A Surgeon Who Uses Martial Arts [EN]: Chapter 428

Chapter 83: Field Rations (4)

Jun-ho examined the problematic bump closely.

The bump was brown and round, a little smaller than a bean.

It definitely looked like it would hurt if it kept rubbing against his pants.

“Do you know what this is?”

“Yes, I do.”

Jun-ho nodded and continued.

“It’s commonly called a skin tag. In medical terms, it’s a fibroepithelial polyp [a small, benign growth on the skin].”

“A polyp? If it ends in ‘-oma,’ doesn’t that mean it’s like cancer?”

Hoon asked, looking frightened.

Indeed, a fibroepithelial polyp is a type of non-cancerous skin growth.

Just hearing the diagnosis could be alarming.

“Don’t be too alarmed. Fibroepithelial polyps are benign. There’s no risk of them turning malignant and threatening your life.”

Jun-ho reassured Hoon.

Fibroepithelial polyp.

It’s known to occur due to trauma, insect bites, or persistent skin irritation, but the exact cause is still unknown.

“So, what should I do?”

“There are about three treatment options.”

The first was to leave it alone.

If it didn’t interfere with daily life.

There was no need to remove the polyp.

The second was to remove the polyp using cryotherapy [freezing] or electrocautery [burning].

The third was surgical excision.

“It won’t take long; I can remove it for you.”

“The Company Commander? Are you majoring in dermatology?”

“No. I specialize in neurosurgery.”

“Then I’ll get it done at the dermatology clinic.”

Hoon narrowed his eyes as if he didn’t trust Jun-ho.

The lack of trust in military doctors wasn’t limited to soldiers. Even officers mistrusted them.

Most military doctors were considered inadequate.

They treated patients carelessly.

Often, they were residents rather than fully qualified specialists.

It got so bad that the perception of military doctors being incompetent became widespread.

“It’s not a serious or difficult procedure. It’ll be over quickly.”

“Isn’t there a chance my life will end if I entrust the treatment to the Company Commander?”

Jun-ho didn’t show any particular reaction to Hoon’s statement, which could have been taken as an insult.

He hadn’t been in the military for long, but he had noticed that the reputation of military doctors was at rock bottom.

But that’s why he was even more motivated.

He wanted to reverse the public’s perception of military doctors.

No matter how skilled Jun-ho was as a surgeon, treatment was impossible if the patient didn’t trust him.

To provide proper treatment, it was urgent to change the perception of military doctors.

“I guess even if I were the Operations Officer, I’d want to go to a dermatologist.”

Jun-ho took one step back to advance three steps later.

“Thank you for understanding.”

“But going to a dermatologist can be quite a hassle, right? You have to make an appointment and wait.”

“It’s a hundred times better than leaving it and being in pain.”

“I can treat it in under 5 minutes right here.”

“Still… I’m worried there might be complications.”

Hoon was hesitant but firm.

He didn’t seem to have any intention of being treated by Jun-ho.

But Jun-ho also had no intention of letting Hoon go.

If he treated Hoon well, wouldn’t the rumor that Jun-ho was a renowned doctor spread among the officers?

The opponent was a dermatologist, so it wouldn’t be easy, but it wasn’t impossible.

“Operations Officer, you have your phone, right?”

“Yes, but why all of a sudden…”

“First, check how to treat fibroepithelial polyps directly. Then, search my name on a portal site [major search engine].”

Hoon tilted his head at Jun-ho’s words.

One unusual request was subtly inserted into the normal conversation.

“You’re telling me to search for the Company Commander’s name on a portal site?”

“Yes. You’ll know why if you do. Do as I say and make a decision again. I won’t hold you back then.”

“Ah, okay…”

Hoon answered with a reluctant expression and took out the phone he had put in his combat pants pocket.

Okay, the bait is thrown, now just wait and see the results.

Jun-ho crossed his arms leisurely.

Jun-ho was confident that Hoon wouldn’t go to a dermatologist.

* * *

‘He’s surprisingly persistent.’

Hoon muttered inwardly.

First of all, Hoon was grateful to Jun-ho.

Because he had diagnosed what he thought was a pimple as a fibroepithelial polyp.

But he didn’t have even 1 gram of intention to be treated by Jun-ho.

If he was sane…

If he was a rational human being…

Would he be treated by a military doctor instead of a civilian hospital doctor?

The military doctor may have been a civilian hospital doctor before becoming a military doctor, but once he puts on the military uniform, his credibility plummets.

Civilian hospital doctors get paid for treatment, and military doctors are essentially drafted into the military and treat patients without any additional compensation.

There will probably be a difference in ‘mindset’ between the two that can never be bridged.

Tock. Tock. Tock.

Hoon did as Jun-ho told him because he felt uncomfortable after saying those harsh words earlier.

He looked up fibroepithelial polyps on his phone.

Contrary to what he had worried, it wasn’t a serious skin disease. Many people just left it alone.

The treatment was the same as what Jun-ho had said.

Laser treatment or direct excision.

Since there was no laser equipment in the medical unit, Jun-ho must be thinking of removing it directly.

‘Direct excision at the medical unit… no way.’

Hoon shook his head, imagining terrible things.

The search continued.

Treatment methods according to polyp size.

Treatment costs according to treatment methods, etc.

After checking the necessary information, Hoon searched for Jun-ho’s name in the search bar.

His eyes widened in an instant.

Hoon checked the numerous articles that appeared in the search bar and looked at Jun-ho with a blank expression.

It was the same person with the same real name and appearance.

Hoon just didn’t know.

Jun-ho was a celebrity in the medical world.

He had a brilliant career in neurosurgery.

As he scrolled down with his thumb, related articles unfolded endlessly.

He had treated emergency patients outside the hospital countless times.

He ran a NewTube [parody of YouTube] channel with 1 million subscribers.

He also participated in meaningful activities such as donations and sponsorships without fail.

After finishing the search.

It was as if a dazzling halo was pouring out from behind Jun-ho’s back.

“Company Commander, you’re an amazing person.”

Hoon said in admiration.

“It’s more accurate to say that I lived diligently rather than amazing.”

“But what does this have to do with polyp treatment?”

“Don’t you want to be treated by me now?”

“Uh… well…”

Hoon trailed off.

He couldn’t deny that his heart had wavered a little after searching for the articles.

But he still wanted to receive treatment at a private hospital dermatology clinic.

“You know that direct excision is a better treatment method for the size of the polyp that the Operations Officer has, right?”

“Yes. I checked.”

“Then how much does direct excision treatment cost?”

“It’s cheaper than I thought? It only costs a few tens of thousands of won [Korean currency, roughly equivalent to a few dozen US dollars], depending on the size.”

I can’t express it specifically, but I felt like I was gradually getting caught up in Jun-ho’s plan.

“Think about it. Do you think I, who performs 5-6 million won [thousands of US dollars] brain tumor surgeries, would fail a simple removal procedure that costs only a few tens of thousands of won?”

“…”

“Of course, I’m not disparaging the procedure just because the price is low. But is it really a wise decision to go to a dermatologist when you have me here?”

At Jun-ho’s words, Hoon nodded his head vigorously.

It made sense when he heard it.

The fact that the treatment cost only a few tens of thousands of won meant that the risk was low and the procedure was not difficult.

Even Jun-ho was a neurosurgery specialist.

It didn’t make sense that someone who removes brain tumors couldn’t remove skin tags.

Also, if Jun-ho didn’t have the skills…

Jun-ho’s articles wouldn’t be plastered all over the portal site.

“I’ll get treatment from the Company Commander.”

“You made a good decision.”

Jun-ho smiled.

As planned!

Let Hoon acquire enough information himself, and then use his reputation to convince him to accept the treatment.

This operation was a great success.

“Prepare the suture set. Blade number 10, suture 8-0 PDS [a type of absorbable suture material].”

Jun-ho opened the Company Commander’s office door and gave instructions to the medics.

About 3 minutes passed.

Sergeant Tae-won, the treatment NCO [Non-Commissioned Officer], wheeled the dressing cart into the Company Commander’s office.

Perhaps because he had been in the field for a while.

All the necessary items were prepared on the dressing cart.

Before the full-scale treatment, Jun-ho put on surgical gloves first. The gloves clung tightly to his hands.

“Lidocaine [local anesthetic].”

“Here it is, Company Commander.”

“It’ll sting a little.”

Jun-ho anesthetized the area around the polyp with a 1CC syringe he received from Tae-won.

Only Jun-ho was relaxed while waiting for the anesthesia to take effect. Hoon and Tae-won both had tense faces.

The atmosphere in the Company Commander’s office was as tight as an inflated balloon.

“I’m the one doing the procedure, so why are you so nervous?”

Jun-ho asked, chuckling at Tae-won.

“It looks like you’re doing something amazing.”

“It’s not that amazing?”

“The previous Company Commander never used the suture set.”

“Really? Not even once?”

“Yes.”

“Still, if a wound was torn, he would have stitched it up.”

“He just disinfected it and sent it out for external treatment [to a civilian hospital].”

Jun-ho clicked his tongue at Tae-won’s words.

The previous Company Commander looked and spoke slickly, and even his treatment was superficial.

Is this why soldiers and officers look down on military doctors?

Even if Jun-ho tries, the distrust towards all military doctors will not disappear, but at least those in Jun-ho’s unit will trust military doctors.

That was enough for now.

“How is it now? Can you feel anything?”

Jun-ho asked, touching the surgical area with his fingertips.

The surgical area had already been disinfected before the local anesthesia.

“It feels numb.”

“Then let’s proceed right away.”

“Scalpel.”

Jun-ho held the scalpel that Tae-won handed him in his right hand and incised the skin tag horizontally.

Ssssk.

The skin split along the trajectory of the scalpel, following his wrist.

It was a straight line as if drawn with a ruler.

Even though Tae-won, who was nervous, was shaking his legs, the incision was not disturbed.

Jun-ho had fought a life-or-death match against Maind on a swaying bamboo.

There was no way the tip of the knife would be disturbed by the vibration of shaking legs.

If Jun-ho had been a thoracic surgeon, he would have been able to perform OPCAB (Off-Pump Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting) [a heart surgery performed while the heart is beating] without any problems.

Red blood flowed out as the skin tore.

Tae-won wiped the blood with gauze at the right timing.

He was quick-witted because he was a sergeant.

Usually, they would just stare blankly at the treatment and then move when Jun-ho gave instructions.

“Forceps.”

“Yes, Company Commander.”

Jun-ho lifted the upper part of the incision with forceps as if lifting an eyelid.

The white fat layer hidden under the skin was revealed.

Removing these was the goal of today’s surgery.

“Scissors.”

“Are you using scissors instead of a scalpel?”

Tae-won’s voice was slightly raised as if Jun-ho’s judgment was unexpected.

“There are times when scissors are more comfortable than a scalpel.”

“Ah… I’ve never thought of that.”

“Of course, you wouldn’t. You’re a medic, and I’m a doctor.”

Tae-won blushed at Jun-ho’s remark.

Jun-ho parodied a famous drama line to show his sense of humor, but Tae-won seemed to have mistaken it for a criticism.

Click. Click.

Only the sound of scissors clashing echoed loudly in the quiet Company Commander’s office.

Jun-ho accurately distinguished only the skin tags and cut them into pieces with scissors.

The hand movements gained momentum as time went on.

Hoon’s eyes, Tae-won’s eyes.

They couldn’t dare to follow Jun-ho’s hand.