it wasn’t pneumothorax.’

Jun-hoo bit his lip without realizing it.

If it was pneumothorax, Ah-young had to go to a large hospital emergency room right away.

She had to undergo thoracentesis to puncture the inflated chest cavity.

A hole had to be made to remove the air pressing down on the lungs.

She would not be able to take the college entrance exam, of course.

“What’s going on?”

The supervisor, who belatedly heard the news about Ah-young, arrived at the scene.

“This student suddenly collapsed. She hasn’t been able to breathe properly for a while.”

“Did you report it to 119 [Korean emergency services number]?”

“Yes. I did.”

The people around Ah-young reported to the supervisor.

Meanwhile, Jun-hoo was contemplating emergency treatment.

Assuming that Ah-young had pneumothorax.

It had been 10 minutes since Ah-young had pneumothorax.

Even if 119 arrived, they couldn’t perform thoracentesis, so it would take at least 30 more minutes to go to the transfer and receive thoracentesis.

Could Ah-young really last another 30 minutes?

Jun-hoo came to the conclusion that it was not possible.

Then should he perform thoracentesis using a pen, as shown in medical dramas?

Thoracentesis using a pen.

This was a common 소재 [subject matter] in dramas, but it was said to be a treatment method created through the advice of thoracic surgeons.

It was also a treatment method that Jun-hoo, who was 빠삭한 [well-versed] in anatomy, could 소화 [understand and execute].

However, there were two reasons why Jun-hoo couldn’t easily step forward.

One was that Jun-hoo was not yet a doctor.

Only licensed doctors could perform thoracentesis.

The second was that even if he performed 천자 [puncture] with a pen, Ah-young would not be able to take the college entrance exam after all.

“Haa… haa… haa….”

While Jun-hoo was unable to make a decision.

Ah-young was still complaining of difficulty breathing.

She was still unable to speak because she was breathing heavily.

“Stop 구경 [looking around] and go back to your seats!”

The supervisor began to control the students who were 몰려드는 [crowding around].

The situation was getting worse and worse. It seemed that only the 119 대원 [emergency responders] could solve this situation.

‘Wait a minute. Maybe it’s not pneumothorax.’

A line of insight 관통 Jun-hoo’s head as he 갈등 [struggled; pierced through].

It was clear that pneumothorax was the disease that could best explain Ah-young’s condition.

But should he necessarily conclude that it was pneumothorax?

Just because A, B, and C are not the answer, does that necessarily mean that D is the answer?

Ah-young did not show 청색증 [cyanosis – bluish discoloration of the skin due to lack of oxygen].

If oxygen was not being properly supplied through breathing, her face should have turned blue.

Ah-young’s face was only 창백 [pale].

창백 [pale] and 퍼런 [blueish] were clearly different.

The 청색증 환자 [cyanosis patients] that Jun-hoo had seen through medical books had purple skin.

잘하면 [if things go well] Ah-young can be saved.

수능도 치게 만들 수 있어 [I can make her take the college entrance exam too].

A light of hope began to pour into Jun-hoo’s 어두운 가슴 [dark heart; troubled mind].

“Student, what are you doing? Don’t touch the patient.”

Despite the supervisor’s 만류 [dissuasion], Jun-hoo forcibly stood Ah-young up.

There was something to 확인 [confirm].

“Ah-young, 정신 똑바로 차리고 [focus and] listen to me.”

“……”

“You want to take the 수능 [college entrance exam]. You have to take the 수능 [college entrance exam]. You can hear me, can’t you?”

When Jun-hoo spoke in a loud voice, Ah-young 힘겹게 [with difficulty] nodded.

“I know it’s 괴로운 [painful], but do as I say. From now on, when I say one, two, three, you’re going to jump in place.”

“……”

“It’s 힘들겠지만 [it will be difficult but] let’s do it together. Okay? One, two, three!”

At Jun-hoo’s signal, Ah-young 폴짝 [lightly] jumped in place.

“Shouldn’t someone stop that friend?”

“미친 새끼 [crazy bastard], he’s making the patient jump.”

When the 점프 소동 [jumping commotion] ended, the people around him looked at Jun-hoo with an expression of what kind of human being is that.

But Jun-hoo didn’t 개의치 않았다 [care; mind].

They just didn’t know how important this 우스운 동작 [funny action] was.

“Ah-young. How was your chest when you 뛰 [jumped]? Did you feel anything 이상한 [strange]?”

Ah-young shook her head at Jun-hoo’s question.

Thanks to this, Jun-hoo was 확신 [convinced] that Ah-young did not have 기흉 [pneumothorax].

If a 기흉 환자 [pneumothorax patient] jumped in place and 착지 [landed].

The air 고인 [collected] in the 흉막 [pleural membrane] also 이동한다 [moves].

The pressure 발생한 [generated] by this causes the patient to 기침 크게 [cough greatly], or 생생하게 the 이동 of air [vividly feel the movement of air].

But Ah-young did not 기침 [cough], nor did she 느끼다 the 이동 of air [feel the movement of air].

In other words, Ah-young was not 앓고 [suffering from] the 기흉 [pneumothorax] that Jun-hoo was most 우려했던 [worried about].

Pneumonia.

Acute respiratory distress syndrome.

Anaphylaxis.

Asthma.

Pneumothorax.

All five diseases were 제거 [eliminated], but Jun-hoo was 오히려 기뻤다 [rather pleased].

He could 꿰뚫어 볼 수 있었으니까 what disease was 괴롭히고 Ah-young [see through what disease was afflicting Ah-young].

Ah-young will 금방 정상으로 돌아올 것이며 수능도 무사히 치르게 될 것이다 [soon return to normal and take the college entrance exam safely].

Jun-hoo 반드시 그렇게 만들 계획이었다 [definitely planned to make it so].

“저기요, student. 환자 괴롭히지 말고 빨리 나와요 [hey student, stop bothering the patient and come out quickly]. 도무지 못 봐주겠네 [I can’t stand to watch this].”

The supervisor 다가와 Jun-hoo and 풍겼다 an 분위기를 to 사용할 완력 [approached Jun-hoo and gave off an atmosphere of using force].

Of course, Jun-hoo was not 손톱만큼도 겁을 먹지 않았지만 [even a little bit scared].

“안 그래도 그럴 생각이었습니다 [I was going to do that anyway]. Ah-young, 잘 참았어 [you endured well]. 이제 괜찮아질 거야 [you’ll be okay now]. 안심해 [rest assured].”

Jun-hoo 다독이고 Ah-young and 돌아갔다 to the 교실 [patted Ah-young and returned to the classroom].

책가방에서 간식을 담고 있던 비닐봉투를 챙겨 현장으로 돌아갔다 [He took the plastic bag containing snacks from his schoolbag and returned to the scene].

“환자한테 가지 마 [don’t go to the patient]. 친구인 것 같기는 한데 [I think you’re her friend]… 장난이 너무 심하잖아 [your joke is too much].”

“이 봐요 [hey]. 적당히 합시다 [let’s be moderate]. 적당히 [moderate].”

별안간 건장한 남학생 두 명이 준후의 앞을 막아섰다 [Suddenly, two burly male students blocked Jun-hoo’s path].

준후가 방금 했던 행동이 괴이했으므로 그들이 준후를 막는 것도 어쩌면 당연해 보였다 [Since Jun-hoo’s actions were strange, it seemed natural for them to stop him].

So Jun-hoo did not 미워하다 the students [hate the students].

대신 내공을 몸 바깥으로 배출하여 두 사람에게 압박감을 심어주었다 [Instead, he emitted internal energy from his body, giving the two people a sense of pressure].

두 사람은 어어 하다가 준후에게 길을 터주고 말았다 [The two people hesitated and ended up giving Jun-hoo way].

일반인이 실체화된 내공을 견디기란 하늘의 별 따기였으니까 [It was like picking stars from the sky for ordinary people to withstand materialized internal energy].

“아니, student is 제발 좀 빠지라니까 [no, student, please get out of the way]!”

“그렇게는 안 되겠는데요 [I don’t think I can do that]?”

“으으……”

The 감독관마저 내공으로 찍어 누른 Jun-hoo 다가갔다 to Ah-young [Jun-hoo, who even suppressed the supervisor with internal energy, approached Ah-young].

Ah-young was 다시 복도에 주저앉은 채 고통스럽게 호흡을 하고 있었다 [again sitting down in the hallway, breathing painfully].

But Ah-young’s 괴로움 will 곧 사라지리라 [suffering will soon disappear].

“여기에 입 대고 천천히 심호흡해 봐 [put your mouth here and take a slow, deep breath]. 금방 괜찮아질 거야 [you’ll be okay soon].”

준후가 아영에게 내민 것은 비닐봉투였다 [What Jun-hoo held out to Ah-young was a plastic bag].