A Surgeon Who Uses Martial Arts [EN]: Chapter 391

Chapter 76. Sprint (1)

Following Austin’s instructions, the staff scrubbed in and donned surgical attire.

They put on surgical gowns, masks, and gloves in that order.

“Why do we have to go this far?

We’re not actually performing the surgery, are we?”

They didn’t voice it, but they all looked at Austin with that question in their eyes.

Jun-ho felt the same as the other staff members. Austin’s instructions felt excessive.

The prepared staff entered operating room number 3.

Fshhhhh!

A white air shower poured down from the ceiling.

Only after completing the full-body disinfection did the group begin to move toward the operating table.

“Ah….”

Jun-ho couldn’t help but marvel as he looked down at the operating table.

On the operating table was a 3D-printed model of the twins.

The model was made of a rubber-like material similar to the dolls used for CPR training.

Although the lower neck wasn’t included, giving it a somewhat grotesque appearance, the size and shape of the head looked exactly like the real twins.

It probably *was* exactly the same.

Because it would have been made based on CT [Computed Tomography] and MRI [Magnetic Resonance Imaging] scans.

-Jun-ho, your answer is the most plausible. VR [Virtual Reality] is definitely a method worth considering. However, if the goal is practice that is as close to the real thing as possible, there is a better way.

Jun-ho felt like he finally understood Austin’s hidden intentions.

Practicing surgery with VR made it difficult to feel the sensation of touch.

Even if you made a mistake during surgery, the impact of the mistake might be weak.

However, using a model could compensate for the shortcomings of VR practice.

“Professor, when did you start preparing the model?”

Jun-ho asked Austin, who was standing across from him.

Raymond and Hector also stared at Austin, as if curious.

“I requested it as soon as the guardian came for an outpatient appointment. Thanks to that, I barely made it in time.”

“Amazing. If the request had been delayed, we might not have received the model at all.”

“When you’re desperate, you tend to hurry.”

Austin smiled, his eyes crinkling into crescents.

“Do you usually make models with a 3D printer to practice surgery?”

“No. I’ve only heard about it, but this is my first time using a model. It’s also my first time operating on conjoined twins with fused skulls.”

Despite everything being new, Austin’s response and preparation were calm and meticulous.

Perhaps that’s why.

Jun-ho couldn’t help but respect Austin.

*If he were to operate on a patient with a rare disease in the future…*

He also thought about making a model of the patient with a 3D printer to practice.

He was glad he came to Mayue Clinic.

He was glad he met Austin.

“I’ll let you know the practice schedule. Everyone here will gather in operating room number 3 every day until 7 PM from now on.”

“…….”

“Model practice will be conducted until 11 PM, and we’ll have a simple feedback session for 1 hour.”

“…….”

“On weekends, we’ll be in the operating room all day. Anyone have any complaints?”

No one answered Austin’s question.

Who could raise an objection when the old professor was showing this much passion and dedication to the surgery?

“Professor, I have a question.”

Jun-ho said.

“Tell me.”

“It seems like we’ll run out of models compared to the practice time. Shouldn’t we order more?”

“I knew you’d say that, so I ordered several from the beginning. I think there are about 10 left.”

“Wow…….10 of them…….”

Jun-ho shook his head as if he had been outsmarted.

“How about it? Now it seems like we’ll run out of practice time rather than models, right?”

Austin continued with a playful voice.

“Everyone, trust me and follow me. After destroying about 10 models, you won’t be able to fail the surgery even if you want to.”

Austin’s confidence and charisma captivated the staff.

At least for this moment.

No one doubted the success of the separation surgery.

* * *

That midnight.

Raymond was heading to the dormitory with Jun-ho, leaving the main building of Mayue Clinic.

The sky was dark and the surroundings were quiet. The night breeze felt chilly on their faces.

The sound of insects chirping from the garden was charming.

“How was practice for you today?”

Raymond asked gruffly.

“It was difficult, but it was fun.”

“Fun? I don’t think that’s the word for the current situation?”

“It’s fun to be able to do surgery with Professor Austin, it’s amazing to do surgery with a model, and there’s no need to feel burdened because it’s not the real thing.”

“…….”

“If you want to feel the fun, this is the only time you’ll have it, right?”

“Never mind…… You’re such a weirdo.”

Raymond clicked his tongue because Jun-ho’s answer was absurd.

Honestly, Raymond was having a terrible time.

It was his first time participating in Austin’s surgery, and Austin was unbelievably picky.

*Why is the suction so slow?*

*Don’t block the first assistant’s surgical view with surgical tools.*

*Don’t just think about using a Bovie [electrocautery device] for hemostasis, but also actively use gauze.*

*Don’t space out and concentrate on the surgery.*

*Are you a child? Do I have to teach you every single procedure?*

*Can’t you do it on your own?*, etc.

Austin was truly a nagging king. His ears were about to bleed from the nagging.

Unfortunately, the hardship wasn’t just Austin….

The surgery itself was also unbelievably difficult and unfamiliar.

Even the craniotomy [surgical removal of part of the skull], which he did as routinely as eating, was completely different in scope and area than usual.

He got a lot of scolding.

Perhaps because he was so flustered that he didn’t even remember what procedures he had done.

Unlike when he accepted Jun-ho’s proposal, Raymond’s confidence plummeted vertically.

“The professor doesn’t say anything to you, does he?”

“Maybe he didn’t have anything to point out.”

“What’s so different about you and me?”

Raymond asked because he was genuinely curious.

Honestly, Raymond thought Jun-ho would be completely destroyed during practice.

*How dare a trainee push aside the professor and take first place?*

It was only a matter of time before his skills were exposed.

But what?

Jun-ho skillfully handled the first assist.

So much so that Hector’s absence was not felt even by a fingernail.

“Do you want to know that?”

“Yes. I want to know.”

“There’s something I have that you don’t.”

“Ah, damn it. You’re making me annoyed. Tell me quickly. Don’t make me anxious.”

“It’s this difference. This.”

Jun-ho’s index finger pointed to his temple, and Raymond frowned.

“Are you saying I’m stupid? Even though I’m…….”

“I’m not talking about IQ. It’s a matter of mindset.”

“Mindset?”

“You’re too self-centered.”

“What’s wrong with that?”

“Thinking only about yourself might not be a problem when you’re operating. But when you’re assisting, it’s a different story.”

Jun-ho stared at Raymond with a serious look.

Raymond was unknowingly captivated by Jun-ho’s eyes and tone.

“An assistant needs to think about how they can make the surgeon or other staff members comfortable.”

“…….”

“But if you’re only thinking about yourself, how can you assist properly?”

Jun-ho’s criticism was sharp like an awl. But it wasn’t like Raymond had nothing to say.

Raymond immediately retorted.

“Anyone who hears you would think I’ve never assisted before. I’ve assisted countless times during my residency training, you know?”

“That’s because the surgery was relatively easy at that time. In difficult surgeries like twin separation surgery, even a small mistake can snowball.”

“Tch.”

Instead of answering.

Raymond kicked a small stone rolling on the street far away.

He felt even worse because Jun-ho’s words seemed to be right.

Throughout the assist, Raymond was thinking about how he could stand out more than Jun-ho.

As a result, he naturally couldn’t concentrate on the surgery.

“Third assistant, if you want to give up, give up now. It’s not too late.”

Jun-ho said teasingly.

“If I were you, I’d quit. There’s no need to do a difficult surgery while getting scolded.”

“…….”

“Actually, there’s another assistant I’ve been watching.”

“Who is it?”

“Maxwell.”

“Max~ well?”

Raymond snorted at the mention of Maxwell’s name.

His skills have improved rapidly recently, but he’s not yet at the level to be compared to Raymond.

“You’re going to give my position to Maxwell? Are you trying to trample on my pride?”

“If you’re so good, prove it with your skills.”

“Just you wait. I’ll make sure you can’t even mention Maxwell’s name from tomorrow.”

Raymond gritted his teeth.

* * *

Bang!

Raymond entered the dormitory, rudely closing the door loudly.

*He’s such an easy guy to handle.*

Jun-ho smiled at Raymond’s door.

People with a strong competitive spirit like Raymond often show amazing results when their pride is touched.

He also gave advice in a roundabout way, so perhaps his assisting method will be 180 degrees different from today from tomorrow.

Jun-ho, who entered the dormitory, first opened the refrigerator to quench his thirst.

He recalled the first model practice process that lasted for 3 hours.

To put it bluntly…….

The surgery was by no means easy.

That was the case even though he practiced with a model instead of the real thing.

Perhaps even the great Austin was awkward with the surgery he was doing for the first time.

He often stopped the surgery for a while and seemed to be lost in thought.

He often modified the surgery plan he had made on the spot.

It wasn’t like Jun-ho didn’t make mistakes either.

After the scalp incision.

When securing the surgical view with a retractor [surgical instrument used to hold back tissue or organs].

Because he wanted to get too much view.

He caused a major disaster by pulling the retractor too hard and tearing off part of the model’s skin.

The teamwork between the staff was also chaotic and a mess.

He criticized Raymond like a bean, but Hector wasn’t doing that well either.

It was just that the assistant was passive.

It just seemed like there were no mistakes.

But Jun-ho believed.

On the day of the surgery, the completeness of the surgery would magically increase.

Everyone was doing such a difficult surgery for the first time, and it was also the first time the four of them had worked together.

You can’t do everything well from the beginning.

Accepting the lacking parts.

If you move forward, a path will surely be created.

It was the same with airplanes.

Airplanes are taken for granted now, but centuries ago, no one believed that people could fly in a metal lump.

“The success or failure of this surgery depends on me.”

Jun-ho muttered quietly.

Anyone who heard him would criticize him for being arrogant, but Jun-ho sincerely felt that way.

Because Jun-ho had a special ability that others didn’t have.

Jun-ho moved to the corner of the room and sat cross-legged.

Pat! Pat! Pat!

After pressing the acupoints on the occipital lobe [the rear part of the brain] where the optic nerve is located, he closed his eyes.

Perhaps thanks to stimulating the optic nerve.

It was easy to vividly draw the operating table, surgical tools, and model that he had practiced with today.

*I’m going to go one more time here!*

Jun-ho added flesh to the model he created in his imagination, created a real skull, and added blood vessels and nerves.

Then an amazing thing happened.

At least in Jun-ho’s head.

He was able to implement twins that were exactly the same as the real thing.

He was also able to operate on twins that were exactly the same as the real thing, not a model.

It was Jun-ho’s own training method that was possible because he tricked the brain with acupressure.

*I’ll be doing the real thing first.*

Jun-ho muttered inwardly and went into surgery.

9 days have passed since then.