Fifth Vital [EN]: Chapter 41

Fifth Vital Sign – Episode 41 (41/502)

41. Death Benefit

“Doctor, the video has just been filmed and is being uploaded,” Nurse Lim Jeong-suk announced as Tae-kyung rushed in.

“Doctor?”

Lim Jeong-suk called out to Tae-kyung again when he nonchalantly passed by.

“Doctor, where are you going?”

For a moment, Tae-kyung was unknowingly drawn by the scent and almost headed straight to the patient.

“I was so eager that I was going to see the patient first.”

“You should watch the video first.”

“Is it all uploaded?”

“Yes.”

Tae-kyung loaded the video on the PC. He carefully examined the contrast-enhanced CT scan.

He slowly scrolled through the images, checking from the lower chest to the upper abdomen, then to the lower abdomen.

‘Damage to the front and back walls.’

The scan showed damage to the front and back walls of the bladder.

‘Seriously penetrated.’

Without a doubt, a metal skewer had pierced through the bladder.

The look in his eyes as he faced the monitor was incredibly sharp.

‘Let’s take one more look.’

The area around the bladder is a narrow space with densely packed organs, so it needs careful examination.

“Still, it’s fortunate,” Tae-kyung said, carefully reviewing the lower abdominal images repeatedly.

“There’s nothing besides the penetrating injury near the rectum.”

“Really? That’s a relief.”

“I know. There’s no major artery or other damage. It’s a blessing in disguise. Alright! Let’s go see the patient now.”

“Yes, the patient is in bed 17.”

“Soo, the transferred patient is in bed 15.”

As soon as Lim Jeong-suk finished speaking, a nurse at the station corrected the patient’s location.

“Ah! That’s right. I got mixed up with the patient earlier. Doctor, it’s 15.”

Before Nurse Lim Jeong-suk could correct him, Tae-kyung was already walking towards bed 15.

The fifth vital sign led him to number 15.

“By the way, the patient has a bit of a fever.”

“How high is it?”

“38 degrees [100.4 degrees Fahrenheit].”

It was probably a fever caused by a bacterial infection.

In a way, it was natural.

It was to be expected that bacteria from urine and feces would cause infection after such an injury.

In cases of infection due to trauma, the severity and speed of progression are important.

“First, give the patient 2g of cefotaxime (antibiotic).”

“Yes. But it’s different from what you usually give before surgery. Should we proceed with this?”

“Give that.”

Even though the culture test didn’t come back positive, Tae-kyung already assumed there was an infection.

That’s why he used a stronger antibiotic than typically used before surgery.

Swish-

“Hello, Choi Seon-hae?”

Tae-kyung greeted the patient, pulling back the curtain around the bed.

“Ah… Yes, hello,” Choi Seon-hae greeted him dryly with a listless expression.

“I’m going to examine you.”

“…Yes.”

Tae-kyung examined the patient’s overall condition.

The patient’s overall level of consciousness and vitality, separate from blood tests, provide a variety of information.

This was especially true in a situation where a patient had suffered abdominal trauma from a metal skewer and infection was suspected.

“Do you feel any feverishness or fatigue right now?”

“No… I was surprised to be injured earlier, but I don’t feel any fever or anything like that.”

Just looking at the patient’s appearance and the way she spoke, she didn’t seem to be in pain.

‘The bleeding, vital signs, basic tests, and level of consciousness are all fortunate.’

Tae-kyung felt a little relieved after seeing the patient’s condition.

“Currently, we’ve taken a CT scan. What went into the wound passed through the bladder and damaged the rectum.”

“Ah, yes…”

“In these cases, we worry about infection from the bacteria inside, but fortunately, it doesn’t seem too severe yet.”

“Then, do I not need surgery?”

“No. This penetrating wound in the abdomen definitely requires surgery.”

“I see.”

“I’m explaining that the infection from this trauma isn’t severe *yet*.”

Despite Tae-kyung’s active explanation, the patient didn’t seem to be listening well.

Usually, even the most painful patients would listen attentively when a doctor explains their condition.

But Choi Seon-hae was a bit different.

It was as if she was listening with one ear and letting it out the other, unable to focus on the serious injury she had sustained.

“Will it be a major surgery?”

“We’ll have to open up the abdomen. The urology specialist will handle the bladder, and I’ll operate on the rectum. However, simply sewing up the holes won’t work because stool will continue to pass through and it won’t heal.”

“Then what should we do?”

“So, we’ll prevent stool from passing through until it heals. We’ll create a stoma by bringing the intestine to the side of the abdomen. You’ve probably heard of it.”

“Is that a colostomy bag?”

“Yes, that’s right. You’ll have it for a certain period, and once the wound below heals, we’ll reconnect it.”

“I’m sure you’ll take good care of me. But I have one question I’d like to ask…”

“Please, feel free to ask.”

“I’m a little scared right now, so if possible, could I have the surgery a little later?”

“We won’t be doing the surgery right away.”

Choi Seon-hae looked slightly relieved at Tae-kyung’s words.

“We’ll calm down the infection and do the necessary tests tomorrow or the day after, and then proceed.”

If the inflammation is severe, the organs swell and adhesions become severe, so they calm the infection with antibiotics and reduce the inflammation before proceeding with surgery.

Currently, Choi Seon-hae’s inflammation was not severe, but they decided to monitor the progress, control the infected area, and then proceed with the surgery.

“So, it’s not happening right away?”

“Yes, of course, we *could* do it now, but it’s better to do it safely. And fortunately, you’re not in a critical situation.”

“Doctor, can I ask you one more thing?”

“Of course. You can ask as many questions as you have.”

“If… if, I mean, if we don’t do the surgery…”

Choi Seon-hae hesitated slightly, dragging out her words.

Her pupils, which had been fixed on the end of the bed, trembled subtly.

And Choi Seon-hae, who had never looked at Tae-kyung until now, raised her head and asked Tae-kyung.

“Could I… die?”

“Why are you saying that?”

Nurse Lim Jeong-suk asked gently.

“No, it’s just that you said it wasn’t an emergency, so I was curious.”

“It’s not that your injury is minor, it’s just that you’re not in a life-threatening situation *right now*.”

“I guess I asked a pointless question.”

“And if you don’t have surgery in this condition, your life could definitely be in danger.”

“I understand. Please take care of me.”

“We’ll do our best.”

“Choi?”

As the conversation with Choi Seon-hae was coming to an end, a man in construction work clothes entered the curtain.

“Are you here? Oh, Choi, are you okay?”

“Excuse me, who are you?”

Nurse Lim Jeong-suk asked for confirmation to protect the patient’s information.

“Ah, yes. I’m a colleague who works in the same place, and I’m very close to Choi. I came as a guardian.”

The man, with a surprised expression, was the driver, Mr. Lee, who Choi Seon-hae had met during the one-person protest a few hours ago.

“Doctor, he’s my acquaintance.”

“Oh my! What a bolt from the blue [unexpected surprise]. Doctor, is our Choi okay?”

“We’ll do our best. Are any of the patient’s family members coming?”

“Well, that son of a bitch director is the reason this happened. Our kind Choi has his own circumstances…”

Mr. Lee was distraught as if it were his own problem and tried to pour out the circumstances without being asked.

“Mr. Lee, I’m okay. It’s not serious.”

“Not serious? Your stomach is pierced! I’m going to kill that director…”

“Guardian, I appreciate you telling us, but are any family members coming?”

At the word ‘family,’ Choi Seon-hae stared intently at Mr. Lee.

“No, our Choi has his reasons, so he doesn’t have any family right now.”

Tae-kyung felt a sense of pity at the words that he had no family.

Even families who are like enemies usually provide care and help when hospitalized.

This is the moment when family is needed more. Tae-kyung tried to speak to the patient with a brighter expression.

“Then, we’ll proceed as we discussed earlier.”

“Yes, thank you.”

* * *

“Hello.”

A guardian in the same room approached Choi Seon-hae, who was looking at her phone with a serious expression.

“I’m the wife of the grandfather who’s hospitalized over there by the wall.”

“Ah, yes. Hello.”

“The room is a bit empty, isn’t it?”

There were three patients in the six-bed room, including Choi Seon-hae.

“People have been discharged one after another yesterday and today. Oh my, look at my mind. Take this.”

The old woman placed a small container on the shelf next to Choi Seon-hae’s bed.

“It’s pickled plum [umeboshi]. Our grandfather won’t eat without it.”

“But why this…?”

“Oh, well, our grandfather watches TV all day long. I feel bad in a room with sick people.”

“No, it’s okay.”

“I saw that you’re about to have surgery. It’s good to have homemade side dishes even though the hospital food is good.”

The old woman did not budge despite Choi Seon-hae’s repeated refusals.

“Thank you.”

“No thanks needed. Then rest.”

As the old woman closed the curtain and returned to her seat, Choi Seon-hae picked up the phone she had put down.

-Death B

“Choi?”

The driver, Mr. Lee, who had visited earlier, came again as he was typing words on his phone.

“Why did you come again?”

“Why did I come again? I know Choi is alone, how can I not come.”

“What about work?”

“Don’t worry about my work, worry about Choi’s body. And I bought some things.”

Mr. Lee bought the necessary items for hospitalization for Choi Seon-hae, who was hospitalized alone.

The bag contained toothpaste, a toothbrush, a towel, paper cups, tissues, etc.

“I was wondering what to do, thank you. Mr. Lee.”

“By the way, shouldn’t you tell your wife?”

“No. My wife has been worried about money issues.”

Choi Seon-hae had polio as a child, which left his legs impaired.

When his earnings were cut off due to the mess hall debt, his wife was working part-time at a restaurant instead of her disabled husband.

The overdue payment was for their only daughter’s wedding fund.

His wife was overjoyed when she received a call that she could receive the money. But he couldn’t bring himself to tell her that he couldn’t get the money again and the news of his accident.

“Choi, can I lend you some money? Everyone around will help.”

The construction workers almost all knew that Mr. and Mrs. Choi were working hard at the mess hall, saving even their sleeping time for their daughter’s wedding fund.

“Should I talk to them?”

“No, where does everyone have the spare money? I’ll take care of it.”

“But that son of a bitch director didn’t come?”

“I got a call from his secretary. He said he was sorry and would pay for all the hospital bills.”

“Bullshit. Is the hospital bill the problem? He should resolve the payment and apologize for causing the injury.”

Mr. Lee was furious and cursed the director on behalf of Mr. Choi.

“It’s okay. It’ll only make me angry if he comes. You should go now. It’s a busy day this afternoon.”

“Just give this.”

“You have more to give?”

“Choi knows, right? My wife is very particular. It’s a liquor that my wife got from a famous place after my accident, and it’s said to bring good energy if you drink it.”

Mr. Lee put the bag containing the small bottle deep inside the shelf and continued.

Inside the bottle, a snake was coiled and dead.

“It’s a crazy story, but I haven’t had an accident since I drank that.”

“No!”

“It’s true. Keep it well and drink it after the surgery. Then I’ll come again tomorrow.”

“Go carefully.”

After Mr. Lee left the room, Choi Seon-hae searched on his phone for a long time.

After searching on his phone while lying on the bed inside the curtain for several hours, he slowly raised his upper body.

‘If you don’t have surgery in this condition, your life could definitely be in danger.’

Choi Seon-hae’s pupils repeated expansion and contraction as he looked back and forth between his phone and the bottle.

The following sentence was searched on his phone all day long.

-Are death benefits paid for s****e?