A Surgeon Who Uses Martial Arts [EN]: Chapter 390

Chapter 75: Ready (5)

That evening.

Jun-hoo was sitting alone in the empty conference room.

He had arrived early, thirty minutes before the entire team for the conjoined twins separation surgery was scheduled to gather.

Though alone, he didn’t have time to be bored.

Jun-hoo was busy on the phone with someone.

“Okay. Thanks for understanding. See you tomorrow.”

Tucking his phone into his gown pocket, Jun-hoo sighed in relief.

The people he had been talking to were Oliver and Maxwell.

Both of them had hoped to be the third assistant for this separation surgery and were eagerly awaiting Jun-hoo’s decision.

However, Jun-hoo’s choice was Raymond.

He felt sorry for not picking his friends, but he couldn’t help it.

Surgery wasn’t something to be done based on personal feelings.

Oliver and Maxwell’s reactions to Jun-hoo’s news were polar opposites.

Oliver openly expressed his disappointment.

He had thought Jun-hoo would pick him.

He wanted to shine in front of his father again.

Didn’t Jun-hoo know his story?

He asked if Jun-hoo couldn’t change his decision now, and so on.

If Oliver was hot-headed, Maxwell was cold and calculating.

Even he thought Raymond’s skills were the best, excluding Jun-hoo.

He had made a good, rational decision.

Jun-hoo didn’t need to feel guilty for not picking him, and so on.

‘Now, only the biggest task remains.’

Jun-hoo muttered inwardly.

He had heard from Daniel that this surgery was already receiving a lot of media attention.

It had been featured on the BBC, as well as in various national and local newspapers.

Jun-hoo had also searched and found out.

This was a natural result.

This separation surgery was full of elements that would attract attention.

Conjoined twins attached at the crown of their heads were rare, and their parents were the CEOs of startup companies and famous lecturers.

The fact that only Mayhew had accepted the surgery, which other hospitals had rejected, was also an interesting story.

However, public interest was a double-edged sword.

If the surgery was successful, praise would pour in from across the American continent.

If it failed, there would be criticism, condemnation, and jeering.

A law might even be created to prevent reckless surgeries.

Remembering what was at stake in this surgery, even Jun-hoo felt burdened.

Dark emotions like anxiety, tension, nervousness, and fear shook Jun-hoo fiercely.

Jun-hoo closed his eyes briefly and took a deep breath.

He separated himself from the negative emotions.

Whether it was the president, a famous celebrity, an outstanding scholar, or the neighbor Chris, or an ordinary office worker….

The patient’s status was not something Jun-hoo needed to worry about.

The surgeon just needed to do his best and perform the surgery with sincerity for the patient who needed it.

Other parts were just side branches.

Regaining his composure, Jun-hoo opened his eyes. Jun-hoo’s gaze became as firm as a rock again.

The surgery will definitely succeed.

I will pour everything into it, leaving no regrets or energy unspent.

* * *

Attending physician Austin.

First assistant Jun-hoo.

Second assistant Hector.

Third assistant Raymond.

The faces of glory participating in the separation surgery finally gathered in one place.

Since they had been together for nine months, they knew each other well enough that introductions were unnecessary.

Austin was in charge of the conference.

He was meticulously informing the staff of the surgical methods he had planned.

He used the materials he had prepared and the patient’s CT and MRI images.

Only Austin’s voice echoed in the conference room.

The staff listened silently.

The staff’s expressions and attitudes were as serious and solemn as soldiers going to war.

As much as the public’s attention was focused, this surgery had a ‘show’ aspect.

Once the surgery is over.

Everyone will know the ending.

And everyone will talk about the ending.

Austin’s one-sided surgical briefing lasted nearly an hour.

But neither Austin nor the listening staff felt tired at all.

After the briefing, a barrage of questions poured out.

“How long do you expect the surgery to take?”

“Shouldn’t we consult with other departments?”

“Have you decided on a list of reserve staff? I know that separation surgeries usually have two teams of staff to rotate.”

“What problems could arise during the surgery?”

Austin answered the flood of questions calmly and without hesitation.

Even though this separation surgery was Austin’s first, he responded as if he had already done it many times.

This is what a true attending physician is.

Understanding everything from A to Z of the surgery and being a reliable support for the staff.

Jun-hoo newly realized the virtues needed for an attending physician.

“There is news that I couldn’t convey due to the comprehensive explanation.”

Austin scanned the staff and continued.

“Is it good news?”

“No. It’s bad news.”

Austin smiled bitterly at Hector’s question.

“Jun-hoo, can you tell us what happened today?”

“Yes, Professor.”

Jun-hoo stepped forward.

“This afternoon, the children cried for nearly 10 minutes. Their blood pressure was quite high, reaching 140/100 mmHg [millimeters of mercury, a unit of pressure].”

“…….”

“The Brain MRI results showed that the children’s skull and brain were expanding. Their intracranial pressure has increased, so we have administered diuretics and elevated their heads.”

At Jun-hoo’s notification, not only Hector but also Raymond’s face hardened.

They couldn’t help but be taken aback by the shocking news they were hearing for the first time….

Jun-hoo also resented the heavens after confirming the results.

“Then we can only expect the intracranial pressure to rise from now on.”

Hector muttered with his head bowed.

“That’s right. We’ll have to move up the surgery date.”

“How much earlier are you thinking of moving it up?”

“About five days?”

“Isn’t five days too fast? That means we only have ten days left. I doubt if we can practice enough within that time.”

Raymond said in an agitated voice.

He seemed to have noticed that the surgery was not going as planned.

“Raymond.”

“Yes, Professor.”

“You seem to be mistaken. Surgeons don’t adjust patients to their schedules. They have to adjust their schedules to the patient’s condition.”

“I know that, but… it’s already a difficult surgery, and if the training time is shortened….”

“I wish I could only operate under the conditions and environment I want. But such a dream doesn’t happen in reality.”

Austin said firmly.

Jun-hoo also agreed with Austin’s opinion.

Life always deviates from human expectations and predictions.

Therefore, how one solves a sudden crisis shows the true nature of that person.

“Professor. I have a question too.”

Jun-hoo raised his hand lightly.

“Yes. Go ahead.”

“How will the surgical practice proceed specifically? The most important explanation seems to be missing.”

At Jun-hoo’s question, Hector and Raymond nodded in agreement.

If there was a patient with a similar case.

There would be no problem with surgical practice.

But where can we find a case of conjoined twins attached at the crown of their heads now?

Even if we find one, can we practice?

We couldn’t use another patient’s life for experimental purposes.

“What would you do if you were you?”

Austin asked Jun-hoo in return.

Of course, Austin wasn’t asking because he didn’t know the answer.

Wasn’t the intention of the question to find out what level Jun-hoo’s thinking and problem-solving skills were?

While Jun-hoo frowned and pondered.

Raymond stepped forward first.

“I think I would do this.”

“Specifically, how?”

“First, I would find all the staff who have done surgery to separate conjoined twins’ heads. And I would hear from them what difficulties they had during the surgery.”

“…….”

“Finally, since the key to this surgery is brain revascularization, I think it would be good to focus on operating on pediatric moyamoya disease [a rare progressive cerebrovascular disorder] patients.”

Raymond smiled, as if he liked his answer.

“It’s a pretty good approach for something you came up with on the spot.”

“Thank you.”

“Hector, what do you think?”

“I think I need to think about it a little more.”

Hector smiled awkwardly.

Now everyone’s eyes were on Jun-hoo.

What answer would Jun-hoo give?

With everyone’s attention focused, Jun-hoo opened his mouth.

“If I were the attending physician.”

“If you were the attending physician?”

“I think it would be a good idea to practice with VR (virtual reality device).”

Jun-hoo was well-versed in the latest surgical trends. He had been like that before, and that tendency had become even more solidified since coming to Mayhew.

Isn’t medical technology evolving day by day?

Then surgeons also had to evolve or they would be left behind.

Recently, Jun-hoo had read a paper about separating the heads of conjoined twins by practicing surgery through VR.

“I heard that VR is much more sophisticated these days than before.”

“…….”

“It may be difficult to prepare the device urgently, but if we prepare the equipment, we can expect practice like the real thing.”

Jun-hoo’s answer was firm.

Raymond and Hector looked at Jun-hoo with admiring eyes.

But Austin was silent.

He stared at Jun-hoo and then opened his heavy mouth.

“Jun-hoo, your answer is the most plausible. VR is also a method worth considering.”

“…….”

“However, if the goal is practice like the real thing, there is a better way.”

“What way is it?”

“Let’s all move to the operating room. It will be faster to see it directly than to explain it.”

A meaningful smile appeared on Austin’s lips.

* * *

The separation surgery team staff was heading to the operating room.

Raymond and Hector walked ahead, followed by Jun-hoo and Austin.

‘What on earth is he thinking?’

Jun-hoo glanced at Austin, who was walking next to him.

Jun-hoo and Austin were of the same mind in that they ‘do their best for the patient.’

However, even though they had the same way of thinking, their actions were slightly different.

Austin liked to plot something behind the scenes.

“You showed a lot of good sides in many ways today.”

Austin put his hand on Jun-hoo’s shoulder and said.

“What points are you talking about….”

“First of all, I want to praise you for picking Raymond as the third assistant. Actually, I thought you would choose Oliver. Because Oliver is my son.”

“Oliver was very disappointed that I chose Raymond. But I couldn’t help it.”

“Why did you choose Raymond? You and Raymond don’t get along well, do you?”

“I didn’t want to involve personal feelings in the surgery.”

“That’s exactly what I wanted. Even if it’s an enemy, if you can save the patient, you need to shake hands.”

Jun-hoo knew Austin’s intention.

That’s why he could choose Raymond. If Jun-hoo didn’t know Austin’s intention, he would have chosen Maxwell as the assistant.

People usually expect surgeons to be cold-blooded.

On the contrary.

Surgeons were more passionate than internists [physicians specializing in internal medicine].

Many surgeries were ruined because of that heat, and Austin indirectly conveyed the teaching that it should not be done.

“Most of all, I was surprised by the Brain MRI.”

Austin continued calmly.

“When the twins cried, you accurately did only the Brain MRI to find the cause. I don’t think I could have done that.”

“What would you have done if you were in my position, Professor?”

“I would have done this test and that test for half a day. Even bringing in consultants. Because there were so many reasons for the child to cry.”

Through Austin’s answer, Jun-hoo realized again.

That inner strength is a scam.

Jun-hoo accurately diagnosed the children in just 2 minutes through ‘Inner Energy Full Body Angiography.’

This was an achievement that even Austin, an authority in pediatric neurosurgery, could not do.

“I’ll explain it in a bit, but your role is big in this surgery. It’s burdensome, but you’ll be able to do it well, right?”

“Yes. Professor.”

Jun-hoo’s answer was vigorous.

As they chatted, the operating room became closer.

It was time to wonder what event Austin had prepared.