Dr. Shin Seonhan: The Doctor Who Sees The Future [EN]: Chapter 18

#18 Triage (3)

“Huh? Why?”

Joong-won hyung [older brother or close male friend] turns to me.

He looks completely out of it.

There’s a type of person who, the better they are at getting by, the weaker they are at handling crises.

Joong-won hyung is like that.

He was already tense, and after getting an earful from the professor, he’s basically in a state of panic.

I have a strong feeling I shouldn’t entrust him with anything important right now.

I move closer and whisper.

“I’ll go run the blood test.”

“You?”

“My arm is getting numb from holding the tourniquet, so I’m going to take a breather while the machine runs. Can you switch with me for a bit?”

“Oh… okay, sure.”

Tap, tap!

I make up a plausible excuse, take the syringe, and start running.

Suddenly, I remember something Teacher Yeo Bong-cheol told me a few days ago.

I shake the syringe to prevent the arterial blood from clotting and run to where the analyzer is.

Sure enough.

The results from the previous patient’s test are still plugged into the machine.

‘This is it!’

Was this the mistake mentioned in the dream?

It actually happens quite often to mix up test results.

The CIBA machine spits out arterial blood gas results in 90 seconds.

You can manually enter the patient’s number into this machine, but in an emergency, you might accidentally enter the wrong number when you’re flustered.

Plus, the test results come out like receipts, so there’s a risk of them getting mixed up with the previous patient’s results.

Normally, it wouldn’t matter, but you absolutely can’t afford to make mistakes when you have a patient teetering between life and death.

Whirr―

I carefully make sure to get the correct test results and run back to the resuscitation room.

This whole process only takes about two minutes.

“ABGA results are here!”

The professor takes the results I hand him and his eyes widen.

“Hemoglobin 7.8?”

The red blood cell count is too low.

That means there’s definitely another source of bleeding somewhere.

The professor’s words become faster.

“There’s bleeding somewhere other than what we can see.”

“Professor, then…”

“Internal bleeding.”

Internal bleeding is bleeding that occurs inside the body.

Because it’s not visible to the naked eye, it’s harder to detect than normal bleeding.

If internal bleeding is occurring in a vital organ, it could be life-threatening!

Soon the doctors become busy.

“Plasma solution 1L full drip, now!”

“Call the blood bank and tell them to rush up the 3 units of RBCs [red blood cells] we ordered!”

“When is the portable X-ray coming?”

Thump!

As soon as the machine arrives, Yeo Bong-cheol shouts urgently.

“C-spine [cervical spine], Chest AP [anteroposterior chest X-ray], Pelvic AP [anteroposterior pelvic X-ray], hurry up and take them!”

“Yes, sir. Step back!”

The machine is quickly prepared.

Normally, when taking an X-ray, you should wear protective clothing or step back because you’re exposed to radiation.

But Teacher Yeo Bong-cheol stays right next to the patient, not moving.

“The patient’s about to die, who cares if I get a little radiation? Just take the pictures quickly.”

“Excuse me?”

“Hurry! Nurses and interns, get out of the room.”

Soon people move away from the patient.

But I stay in place with Yeo Bong-cheol.

“Shin-seon, what are you doing?”

“I’m okay too.”

I say, not letting go of the hand that’s applying pressure.

Right now, we need to preserve every drop of blood leaking from the patient’s body.

“It’s just radiation, it’s not a big deal. I get more radiation when I take a plane.”

“…Is that the same thing?!”

Teacher Yeo Bong-cheol glances at me as if he’s dumbfounded, then turns his head back to focus on the patient.

Well, he’s doing the same thing, so he has nothing more to say.

Sacrifice? Sense of duty?

…No, it’s not something grand or noble like that.

If I had to put it into words, it’s .

At this moment, I’m just focused on ‘what needs to be done’.

Yeo Bong-cheol is a workaholic to the bone.

I’ve also been unknowingly resembling him little by little while working in the emergency room for the past month.

Maybe the sense of kinship I felt when I first saw Yeo Bong-cheol was something like this.

Beep―

Beep―

The X-rays are taken several times and the emergency medicine professor checks the results.

Soon the professor’s sharp eyes find the problem.

“It’s the pelvis.”

“……!”

With just that one word, all the doctors can grasp the situation.

The impact of the accident has fractured and twisted the pelvis.

In this case, internal bleeding of up to 2,000ml can occur.

The professor quickly gives the next order.

“Get a pelvic binder and contact OS (Orthopedic Surgery).”

“Yes!”

Soon the paramedics wrap a compression bandage around the patient’s pelvis.

Fortunately, as the pelvis is compressed and fluids and blood are infused, the blood pressure starts to rise.

Beep― Beep―

The alarm on the monitor, which had been ringing rapidly in time with the patient’s pulse, also starts to return to normal.

Soon the blood pressure, pulse rate, and oxygen saturation levels on the monitor all fall within the normal range, and the patient also begins to blink.

“Whew―”

Only then do the doctors breathe a sigh of relief.

That means they’ve gotten past the critical point.

Once the patient’s vital signs stabilize, Yeo Bong-cheol calms down and speaks in a composed voice.

“Professor, it looks like the vitals are stable, should we proceed with a CT scan?”

“Hmm… yes. But don’t let your guard down, Bong-cheol. Don’t forget to continue the rest of the transfusion.”

“Understood.”

“Get a CT scan from the brain to the chest, abdomen, and pelvis, and get it interpreted. I’m going to go check on the minor patients outside.”

“Yes, Professor!”

Thump―

The patient is transferred for a CT scan after confirming that their vital signs are stable.

With this, all possible measures have been taken in the emergency room.

‘……Is it a success?’

I feel relieved for now.

I can feel the tension in my hands releasing.

‘At least there are no problems so far.’

I barely catch my breath.

If Joong-won hyung had made a mistake, the discovery of internal bleeding might have been delayed, which could have been dangerous.

Like a snowball rolling down a hill, even a small mistake can lead to uncontrollable consequences.

Anyway, I’m glad that the most critical patient was treated safely…….

‘Wait, no.’

I quickly pull myself together again.

It’s too early to rest easy.

There are still 10 traffic accident patients left, so there’s no telling where a problem might occur.

‘Don’t let your guard down until the end!’

Because not all situations are over yet.

I can’t relax until tonight is over.

* * *

“Ugh…….”

“Doctor, it hurts.”

The resuscitation room was chaotic, but it’s just as chaotic outside the resuscitation room.

Everywhere is filled with voices complaining of pain.

Patients scream in the treatment room where fracture patients are undergoing manual reduction [setting broken bones without surgery].

“Aaaagh…….”

“Doctor, please see me here quickly.”

It’s like a war zone.

Including the doctors from orthopedics and neurosurgery, the emergency room is packed.

Moreover, relatives who heard the news late are gathering, so the number of people is increasing in real time.

It is only now that I understand that the emergency room is the hospital’s gate and front line.

“It’s crazy.”

“Yeah.”

I briefly run into Sodam in front of the ABGA testing machine.

It’s a day like no other.

I don’t think I’ve ever had such a hectic evening since I started my internship.

Sodam looks around and says quietly.

“It’s really eye-opening.”

“Is it?”

“Seeing people getting hurt and being carried in… makes me feel like I’ve been whining for nothing.”

Sodam’s expression is complicated as she says that.

I chuckle.

Well, now is not the time to argue about whether being a doctor suits me or not.

There are bullets pouring down on the battlefield right now, would there be a soldier who says that war doesn’t suit them?

The emergency room is such a place.

In this place, everyone has no choice but to become a combat-type human.

“But you’re doing well without making mistakes. Like how you quickly found the patient’s wound earlier.”

I encourage Sodam like that.

Sodam glances at me and says.

“It’s thanks to you.”

“What?”

“You’ve been a big help during my emergency room internship.”

Sodam says bluntly.

It’s a small voice, but I can feel the sincerity in it.

……What did I do?

Honestly, I don’t even remember well.

It was just my actions for my future, but it seems to have been meaningful to Sodam in its own way.

I lightly ask to get rid of the awkward feeling.

“Do you still hate seeing patients?”

“I hate it. It’s scary.”

Sodam’s answer was the same as ever.

As expected, a person’s disposition doesn’t change in just one day.

“Still, I have to do what I have to do.”

Sodam says in such a determined voice.

Sodam will definitely continue to have a hard time seeing patients in the future.

But, she is trying to fulfill her professional duties no matter what.

‘I don’t have to worry about Sodam today.’

I had such a conviction.

Before the cheesy atmosphere continues, I point to the testing machine.

“Hey, your test results are coming out. Hurry up and get them and move.”

“Okay.”

Sodam pouts and waits for the test results to be printed.

I kept shaking the syringe filled with blood and waiting for my turn.

Then, suddenly, a loud voice is heard.

“Hey! Who’s in charge here?!”

“……?”

A shout loud enough to burst my eardrums!

We all looked at the source of the sound.

In the middle of the emergency room.

A middle-aged couple is shouting at the top of their lungs.

Judging by the way they’re flaunting their designer clothes, they look like *nouveau riche* [newly rich].

But why are they so angry?

A nurse rushes over.

“Guardian, what’s wrong?”

“Are you guys neglecting your duties right now?”

“Excuse me?”

“Can’t you see our son is hurt?! Why aren’t you treating him right away?”

While saying that, they point to one side.

There, a high school student who drove drunk without a license is sitting with his head bowed.

Ha…….

Everyone froze for a moment.

So, those are the parents of that high school student?

There’s a limit to being arrogant.

Who is to blame for this whole situation, but how can they be so confident?

No matter how precious their son is in the world, this situation is absurd.

Besides, that high school student has minor injuries.

At best, his lip is a little busted, so he had no choice but to be pushed down the priority list.

But the guardians stubbornly insist.

“Do you know who I am?!”

“Bring the person in charge right now! Otherwise, I’ll sue you all for negligent treatment!”

The couple shouts in unison.

The sight of them raising their eyebrows and shouting at the top of their lungs looks like demons.

Should we say that such people are a match made in heaven in some ways?

Everyone is so dumbfounded that they are just watching, and the nurse barely manages to speak.

“……You can’t shout like that in the emergency room.”

“How can I not shout? You’re neglecting someone else’s precious son right now!”

“There are more urgent patients right now…….”

“What?”

The wife steps forward with a glare in her eyes.

“No, aren’t those people the same whether they get treated sooner or later? Shouldn’t you treat the treatments that end quickly first?”

“Excuse me?”

The nurse is at a loss for words.

Is this what they call ‘miraculous logic’?

“Enough, call the person in charge of the emergency room here!”

While saying that, the husband pushes the nurse away.

“Aah!”

The nurse loses her balance and staggers.

It’s getting worse and worse.

I can’t leave it like this. Someone has to step in before the security arrives.

But right now, I have a syringe filled with arterial blood in my hand, so I can’t move rashly.

Then someone runs out.

“Stop it!”

It was an unexpected person.

An angry hamster.

Ham Sodam stomps forward and blocks the guardians.