A Surgeon Who Uses Martial Arts [EN]: Chapter 92

Surgeon Who Uses Martial Arts Chapter 92

Chapter 16: Fox (2)

Orthopedic surgery on-call room.

Jun-hoo, Yoo-jung, and Dae-jin were staring intently at the monitor.

The monitor displayed the chest X-ray of the patient who had the L-tube [nasogastric tube] inserted.

“Whew~ That’s a relief. There’s nothing wrong. I was worried it might have gone into the airway.”

Dae-jin sighed in relief.

Even though Jun-hoo had skillfully inserted the L-tube, he couldn’t completely relax.

There were cases where the tube went into the trachea instead of the esophagus.

“Jun-hoo, you have guts. What if you had failed there?”

“I know, right? I was nervous just watching. The patient seemed to have a fiery personality. If you had failed again, she might have called the chief.”

Dae-jin and Yoo-jung each said a word.

They revealed that they were anxious watching Jun-hoo earlier.

“I just had a feeling I wouldn’t fail. I trusted that feeling.”

“So, it was purely based on intuition?”

“To be exact, half of it was intuition, and the other half was faith.”

“But it’s strange.”

Yoo-jung looked at Jun-hoo and tilted her head.

“What is it?”

“From the outside, there was no significant difference between your procedure and mine.”

“…….”

“But the patient accepted your procedure without any resistance. I don’t understand that.”

Jun-hoo simply smiled instead of answering.

The reason why Jun-hoo inserted the L-tube in one go.

It was thanks to precise pressure point striking.

The 9th cranial nerve, located near the carotid artery, is responsible for the gag reflex.

The gag reflex is a mechanism that reflexively transmits nausea and a feeling of wanting to vomit when a foreign object enters…

Earlier, Jun-hoo temporarily paralyzed the patient’s 9th cranial nerve through pressure point striking.

Since the nerve was paralyzed, there was no gagging.

Since there was no gagging, the insertion of the L-tube was not painful.

Specialized anatomy studied during medical school.

Pressure point techniques learned in the martial world.

This combination was a unique weapon that only Jun-hoo possessed in the entire world.

He would continue to rely on it in the future.

“Jun-hoo, if you have any tips for inserting the L-tube well, please teach me.”

“What kind of tips could there be? Once you reach a certain level, it’s all luck. Whether the patient tolerates the procedure well or not.”

“But it feels like luck when you do it, and bad luck when I do it, so that’s why I’m asking.”

“If that’s the case.”

Jun-hoo shared the L-tube intubation method he had recreated as a martial arts technique.

How to select the appropriate tube.

How to measure the insertion depth of the tube.

How to guide the patient’s behavior so that they don’t feel resistance to the L-tube.

How to check if the L-tube has been properly inserted, etc.

Jun-hoo’s explanation lasted for a full 5 minutes.

The method was like an algorithm.

Perform A, then move to B, and if B doesn’t work, execute step B+.

Then move on to C, and so on.

“What? Why do you have such a bored expression when you asked me to teach you?”

Jun-hoo chuckled as he watched Yoo-jung’s blank expression.

“You’re too meticulous. Anyone would think you’re performing surgery. Do you also intubate like Jun-hoo, senior?”

“No. I just insert it appropriately with some tricks.”

“Me too.”

The two of them wore expressions that they couldn’t understand Jun-hoo’s intubation method.

In reality, there were hardly any doctors who intubated through such a meticulous process like Jun-hoo.

“I was just teaching you because you asked me to. Don’t blame me.”

“But if I follow what you taught me, can I succeed like you?”

“If you follow it properly, you’ll mostly succeed.”

Jun-hoo answered confidently.

Originally, martial arts techniques were supposed to exert the same power no matter who performed them.

However, the results varied depending on the understanding and proficiency of the technique.

“I’m getting competitive for no reason. Jun-hoo, can you help me?”

“What is it this time?”

“Can I try inserting an L-tube into you?”

“As you wish.”

Jun-hoo readily agreed.

Soon, Yoo-jung gathered an L-tube set on the dressing cart and returned to the on-call room.

After completing the intubation preparation with a determined expression, she grabbed the gel-covered L-tube with forceps.

“Here it goes. Bear with it even if it’s uncomfortable.”

Swish.

The nasal tube began to pass through the nose and over the back of Jun-hoo’s throat.

Like the previous patient, Jun-hoo also felt a gag reflex.

It was definitely stuffy.

Tears welled up and he felt nauseous.

He now understood why the patient stubbornly refused the L-tube.

Jun-hoo had always been in the position of inserting the L-tube.

It was his first time being the one having it inserted.

“Yoo-jung, you have to tell me to swallow the tube.”

“Oh, right. Swallow the tube.”

“But I think the tube is going in reverse right now? Maybe it’s because you’re nervous, but the insertion speed is too fast.”

Jun-hoo began to control Yoo-jung with a nasal voice.

“Then should I do it slowly?”

“You can’t do it too slowly either. The gag reflex lasts for a long time. I can endure it well, but there’s no guarantee that patients will too.”

“Then what should I do?”

“Listen to me and do it calmly.”

Jun-hoo repeatedly told Yoo-jung the key points of nasogastric tube insertion without scolding her.

After several attempts, Yoo-jung successfully inserted the nasogastric tube.

“Jun-hoo. Thank you for your hard work. It’s all because of me…….”

Yoo-jung wore an expression of not knowing what to do because she felt sorry while removing the L-tube.

“It’s okay for me to suffer. Instead, get used to it quickly and make the patients comfortable.”

“I will. Thank you and I’m sorry.”

“It’s really okay. You don’t have to worry about it.”

Just as Jun-hoo and Yoo-jung were cleaning up, Dae-jin happened to join the conversation.

“Coincidentally, I just put in an L-tube order? Who wants to go?”

“I’ll go. I’ll try it alone.”

Yoo-jung raised her hand enthusiastically.

As Dae-jin gave permission, Yoo-jin quickly left the on-call room.

“Jun-hoo, you’re something else. You even gave a lecture with the L-tube inserted.”

“I can handle this much.”

Jun-hoo shrugged his shoulders.

Although L-tube intubation was uncomfortable, Jun-hoo had suffered countless major and minor injuries in the martial world.

He was already used to enduring pain.

“But listening to you, I even want to learn the procedure from you. And why are you so good at explaining things?”

“I was a teacher for a while.”

“A private tutor?”

“I’ve been a private tutor and other kinds of teachers too.”

A meaningful smile appeared on Jun-hoo’s lips.

Before fighting Jeok Il-do and Yangpae Gusang [likely martial arts figures or groups], Jun-hoo had served as a martial arts instructor for the Martial Arts Alliance for a year.

So he had a knack for teaching others.

When will I become a complete surgeon?

When will I be able to pass on the secrets and tips I have to future students?

Jun-hoo suddenly asked himself a question.

It was still a distant story, so it didn’t feel real.

“Yoo-jung went out excitedly. I hope she doesn’t fail and get disappointed again.”

“Don’t worry. That won’t happen.”

“What’s the basis?”

“I taught her.”

Jun-hoo’s answer soon became a reality.

Creak.

Yoo-jung, who opened the door to the on-call room, had a beaming smile on her face.

“Senior. I succeeded in inserting the L-tube in one try!”

* * *

That afternoon.

Jun-hoo, who was heading to the conference room for lunch, took out his cell phone from his gown.

“Who is it? Is it your girlfriend?”

Yoo-jung, who was walking beside him, wore a sly expression.

“It’s a younger sister I know.”

“A female younger sister?”

“She’s like a niece to me? Don’t make weird connections, okay?”

“Just kidding. Just kidding. I’ll go in first.”

Yoo-jung entered the conference room, and Jun-hoo answered the phone at the end of the hallway.

“Hae-na. Long time no see?”

Jun-hoo answered the phone happily.

Hae-na was the granddaughter of the elder who paid for Jun-hoo’s medical bills when he was working in the emergency department.

She is now working as a celebrity under Ji-ae’s agency.

Jun-hoo recognized Hae-na’s singing skills and recommended her to become a singer.

The agency provided Hae-na with a cell phone, so they occasionally contacted each other like this.

-Hello, teacher.

“Then, are you doing well? Is Hae-na doing well?”

-Yes.

After a casual conversation, Hae-na shared surprising news.

Hae-na was participating in a trot [a genre of Korean pop music] audition program on a general programming channel.

Coincidentally, the preliminary round for the youth division was today.

-Teacher. I’m so nervous. My grandmother is sick and couldn’t come, so I’m the only one here.

Hae-na was clearly nervous.

Her voice was trembling.

“Isn’t your manager next to you?”

-He is, but we’re not close yet. He doesn’t talk much.

“Can you hang up for a moment? I’ll video call you back.”

Jun-hoo disconnected the call and attempted a video call with Hae-na.

The call connected.

Hae-na in the video was anxiously biting her nails.

“Our Hae-na must be very nervous. Right?”

-Yes. I want to run away. There are many friends who sing well too.

“Hae-na sings well enough too. So there’s no need to be discouraged. You’re someone that the teacher guarantees, no, recognizes. Hae-na is.”

-Can I do well?

“You don’t necessarily have to do well.”

-Yes? Why?

Hae-na’s eyes widened as if Jun-hoo’s answer was unexpected.

“People tend to get more nervous when they try to do well. Just sing like you usually do in front of your grandmother.”

-…….

“Even if the results aren’t good, in the teacher’s heart, Hae-na will always be the best little singer.”

Jun-hoo warmly comforted the nervous Hae-na.

[It’s okay. Everything will be alright.]

Jun-hoo disliked this kind of comfort and reassurance.

What if things didn’t turn out well after saying such things?

Also, saying it’s okay because things will go well is a comfort that subtly implies result-oriented thinking.

Perhaps that’s why.

Jun-hoo enjoyed using comfort that implied it was okay even if the results were bad.

-Teacher. Thank you. I feel a little better talking while looking at your face.

“…….”

-As you said, even if the results aren’t good, I’m still my grandmother’s granddaughter and a good kid to you. That’s enough for me.

Hae-na smiled brightly as if she had shaken off the burden.

Anyway, Hae-na was definitely mature early. Seeing how quickly she accepted Jun-hoo’s comfort.

“Okay. The teacher will also cheer you on. This friend will also cheer you on.”

Jun-hoo took out his treasure number 1, which he had put in his gown pocket, and shook it.

It was a picture Hae-na drew of Jun-hoo in the past. The coated picture was still stiff and clear.

-Do you still have that?

“Of course. It’s the teacher’s treasure number 1.”

-I’ll draw a cooler one later and give it to you.

“That will be treasure number 2.”

Even after ending the call, Jun-hoo stared at his cell phone for a long time.

* * *

Digestive Surgery Conference Room.

Jun-hoo was having a simple lunch with Yoo-jung.

Jun-hoo’s meal was a convenience store sandwich and milk.

Yoo-jung’s meal was kito gimbap [a Korean rice roll made following the principles of the ketogenic diet] filled with eggs and nuts.

There was a cafeteria, but Jun-hoo couldn’t bring himself to go to the cafeteria.

If he received a call, he had to abandon the food he was eating and go to the ward, intensive care unit, or emergency room.

In fact, the number of times he had used the cafeteria so far could be counted on one hand.

“Just eat when you’re eating. You’ll get indigestion.”

Yoo-jung clicked her tongue while looking at Jun-hoo.

It was because Jun-hoo was eating while looking at the digestive surgery pocketbook.

“I have to make the most of my spare time. There’s a lot of time that’s unknowingly wasted.”

“You’re really something, seriously. I don’t think I can live like you.”

“I hear that often. But I don’t think I can live like you either.”

“What’s wrong with me?”

Yoo-jung retorted with a sulky expression.

“Your diet. I don’t think I can live eating only greasy things like that.”

“I pity you for not feeling the charm of kito.”

“You don’t have to pity me that much.”

“But can you focus on the contents of the book even while talking? It seems like it would be distracting.”

“It’s possible if you practice usually.”

Jun-hoo answered casually.

Among the martial arts techniques that Jun-hoo had learned, there was something called Manhwagong (滿花功) [a martial arts technique that allows one to multitask].

In modern terms, is it called multitasking?

By using Manhwagong, it was possible to distribute concentration evenly and handle various tasks at once.

Reading while talking was a piece of cake.

“What part are you looking at now?”

“Gastric cancer resection performed with robots.”

Jun-hoo continued, turning the page of the pocketbook.

“I’m going into the robot surgery scrub in a little while.”