Chapter 5: Great Achievements Made

"You see the rash on the patient's body; it only appeared after the surgery had started for a while. When I was preparing the patient's skin in the ward, I can be certain that these rashes were not present."

The expressions on the doctors' faces turned unpleasant.

Especially the primary and first assistant surgeons.

They were the first and second responsible parties.

"What nonsense are you spouting? Are you implying that we caused these rashes?" the Resident Doctor in charge rebuked in a deep, angry voice.

This was no laughing matter.

The patient suddenly going into shock on the operating table, with Zhou Can saying such things, was tantamount to pinning the accident's responsibility on the lead surgeons and the others.

This kid was naive and ignorant, not knowing what could be said and what could not.

"Director, I think the patient is showing symptoms of an allergic reaction."

Zhou Can paid no attention to the Resident Doctor in charge and continued.

"An allergic reaction?"

Director Liu's eyes lit up instantly.

Right, how could they not have thought of that? They only blamed the sudden shock of the patient, and their minds were in a mess at the time.

"Did you conduct a skin test with the anesthesia?"

Director Liu turned to inquire of the anesthesiologist.

"We did, everything was normal. Also, we had asked the family and the patient beforehand; there was no history of allergies to anesthetic drugs," the anesthesiologist definitely did not dare bear the blame.

"I think the patient is most likely allergic to rubber."

Zhou Can continued.

"Why do you say that?"

Director Liu found this intern to be extraordinary and paid great attention to Zhou Can's opinion.

"Because when I was collecting blood from the patient, I used a rubber band to tie the patient's arm tightly, and he showed a very resistant expression. At the time, I didn't think much of it, but now with the patient suddenly going into shock and considering all the symptoms, I boldly deduce that the patient must be allergic to rubber."

Zhou Can stated his conclusion calmly.

[Pathological Diagnosis Experience Points +1.]

The sudden increase in experience points, and by a whole point no less, felt like a gift from heaven.

He was thrilled.

Now that he had the experience points in hand, he was even more certain that his diagnosis was correct.

Originally, using medical skills on patients, the experience gained was ten times that from reading. No wonder all doctors say that if you want to grow quickly, going to the operating room is the only way.

He now finally understood why those ordinarily arrogant Resident Doctors, at the mere opportunity of stitching skin and closing cavities, would fight over it like hungry wolves.

It was all for rapid growth.

"Immediately start shock treatment for the patient. Everyone remove their rubber items. Circulating nurse, call the family immediately to inquire if the patient has a history of rubber allergy."

Director Liu made a swift series of arrangements.

When it was time to be decisive in patient rescue, there was no room for dawdling. Delaying the golden rescue time could mean missing the chance to save a life.

After the rescue efforts, the patient's vital signs gradually returned to normal.

"It's okay now, it's all okay!"

The anesthesiologist was as happy as a child.

In surgery, it is the anesthesiologist who guards and ensures the patient's life.

Every doctor hopes that the patient leaves the operating room safely.

Everyone breathed a sigh of relief, and smiles emerged on their faces.

At this moment, more good news came.

"Director Liu, I just inquired with the family. The patient indeed has an allergy to rubber," the circulating under the operating table nurse said after making the call.

"Good! The cause of the shock has been confirmed, now I can proceed with the surgery with peace of mind."

Director Liu, getting on in years, had been genuinely terrified just a moment ago.

He nearly failed to preserve his reputation.

After the crisis was averted, he immediately thought of the biggest contributor.

He looked towards Zhou Can, who was standing at a distance, his gaze warmer and kinder than ever.

"Xiao Zhou, right?"

"Student Zhou Can."

Zhou Can was speechless; it had been nearly a year of internships, and his mentor hadn't even remembered his name.

But this kind of thing was normal.

Mentor doctors generally held high positions and rarely personally guided interns. Usually, it was managed by their attending and Resident Doctors.

The one who oversaw Zhou Can the most was Resident Doctor in charge — Dr. Fang.

"You performed very well, keeping calm in crisis, with a solid medical foundation. At critical moments, you were able to apply your learning and connect the details of the patient, synthesizing a comprehensive argument. This is particularly commendable."

Director Liu used a string of positive words such as very good, calm in a crisis, and commendable.

It was evident how much he appreciated Zhou Can's performance just now.

"Come here, stand over here. From now on, in my surgeries, you will be in this position. Young people should be nurtured."

Director Liu was referring to the position where the Resident Doctor in charge was standing.

This position is commonly known as the 'Fourth Assistant's position'.

Securing this spot in Director Liu's surgeries was extremely difficult.

Even the Resident Doctors only got to rotate standing there.

Now that Director Liu himself had spoken, assigning the spot to Zhou Can, the Resident Doctors and interns around were green with envy.

"Thank you for your cultivation, Director Liu!"

Suddenly being bestowed such generous treatment, Zhou Can was flattered and surprised.

After a year of internships and accompanying his mentor into the operating room countless times, this was the first time he had stood in such an important position.

The Resident Doctor in charge felt displaced from the Fourth Assistant's position, and was quite disappointed.

Taking advantage of Director Liu's current good mood, he forced a smile and said, "Director Liu, although I've been studying with you for many years now, I'm also only 28 years old. I'm also one of the 'young people' you mentioned! Please don't neglect me just because I'm older in terms of seniority."

The squeaky wheel gets the grease.

Director Liu was mainly worried that Zhou Can would permanently occupy the position of the fourth assistant, and that the others wouldn't get their chance, hence his remarks.

"Ha ha, you sly boy. Don't worry, everyone will get their opportunity," Director Liu said with a laugh and a scolding tone.

"With your word, I can rest assured. I want to be your student for a lifetime." The Resident Director really knew how to play the emotional card.

With just a few words, he charmed Director Liu into beaming with pleasure.

Leaving a good impression in the leader's heart made it easier to seize opportunities for practice in the future.

"Alright, let's continue with the surgery! Xiao Zhou, help with the retraction and pay attention to how I isolate the pathological tissue, especially the parts adjacent to major blood vessels and important nerves, skill and experience are both extremely important."

Director Liu continued with the patient's surgery.

And he directly involved Zhou Can in the operation. Although it was just a task of retracting, this was a Level 3 general surgery.

One of the attending doctors was doing the retraction work.

For an intern like him to join in retracting was already an honor.

The Resident Director's smooth talk ultimately couldn't shake Zhou Can's status in Director Liu's heart. In today's operation, he was destined to stand behind Zhou Can.

At this moment, Director Liu had already begun.

He carefully and delicately dissected the enormous lymph node tumor mass from the surrounding tissue.

The scalpel came to life in his hands.

Which part to cut, the force, angle, length of each stroke - all were executed with masterful precision.

The First Assistant's cooperation was also very much in place.

When isolating pathological tissues, new bleeding spots would constantly appear.

The First Assistant would immediately approach with an electrocautery knife.

The bleeding stopped instantaneously.

Their teamwork was incredibly in sync.

The job of the Second Assistant was to assist the lead surgeon during the operation. For instance, holding the tumor in place or retracting tissue that might interfere with the operation to expose the best surgical view to the lead surgeon, etc.

Zhou Can found that being up close in an operation versus watching from a distance were completely different matters.

It was Director Liu who wielded the scalpel, yet Zhou Can felt as if he was in the thick of it, tense with anticipation.

Every time he saw Director Liu's knife rise and fall, his heart would fluctuate accordingly.

When the scalpel descended, his heart would rise, and he would be highly tense. He couldn't help worrying—what if this cut damaged the patient's artery? What if it sliced a nerve?

Only when Director Liu's knife was lifted and the patient was unharmed, did he secretly breathe a sigh of relief; the suspended heart finally settled.

...

The surgery proceeded very smoothly, with all the lymph nodes and tumors that needed to be removed successfully excised.

Zhou Can felt immensely rewarded.

He gained a deeper understanding of the isolation and removal of tumors and lymph nodes.

For example, how to minimize risk when separating a tumor from an artery without damaging the vessel. Or how to unravel complexities around the tumor and methodically clear obstacles step by step.

Moreover, the flexible application of various hemostatic techniques by the First Assistant also provided him with great insights.

Which blood vessels require ligation and which need hemostatic forceps for bleeding control?

How to operate when the bleeding point is next to a nerve, and so on.

These are difficult to learn from books.

They must be learned in practice.

The operating table, like a battlefield, is ever-changing. Different situations call for different approaches.

This demands that doctors continue to accumulate experience and apply it flexibly.

"Alright! Everything's been removed cleanly. Remember to send it for pathology examination. Based on my personal experience, the likelihood of malignancy is very small," Director Liu instructed after inspecting the excised tumors and nodules in the tray.

"He Hansheng, Song Ze, you two handle the surgical site hemostasis," he declared.

This was clearly addressed to the First and Second Assistants.

In the operating room, they were akin to the lead surgeon's left and right arms.

Both had strong medical skills and handled many critical tasks during the operation.

"You've worked hard. Take a rest first. If there's anything we miss, please give us guidance," the First Assistant humbly offered.

The Second Assistant seemed to be the practical type.

Not much of a talker, just quietly getting the job done.

Doing the auxiliary work when needed and charging ahead when necessary.

Zhou Can and the Third Assistant continued to retract diligently, watching the First and Second Assistants perform tasks like vascular anastomosis and effusion extraction.

These tasks were technically demanding.

Not all attending physicians could handle them with competence.

If the hemorrhage control at the surgical site was poor, post-operation complications like hematomas and seromas could develop, severely impacting patient recovery.

"Director Liu, the hemostasis at the surgical site is complete. Please review it," somebody called.

Director Liu did not take it lightly and inspected carefully.

He even moved aside to check some hidden areas more meticulously.

This kind of conscientious attitude was very worth learning for young doctors.

"Done very well, you can start stitching the skin," advised Director Liu after his inspection, nodding with satisfaction.

Tasks like stitching the skin were beneath the notice of the First Assistant, Second Assistant, and Third Assistant.

At this point, Zhou Can, who had been on hook duty the whole time, sensed his opportunity.

He now ranked as above average in residency training for suturing and ligation. He did not dare to perform vascular anastomosis or organ suturing, but stitching the skin should be no problem.

Zhou Can was not the only one eyeing the skin-stitching opportunity. Resident Doctors and interns standing behind were all eagerly waiting.

Opportunities come and go in a flash.

If someone else took the lead, it would be difficult to ask for the chance again.

Zhou Can mustered his courage and said, "Director, could you give me the opportunity to stitch the skin?"