A Surgeon Who Uses Martial Arts [EN]: Chapter 392

Chapter 76. Sprint (2)

The operating room shared a certain resemblance with the night sea.

Instead of a round full moon, a shadowless surgical lamp hovered, casting a stark, bright light.

The surgical drape enveloping the patient’s body had a bluish tint.

Not the sound of waves, but a steady rhythm of beeps emanated from the patient monitoring device.

The separation surgery of the conjoined twins was reaching its climax.

After excising the skull and retracting the dura mater [the outermost of the three layers of membrane protecting the brain and spinal cord], the shared middle cerebral artery of the twins was severed.

The blood vessel snapped cleanly in half.

A pool of red blood formed within the brain.

Raymond, the third assistant, suctioned the pool of blood with the suction device.

Austin worked on Emma’s arterial blood vessels.

Jun-hoo worked on anastomosing (suturing the ends together) Sophia’s arterial blood vessels to different cerebral blood vessels.

Tension, as if walking on thin ice, enveloped the operating room.

The anastomosis was difficult to the point of nausea.

The children’s arteries were smooth and elastic, constantly slipping on the surgical instruments.

Raymond’s hand, holding Sophia’s blood vessel, also trembled faintly.

Jun-hoo maintained his composure.

He had already anticipated that the assistant might not be perfect.

Of course…….

He had also considered how to handle such situations.

Jun-hoo unleashed the Manhwa Skill [a skill that enhances senses and focus, inspired by comic books].

Maximizing his five senses.

A martial art that allowed him to feel as if his concentration was singular, even when divided into multiple parts.

If Raymond’s trembling hand was a wave.

Jun-hoo performing the anastomosis was a surfer.

He would entrust himself to the flow of the wave and do his part.

One stitch, one stitch.

By meticulously and persistently sewing the blood vessels, the anastomosis would be completed before he knew it.

Sophia would now have her own middle cerebral artery.

A blood flow test was conducted.

The blood flow circulated smoothly without any leaks.

Jun-hoo felt a sense of accomplishment and looked across at Austin, who had just finished the blood vessel anastomosis.

Austin’s eyes were smiling.

Austin had also successfully completed the arterial anastomosis.

-Vitals are normal, and intracranial pressure is also normal. I’ll increase the oxygen saturation slightly.

The anesthesiologist’s voice from behind the curtain sounded refreshing. Recalling the path they had walked, the separation surgery of the conjoined twins was completed.

The guardians shed tears of happiness.

The staff shared hugs of joy, reminiscing about their past hardships.

The media’s praise poured in belatedly.

No one was hurt, no one was in pain.

Like a fairy tale ending, the conjoined twins’ separation surgery was successfully completed.

“Whew.”

After finishing the surgery, Jun-hoo let out a sigh of relief.

Surprisingly, Jun-hoo, who had just been in the break room in his imagination, was now in his dormitory room in reality.

In fact, today was the day of the surgery.

Jun-hoo had practiced his imaginary training one last time before going to work.

Jun-hoo’s body was drenched in sweat.

His arms trembled faintly from the lingering excitement.

Jun-hoo’s imaginary training was so realistic that it felt like an actual surgery, and fatigue washed over him after completing the training.

Jun-hoo immediately entered a state of meditative breathing from where he was sitting.

After circulating his internal energy for about 30 minutes.

The depleted stamina and concentration were replenished.

Jun-hoo, who got up from his seat, headed to the bathroom.

He washed his hair, face, and took a shower.

The belief that the success or failure of this surgery depended on him remained unchanged.

There was no wavering.

The model surgery practice using a 3D printer.

Even though this had vertically improved the staff’s skills, the limitations were clear.

The blood vessels, muscles, nerves, bones, etc., used in the model production were all artificial.

Even if they were similar in size and shape to human components, they could not perfectly reproduce the texture, elasticity, and blood flow.

But Jun-hoo was different.

Based on the data from the surgeries he had performed so far, he mentally visualized and experienced the same surgery as in real life dozens of times.

In other words, the veteran of this surgery was not Hector or Austin, but Jun-hoo.

Slap!

Jun-hoo suddenly slapped his own cheek to regain his composure.

I can’t let my guard down.

The operating room is a place where the most bizarre things can happen at any time.

It’s even possible for an unexpected situation to occur that I haven’t predicted.

If that happens.

Ask and answer as calmly as possible ‘why’ such a disaster occurred.

And ‘how’ to solve the disaster.

As he put on his clothes and left the dormitory, Jun-hoo completed his final mind setting.

The sky he looked up at was cloudy.

From the opposite sky, a huge, dark cumulonimbus cloud was approaching Jun-hoo.

* * *

Arriving at the ward, Jun-hoo went straight to Emma and Sophia’s room.

“Hello, Doctor.”

“Good morning.”

After exchanging light greetings with the guardians, he quietly looked down at the children.

Perhaps thanks to the well-managed intracranial pressure [pressure inside the skull].

The two children no longer cried so loudly that the hospital room would be filled with their cries like ten days ago.

The children recognized Jun-hoo and smiled brightly, waving their hands as if they were happy to see him.

It would be frustrating enough to share a room with a sibling, but how frustrating would it be to share a head?

The children had to be separated.

Not only for comfort but also to live longer.

And in the process, neither of them should be lost.

Should this feeling be called a burden?

Or should it be called a sense of responsibility?

Jun-hoo suddenly felt a sense of weight as if Emma and Sophia’s lives were heavily placed on each of his shoulders.

“You look very tired.”

Jun-hoo asked the guardians first.

“To be honest, I couldn’t sleep a wink all night. My heart kept pounding…….”

Jordan replied, wiping his face with one hand.

“I had a nightmare. A nightmare where no matter how hard the doctors tried, the children’s heads wouldn’t come apart…….”

Scarlett’s face was contorted as if she was reminded of the nightmare as she spoke.

“Excuse me, what is the success rate of this surgery……?”

Jordan’s voice was cautious.

“I don’t know what to say. I have no experience with conjoined twins surgery where the crowns of their heads are attached.”

“…….”

“There are not many comparable cases either. As you know, it won’t be easy.”

“I see. I know it’s a pointless question, but it keeps lingering in my mind, and I can’t help but ask.”

“Are you okay, honey?”

Scarlett held Jordan’s hand tightly.

The couple’s reliance on each other was a good sight to see.

For reference, Jun-hoo also received a lot of comfort and support from Ah-young while talking on the phone last night.

“How about you, Doctor? You must be anxious and nervous too.”

Scarlett was worried about Jun-hoo.

“Being anxious and nervous is my job, so I’m fine.”

“Oh, dear…….”

“It may sound cliché, but I will do my best. The staff has put in bone-grinding effort for today. Then the heavens will help too.”

Thump, thump, thump!

As if denying Jun-hoo’s words, thunder roared loudly.

As the children were about to burst into tears, Scarlett approached the bed and diligently shook a toy.

Jun-hoo’s gaze turned to the window.

Pour, pour, pour!

A torrential downpour was pouring coolly.

Are you saying you won’t help this time?

It doesn’t matter.

Whether you help or not, the surgery will be successful.

After saying goodbye to the guardians, Jun-hoo went to the conference room.

Even though it was 20 minutes before the conference, there was someone who had arrived early.

It was Raymond.

Raymond was anxiously tapping one leg.

He was busy biting his fingernails with his teeth.

“You’re here early?”

Jun-hoo asked, sitting next to Raymond without hesitation.

While practicing surgery together.

He had grown a little fond of Raymond.

After stimulating him by saying that he could replace the assistant with Maxwell.

Raymond’s assistant skills improved day by day.

Putting aside his personality, he was at a level where he could be trusted with surgery.

“It’s the same even if I’m in the dormitory since I have nothing to do.”

“Aren’t you too nervous?”

“Wouldn’t it be strange if I wasn’t nervous?”

Raymond retorted and smiled bitterly.

“You have to be moderately nervous. Will you be able to do the surgery properly in that state?”

“I don’t know.”

“Show me your palm.”

“Why suddenly?”

“Just show it to me.”

When Jun-hoo spoke forcefully, Raymond reluctantly showed Jun-hoo his palm.

Jun-hoo rubbed the area below Raymond’s middle finger in a circular motion with his thumb.

Applying an appropriate amount of internal energy.

The Shimjeong blood point [acupressure point believed to calm the heart and mind] existed in that location.

Stimulating the Shimjeong blood point when feeling nervous, anxious, or agitated could help control emotions.

Furthermore, Jun-hoo also stimulated Raymond’s earlobe, utilizing the Chugung Gwawol technique [a technique to clear the mind] on the Cheongun blood point [acupressure point on the earlobe], which cleared the mind.

“What was that just now?”

Raymond’s eyes widened like those of a surprised owl. His enlarged eyes looked as if they would roll out of their sockets at any moment.

“My mind has calmed down as if I took some kind of medicine? Suddenly, I don’t feel anxious at all.”

“It’s a technique that applies Eastern acupuncture. It’s quite effective.”

“Wow, that’s amazing? Anyway, thank you. I feel like I can finally breathe.”

Raymond stretched, looking much more refreshed.

“Did the sun rise in the west today? I’m even hearing you say thank you?”

“Gratitude is gratitude.”

A smile appeared on Raymond’s lips.

“Look forward to my assistance today. It will be even better than yesterday.”

“That’s good to hear.”

While chatting with Raymond.

The staff began to fill the empty seats one by one.

The contents of the conference, which lasted a total of 40 minutes, did not reach Jun-hoo’s ears at all.

The separation surgery was just around the corner.

Unless it was information related to the separation surgery, the brain rejected everything without hesitation.

After the conference ended.

The only ones left in the conference room were the four warriors who would be entering the separation surgery.

Chief surgeon Austin.

First assistant Jun-hoo.

Second assistant Hector.

Third assistant Raymond.

Austin personally handled the final briefing 30 minutes before the surgery.

He reviewed the surgical procedure.

And boosted the morale of the staff.

“We’ve smashed a whopping 11 3D-printed models. It’s not exactly the same as the real thing, but it’s safe to say we’ve gone through 11 actual surgeries.”

“…….”

“In the last practice, in particular, we shortened the surgery time by 2 hours compared to the beginning, and the results were good.”

“…….”

“All we have to do is remember and reproduce yesterday’s success. Do you understand?”

“Yes, Professor.”

“Yes, Professor.”

“Yes, Professor.”

The three answered with one heart and one mind.

“Of course, it will be scarier than practice. Because there will be guests from outside.”

“What kind of guests are they?”

Jun-hoo asked.

“James Hopkins Hospital, UCLA, Cleveland Clinic, etc. Almost all pediatric neurosurgery professors from major university hospitals said they would attend.”

“…….”

“Counting them, there are over 50 people.”

“That’s a huge number. They must have their own schedules.”

“That’s how it should be seen. Just one more word out of concern.”

Austin made eye contact with the staff one by one and continued.

“Absolutely! Absolutely! Don’t think that those people are evaluating you. On the contrary, think of today’s surgery as an opportunity to show off your skills to those people.”

After finishing speaking, Austin extended his hand into the air.

On top of it, Jun-hoo, Raymond, and Hector’s hands were placed in order.

“Put the patient first!”

With a resounding slogan, the staff’s palms soared to the ceiling.