A Surgeon Who Uses Martial Arts [EN]: Chapter 238

Chapter 45: Miracle in Room 4 (3)

The surgery progressed smoothly.

The scalp incision and skull opening followed in quick succession.

The skull opening was the most unique aspect of the procedure.

Once again, Jun-hoo was in charge of the craniotomy [surgical removal of part of the skull].

Jun-hoo had fully demonstrated his craniotomy skills during the cerebral aneurysm surgery [surgical repair of a weakened blood vessel in the brain].

He achieved an astonishing feat, maintaining accuracy while reducing the time by about threefold.

That’s why Min-seok trusted Jun-hoo and assigned him the craniotomy.

Craniotomy was, literally, a surgery that required a lot of strength.

It was necessary to conserve physical strength and concentration as much as possible for the high-level cerebral bypass surgery.

Jun-hoo began to drill holes in the skull with the diamond drill in his hand.

Today, he diligently used both hands.

It was a scene that never failed to impress.

Despite using both hands, Jun-hoo’s hands and arms were as steady as a machine.

Weeeeee. Weeeeee.

The drill rotated, and holes were drilled into the skull.

Bone fragments, finely ground like shaved ice, came out of the drilled holes and began to accumulate.

As the full-scale surgery began.

The operating room was filled with the pungent smell of blood.
The sweet smell of burning tissue permeated the air.

Beeeep. Beeeep.

The patient monitoring device wailed like a demanding child.

The cool air of the operating room wrapped around the skin.

It wasn’t an easy surgery.

And because members of the association had come to observe, the staff couldn’t let their guard down for even a moment.

Meanwhile, at that moment, in the observation operating room.

“Oh ho? It seems Professor Kwak has been sharpening his knives too?”

A member of the Korean Cerebrovascular Association.

An associate professor of neurosurgery at Jewon University Hospital, one of the Big 5 hospitals [the top 5 hospitals in South Korea], started the conversation.

The associate professor’s name was Jang Seo-won.

“What do you mean by that?”

The head professor asked.

“He’s using two fellows for the surgery, isn’t he? Usually, they don’t use this many staff members excessively.”

“You’re talking about Jun-hoo, the second assistant. That friend is a first-year resident, but…….”

“Really? Is that true? That friend is a first-year?”

Seo-won asked with a shocked expression.

Craniotomy was usually learned by second-year residents.

Even then, it was usually around the second half of their training.

But a resident named Jun-hoo was already performing craniotomies skillfully.

So much so that Seo-won mistook him for a fellow.

Jun-hoo’s potential and growth were astonishing.

“I’ve been keeping an eye on him. He’s such a talented friend.”

The head professor smiled slyly.

Even though Seo-won praised Jun-hoo, he felt proud himself.

Having a talented subordinate was indirect proof that he was also talented.

“Paying attention to Jun-hoo could also be one of the interesting points of this surgery. By the way…….”

“…….”

“How is Director Park Jae-hyun doing these days?”

The head professor changed the subject.

“Director Park is… well, he’s busy seeing patients and doing research. These days, he’s saying he’s going to try to treat brain-dead and vegetative patients. It’s a waste of time.”

“Tsk, tsk, tsk. To waste that genius skill on useless things.”

“That’s what I’m saying. I guess it’s because he’s still young.”

“Actually, the director’s position is better suited for someone with experience like Professor Jang.”

As the head professor praised Seo-won, Seo-won laughed heartily.

The flattery worked perfectly.

If the surgery is successful, I can put today’s surgery on the cover of the association journal.

Hehehe.

The head professor crossed his arms and stared at the observation monitor.

The stage was set sufficiently.

It was up to the staff to take the winnings.

Why is this happening so much today?

Why are so many people looking for me?

Suppressing the itch in his ear.

Jun-hoo lifted the incised skull with a hook.

The dura mater [the outermost of the three layers of membrane that surround the brain and spinal cord], white and opaque like a layer of milk fat, was revealed.

“Good job, Jun-hoo. Your craniotomy is clean today too.”

“You’re too kind. I’ll go back to my position.”

After receiving Min-seok’s praise, Jun-hoo returned from the first assistant position to the second assistant position and helped Fellow Cheol-woo in every way.

About 20 minutes passed.

Jae-eun’s brain was revealed.

Jun-hoo brought his eyes close to the microscope and carefully examined the brain.

Ah…….

A groan automatically escaped his lips.

The cerebral blood vessels confirmed by MRI and the cerebral blood vessels directly confirmed with his own eyes were different.

The shock was amplified several times.

Jae-eun’s cerebral blood vessels were spreading out in all directions like cigarette smoke.

The problem was that the cerebral blood vessels were very narrow and thin.

Because the blood vessels were narrow, blood couldn’t flow, and because blood couldn’t flow, she had no choice but to experience fainting or passing out…….

In that sense, the surgery was just beginning.

Like CABG (coronary artery bypass graft) [a surgical procedure to improve blood flow to the heart] in thoracic surgery, connecting thick cerebral blood vessels to narrowed cerebral blood vessels.

That was the highlight of this surgery, direct vascular anastomosis [surgical connection between two blood vessels].

If the newly connected blood vessels deliver blood flow to the narrow blood vessels.

The narrowed blood vessels could have enough blood flow and at the same time, the blood vessels could be sufficiently expanded.

But it’s easier said than done.

It was obvious that the process would be difficult.

Cerebral blood vessels.

Even pediatric cerebral blood vessels were not as large and thick as heart blood vessels.

If they were careless even for a moment, the blood vessels would rupture, which could leave Jae-eun with permanent disabilities or, in the worst case, take her life.

‘Ha…… it’s really annoying.’

Jun-hoo suddenly frowned and took his eyes off the microscope.

His vision was blurry again.

“Professor, I have something to tell you.”

“Okay. Tell me.”

“There seems to be a minor malfunction in the microscope. My vision has been blurred as if heat haze has been rising since a while ago.”

“So it wasn’t just me. I thought my eyes were tired. Cheol-woo, how about you?”

“My vision was also blurred. I think it’s happened about three times so far.”

“Hmm…….”

Min-seok’s gaze stayed on the microscope.

“It’s difficult. It’s been okay so far, but if the vision blurs when anastomosing cerebral blood vessels, it can be fatal.”

“Should I call a biomedical engineer?”

“That would be the cleanest solution, but it’ll take at least two hours to get here, right? What about the surgery in the meantime?”

“How about moving the operating room?”

Cheol-woo came up with a new, ambitious proposal.

“There are no operating rooms with microscopes available for the next three hours. I checked in advance.”

“Ugh.”

Cheol-woo groaned at Jun-hoo’s sharp answer.

A difficult situation where they couldn’t do this or that.

In a frustrating situation, Jun-hoo stepped forward.

“Director. May I manually adjust the magnification?”

“Manually?”

“Yes.”

Jun-hoo pointed to the dial on the body of the microscope with his index finger.

The dial was circular.

It looked like a microwave timer, and turning it would return to the most recent magnification.

“It seems like you’ll be overwhelmed just being an assistant, can you handle it?”

“Of course. And I’m the only one who can handle this.”

“Why?”

“Professor and Teacher Cheol-woo need to focus only on the vascular anastomosis. They don’t have time to pay attention to the dial.”

“…….”

“Also, the scrub nurse is not familiar with the microscope.”

“…….”

“The only one left is naturally me.”

“Hoo. It seems like there’s no other way. It may sound harsh, but you must never make a mistake. If the surgical view changes during vascular anastomosis, even I won’t be able to handle it.”

“Of course.”

Jun-hoo replied with a confident voice.

He immediately unfolded the Manhwa Gong [a unique martial art of the Seo Clan].

Manhwa Gong.

The unique martial art of the Seo Clan that doubles the senses of the whole body.

Woooooong.

Woooooong.

The internal energy that had been staying in the dantian [an energy center in the body, according to traditional Chinese medicine] was released to the whole body.

A transparent barrier made of internal energy surrounded Jun-hoo.

Sight, hearing, touch, taste, smell.

Different senses began to be felt simultaneously and clearly.

That wasn’t the end.

As if his consciousness was divided into four.

The tasks he had to do were clearly established.

Amplification of senses.

Division of consciousness (multi-tasking).

Jun-hoo, who had unfolded the Manhwa Gong, became a terrifying being who couldn’t make mistakes even if he wanted to.

* * *

The curtain rose on direct vascular anastomosis.

Jun-hoo brought his eyes close to the microscope.

He held a Debakey forceps No. 3 in his right hand and placed his left hand near the microscope dial.

Seeing this, Cheol-woo frowned.

“Seo Jun-hoo. You’re using Debakey No. 3 forceps? Are you out of your mind?”

“Yes. It’s the best forceps to use in the current situation.”

“Don’t be ridiculous and use Edison forceps. It’s not for your level.”

Cheol-woo said sarcastically.

Debakey forceps were forceps used to grasp microvessels.

It allowed for delicate manipulation, but in other words, it was also a difficult forceps to handle.

The problem was that Jun-hoo not only chose Debakey forceps but also chose No. 3.

No. 3 Debakey forceps.

It had a long body like chopsticks for frying.

The shorter the body of the forceps.

The closer the surgical view and the hand.

There was a disadvantage that it blocked the surgical view.

To compensate for this, No. 3 Debakey forceps appeared.

However, No. 3 Debakey forceps were difficult to use.

It was the same principle as it being difficult to pick up side dishes with long chopsticks.

To put it in perspective.

Right now, Jun-hoo was putting a lot of capsaicin in ‘Die Spicy Cutlet’ [likely a reference to an extremely spicy dish].

Like adding spiciness to spiciness.

He was trying to use difficult surgical tools in a more difficult way.

So, from Cheol-woo’s point of view, Jun-hoo was frustrating and absurd.

Did this bastard crawl up to my head because I was being nice to him?

There has to be a limit to being presumptuous.

……That’s what he must have been thinking.

“Let Jun-hoo do what he wants to do.”

“But Professor. Isn’t this crossing the line?”

“It’s not too late to point it out when he makes a mistake. He might be surprisingly good at it, right?”

“……I understand.”

“Mosquito (vascular clamp) [a small hemostat used to clamp blood vessels].”

Click!

Min-seok ligated [tied off] the lower part of the superficial temporal artery with a vascular clamp received from the scrub nurse.

From now on, it’s a race against time!

If the cerebral blood vessels are tied for a long time.

Ischemic symptoms [symptoms caused by a lack of blood flow] could occur as blood flow is blocked.

Cheol-woo helped Min-seok remove the superficial temporal artery.

The surgery to connect the removed superficial temporal artery to the middle cerebral artery where moyamoya disease [a rare, progressive cerebrovascular disorder] occurred was the highlight of this surgery.

Ha…… This bastard, is he kidding me?

He’s so good at using No. 3 Debakey forceps?

While helping Min-seok remove the superficial temporal artery.

Cheol-woo couldn’t help but be amazed.

Jun-hoo was holding the artery so well with the difficult No. 3 Debakey forceps.

Jun-hoo’s arm didn’t tremble.

Of course, the forceps didn’t tremble either.

It was a sight that was hard to believe even when seeing it with his own eyes.

Thanks to Jun-hoo, the blood vessels were like a calm lake.

And that’s not all.

He sprinkled saline to prevent the blood vessels from drying out and rupturing.

He handed over the necessary surgical tools perfectly.

When there were signs that the microscope’s view was turning blurry, he immediately turned the dial.

Holding blood vessels with forceps.

Delivering surgical tools.

Managing the surgical site.

Microscope dial management.

In other words, Jun-hoo was doing things that were too much for one person to do alone.

Perhaps that’s why he felt like Jun-hoo had four arms.

Considering that he had performed a craniotomy that consumed a lot of mental and physical energy earlier, Jun-hoo’s performance was even more amazing.

Is he really a first-year resident?

At this point, isn’t he a resident from another world?

Cheol-woo was only amazed by Jun-hoo.