Dr. Shin Seonhan: The Doctor Who Sees The Future [EN]: Chapter 80

#80 Breath (11)

Swish—

I opened the chest tube set.

Soon, the medical instruments wrapped in paper revealed their beautiful forms.

Scalpel, mosquito forceps, Kelly clamp, forceps, needle holder, etc…

Various instruments were neatly arranged.

“Keuh.”

An exclamation escaped me involuntarily.

Delicate medical tools gleaming in silver.

Moreover, Yonsei University Hospital uses expensive products even for small tools.

Therefore, the scene unfolding before my eyes was truly a luxurious feast.

“I’m glad I came to Yonsei University Hospital.”

I was momentarily intoxicated with the feeling of suddenly becoming rich.

Exciting.

I wouldn’t feel this way even if I unboxed any luxury item.

Others may have a romantic view of clothes, watches, shoes, electronic devices, etc…

But what I find attractive are these medical instruments.

I just want to become a doctor who can skillfully handle these tools as soon as possible.

‘Wait. This is not the time for this. I decided to test my ability, right?’

I shook my head, shaking off the momentary intoxication.

Let’s experiment.

I reached for the scalpel.

First, I assembled the scalpel by inserting the blade into the blade holder.

Then, I pretended to cut something in the air.

“…….”

Was something triggered with a *flash*—?

No.

Nothing happened.

My hand was just quietly hovering in the air.

……How awkward.

It’s a relief that no one is around; someone would have laughed if they saw me.

‘Surely, the moment I held the scalpel and tried to bring it to the patient, a video flashed before my eyes…….’

I take the same pose again, but nothing appears before my eyes.

What’s the condition?

Does it have to be an actual situation with a patient?

Or does it happen randomly?

Numerous question marks flashed through my mind.

‘……Let’s organize my thoughts first.’

I put down the scalpel and thought calmly.

I needed time to categorize the abilities I had acquired so far.

First.

Let’s call it for convenience.

It is a phenomenon where time suddenly stops, completely separating from reality and moving to another place.

Usually, in this case, I often see a bad future.

Second.

Let’s call it for convenience.

In this case, spatial movement does not occur, but videos quickly flash before my eyes like slides.

It was only once, but I was able to see the surgical procedure in advance.

‘So far, it seems that I have two abilities: and .’

I didn’t have time to think deeply last time.

But, what if…….

If I can control these abilities?

Then, wouldn’t I be able to achieve my goal of becoming a god-like doctor faster?

I smiled at that thought.

“Ehh. Let’s drop it.”

Since when was I some great psychic?

I am a doctor.

I can’t rely on mysterious abilities that may disappear at any time.

The basics of a surgeon are medical knowledge and hand skills.

‘Let’s focus on the basics.’

I erased the 잡생각 [jap-saeng-gak, Korean for 잡 “various/miscellaneous” + 생각 “thoughts,” referring to useless or distracting thoughts] from my head and decided to practice since I borrowed the instruments anyway.

I held the needle holder, which had a gold-coated handle, in my hand.

‘When handling the needle holder, it seems like you need more grip strength than you think. If I’m doing surgery for a long time, my hand might lose strength.’

Should I get grip training from 근욱이 [Geun-uk, likely a friend or acquaintance]?

I took off my gown and put it on the treatment room bed.

Then, I started practicing on a cloth drape.

Swish—

Squeak—

I repeated suture and instrument tie using the needle holder several times.

‘It’s a bit disappointing to only practice on cloth… The texture is too different from human skin. I heard that there are practice pads that resident doctors use; I should ask 마동섭 선생님 [Ma Dong-seop, teacher/senior colleague] about it.’

While I was absorbed in practicing, thinking that.

Ring ring ring—

The pager rings.

Having forgotten the time for a moment, I quickly raised my head.

When I came to my senses, several tens of minutes had already passed.

Come to think of it, I forgot to eat lunch?

This sometimes happens when I’m focused on one thing.

“송유주 선생님 [Song Yu-ju, teacher/senior colleague]?”

I answered the phone.

Come to think of it, did 송이’s [Song-i’s] surgery go well?

As an intern, I cannot know what is happening inside the operating room.

Soon, a blunt voice returns.

Good news, bad news.

Good news, bad news?

So, which one do you want to hear first?

I feel uneasy for some reason.

When you start opening your mouth like this, you usually don’t hear welcome news.

“I’ll hear the good news first.”

은이’s [Eun-i’s] surgery went well.

“은이 [Eun-i]?”

송은이 [Song Eun-i] patient.

“……You’re talking about 양송이 [Yang Song-i] patient, right?”

Oh, anyway, that patient.

송유주 선생 [Song Yu-ju], who invariably confuses names.

Her voice is slightly lacking in energy.

Resident doctors are almost exhausted after entering and leaving the operating room once.

Especially if it’s 탈곡기 [tal-gok-gi, literally “rice thresher,” a metaphor for someone who is harsh and demanding] professor’s operating room.

탈곡기 [tal-gok-gi] professor is notorious for being a sensitive boss during surgery.

However, his skills are certain, so quite a few patients come to him after hearing his reputation.

“I’m glad the surgery went well! But what’s the bad news?”

“Huh? She’s coming straight to the ward.”

I was a little surprised.

She’s coming straight to the ward?

Usually, surgeries like lobectomy that 송이 [Song-i] underwent are cared for in the intensive care unit on the day of the surgery.

This is because there is a high possibility of various complications such as bleeding on the same day.

However, in 송이’s [Song-i’s] case, it seems that there were no beds available in the intensive care unit.

What are you surprised about? It’s not like there are ICU beds available every day.

Indeed…….

A month ago.

I recalled working in the ICU with nurse 차유리 [Cha Yu-ri].

Even then, the thoracic surgery ICU was always crowded and full.

When there are no beds available, you have to borrow beds from other ICUs.

When that’s not possible, they send the patient who seems to have the least problems straight to the ward.

This time, the young and healthy 양송이 [Yang Song-i] patient became the first choice.

‘That means I, as the attending physician, have to take care of her diligently.’

I smiled.

It’s a good thing.

송이 [Song-i] patient is special.

Since she is the first patient I have ever cut, I want to take care of her in detail as much as possible.

Until she is safely discharged and returns in good health.

“Then I’ll prepare to receive 송이 [Song-i] patient.”

I’ll be done with surgery here around 6 o’clock. If the patient’s condition is abnormal when I go up later, I won’t let you off.

“Yes.”

Click—

The phone hangs up before I can even answer.

But…….

It’s a bit daunting.

송유주 선생님 [Song Yu-ju] spoke casually, but this is the first time I’m taking care of a patient right after surgery, right?

‘I need to prepare quickly.’

Fortunately, I have some preparation time.

Patients who have undergone surgery are first transferred to the anesthesia recovery room on the same floor.

And they have time to wake up from anesthesia for about an hour or two.

“Every day is Spartan.”

I hurriedly wrapped the surgical tools back in paper and left the treatment room.

* * *

Shortly after.

I returned to the ward and made thorough preparations.

Fortunately, I was able to get advice from 마동섭 선생 [Ma Dong-seop], who was in the ward.

“In the end, vital sign management is the key.”

First is vitals.

Second is vitals.

Anyway, vitals are the key.

This is because vital signs can be highly variable on the first day after surgery.

“Of course, it’s easier said than done; it can be difficult to judge.”

Blood pressure drops?

Heart rate increases?

Even if it’s the same phenomenon, there are dozens of causes.

It could just be a gentle breeze in a teacup, or it could be a sign of a typhoon coming.

“After surgery, the heart rate is usually fast and the blood pressure is high, but it often gets better with pain control alone.”

If the expected vital signs are exceeded, you should contact the on-call resident.

“And also…….”

Huff huff.

My eyes are spinning.

마동섭 선생님 [Ma Dong-seop] was a 투머치 토커 [too much talker, Konglish for someone who talks excessively].

But on days like today, it was helpful information for me, so I listened carefully to everything.

Time passed in an instant, and a notification arrived on the pager that 송이 [Song-i] had arrived at the ward.

The recovery room called to say that 양송이 [Yang Song-i] patient is coming to the ward. Please prescribe~>

I heard that 양송이 [Yang Song-i] patient had been transferred from the recovery room to the ward and went to the patient’s room to see her.

Step step—

I entered the hospital room.

송이’s [Song-i’s] parents were keeping watch by her side.

I briefly greeted the guardians and approached 송이 [Song-i].

“송이 [Song-i] patient. Are you okay?”

Then 송이 [Song-i], who had just finished surgery, looked up at me.

She has an oxygen tube in her nose.

Her hair is disheveled.

Her mouth is covered with saliva mixed with blood here and there.

Some blood must have come out during the intubation process.

The sight of her hanging with a chest tube and a urinary catheter tells me that 송이 [Song-i] has endured a difficult surgery.

송이 [Song-i], who was attached to the bed and had become one with it, smiles brightly when she finds me.

“Teacher…….”

“Are you okay? Does it hurt a lot?”

“I’m okay after taking painkillers…….”

송이 [Song-i] couldn’t continue speaking and suddenly frowned.

It seems that her chest hurts more when she opens her mouth to speak.

“I don’t…….”

송이 [Song-i], who was not completely awake from anesthesia, continued to speak in a daze.

“But it was so amazing. I closed my eyes for a moment and it was all over…….”

“I told you the surgery would go well.”

“Hehe.”

송이 [Song-i] smiled weakly and said, lifting the oxygen tube.

“But teacher…… Can’t I take this off?”

“You have to wear it now. Endure it even if it’s a little uncomfortable.”

“My face is already an squid…… If I have this on my nose, I’m too ugly…….”

The nurses burst into laughter.

I laughed too.

Is she worried about her face in this situation?

Anyway, she’s a funny kid.

“I don’t want to show this side of myself to the teacher, hehe. Oh right. I only have 반진호 [Ban Jin-ho] oppa [older brother/male friend]…….”

What is she saying?

It’s a nonsensical babble.

It seems that the lines that should only be lingering in her mind are popping out because she is not fully awake from anesthesia.

“Today is the day after surgery, so just rest comfortably and breathe deeply. If phlegm comes out, spit it out, and don’t be surprised if some blood comes out.”

“Yes.”

“You’ve worked hard.”

I patted 송이 [Song-i].

* * *

Four hours had passed since 양송이 [Yang Song-i] came out, and 송유주 선생님 [Song Yu-ju] stopped by the ward before leaving work to check on the patient’s condition.

8 p.m.

As I was returning to the station after finishing work, I heard a few nurses whispering.

“Wow, she’s so harsh…….”

“She’s catching the kid.”

Catching the kid?

I asked the nurses who were chatting at the station.

“What’s going on?”

“송이 [Song-i] patient’s mother.”

송이’s [Song-i’s] mother, why?

I tilted my head.

However, the nurses did not answer my question immediately and shook their heads, refraining from speaking.

“No matter what, it’s the first day after surgery…… If you go to the hospital room later, you’ll know what I mean.”

What on earth is going on?

It hasn’t been long since 송이 [Song-i] came up from the recovery room…….

Surely she’s not going to do a backhand smash again, is she?

Eh, surely not.

Thinking that, I headed to the hospital room where 송이 [Song-i] was.

And I was shocked.

“Oh…… 송이’s [Song-i’s] mother?”