024 Superior Performance

(Thanks to friends Hei Sao, piangya, and 08a for their gifts and encouragement)

Zhou Shuwen picked up the scalpel.

For Wang Mingxing, the difference between a total pancreatectomy with duodenectomy and a standard pancreatoduodenectomy (removing only the pancreatic head) was immense. It wouldn't just affect his future prognosis; it would also directly impact Wang Mingxing's quality of life.

Of course, even a standard pancreatoduodenectomy would significantly impact prognosis and quality of life. After all, many organs or parts of organs had to be removed, which was akin to downsizing the complement of abdominal organs.

With extreme caution, he made an incision and excised a piece of the pancreas. The nurse waiting beside him quickly passed the cryobox. After the sample was placed inside, it was sent to the pathology department with utmost speed.

Then came the wait for the results of the pancreatic tissue examination.

Liu Banxia felt that such waiting was torture. The operating room was filled only with the sounds of various machines operating.

After a while longer, the results came back: the margin was unclear; more tissue needed to be excised.

Though everyone knew that pancreatic cancer progressed rapidly, they still clung to the hope that it had been detected early enough and hadn't spread to the entire pancreas.

The second sample: margin unclear.

The third sample: margin unclear.

When the fourth piece was removed for examination, Liu Banxia had lost all hope. Pancreatic cancer, known as the "king of cancers," certainly hadn't earned its title for nothing.

"Director Zhou, the margin is clear!" a nurse announced, running into the operating room while everyone was anxiously waiting.

Those simple words nearly made the entire operating room erupt. Liu Banxia noticed Zhou Shuwen's eyebrows lift, a smile in his eyes.

If this operation were a Long March, they had now taken merely the first solid step. The subsequent separation and resection stages were even more critical.

Now, Liu Banxia resumed his role as Second Assist. From this point on, it was Zhou Shuwen's time to display his mastery. Everyone in the operating room, as well as the audience behind the observation window, focused entirely on Zhou Shuwen's technique.

It was just a standard pancreatoduodenectomy, but in Liu Banxia's eyes, the procedure was a marvel to behold.

Using a linear cutting stapler, he resected 30% of the stomach along with the omentum and lymph nodes in the pyloric region, then reflected the distal stomach to the left, and ligated the right gastric artery and lesser omentum. Next, he isolated the common hepatic artery and the proper hepatic artery, followed by the gastroduodenal artery...

For Liu Banxia, even with his surgical experience, he knew he couldn't match Zhou Shuwen's swiftness and precision. Even after the strenuous special training the previous day, he was not yet at that level.

This made him realize once again that even if the system could strengthen him and offer advantages, he still needed to strive on his own. The system could provide shortcuts, but if his foundation wasn't solid, those shortcuts would be like walking a tightrope.

The resection was complete, but that was only half the journey. The second half, equally crucial, was the reconstruction of the digestive tract.

Zhou Shuwen didn't opt for a novel approach; he employed the most common clinical sequence: first, a pancreaticojejunostomy, then a hepaticojejunostomy, and finally a gastrojejunostomy or duodenojejunostomy.

Although Liu Banxia wasn't an ostentatious person, he still took pride in his dressing change and suturing techniques. These were the skills he had truly mastered, to the point where he had even dubbed himself the "Wound Debridement Prince of the Emergency Department."

But after witnessing Zhou Shuwen's suturing skills, that little bit of pride vanished like smoke in the wind. Truly, the devil is in the details, and the slightest misstep can determine the outcome. The gap between them was immense.

Once the reconstruction of the digestive tract was completed, Liu Banxia's admiration for Zhou Shuwen had grown considerably. With the enhancement from his Spirit attribute, today's surgery had allowed him to perceive many details he had previously overlooked.

"Shi Lei, shall we let Little Liu close today?" Zhou Shuwen asked, retracting his hands and rolling his neck.

"Huh…?" Liu Banxia couldn't help but exclaim.

He had entertained the thought before, but that was mostly to reassure Wang Mingxing. Now, having just been part of such a flawless operation, his confidence had evaporated.

"What, you don't dare?" Zhou Shuwen asked with a playful smile.

"Director, in that case, I'll give it my best shot! It doesn't matter if I make a fool of myself; I'm young and inexperienced, after all," Liu Banxia declared, steeling himself.

"Didn't you tell Wang Mingxing you'd give him a personalized suture? You have to keep your promises to patients," Zhou Shuwen teased.

Liu Banxia nearly choked. That was just something I said to comfort the kid! How could a distinguished director like you tease a lowly resident doctor like me?

Then he shot Shi Lei a glare, quickly followed by an imploring, grateful look.

The glare was because he knew Shi Lei must have told the director. The grateful look was because this glorious task of closing the incision had surely been secured for him by Shi Lei.

His somewhat oblivious and carefree nature was likely why, despite his popularity among the nurses, he had remained single for so long.

Initially, he had felt a little apprehensive, worried about making a fool of himself in front of Zhou Shuwen. But once he was truly in position, needle holder in hand, all other thoughts vanished.

He felt a connection to Wang Mingxing, having spoken with him for a while before the anesthesia. Now, the best he could do for the patient was to suture with all his skill.

As he began to operate, he finally understood the true meaning of the enhanced "Instrument Proficiency" and "Instrument Effect" he'd gained from his attribute points. His movements were fluid and precise, as if the suturing needle itself were an extension of his will, connected to him in some profound way.

This was a teaching surgery, and those observing were not only Zhou Shuwen but also a large crowd outside. Seeing Liu Banxia's suturing technique on the monitor, many of those watching found their opinions shifting.

First among them was Jiang Tao. He had been confident he could lure Liu Banxia to the colorectal department, even if it meant offering significant incentives. But now, seeing Director Zhou's attitude and Liu Banxia's suturing prowess, he felt that hope dwindling. Liu Banxia's fundamentals were too solid. If he really came to the colorectal department, it might actually be a waste of his talent.

And Qi Wentai? He had initially been scornful of Liu Banxia, finding fault with everything he did. Now, having personally witnessed his suturing skills, he had to grudgingly admit Liu Banxia's superiority in this area. He was well aware of his own abilities; he couldn't possibly achieve such a level of suturing.

But even as he acknowledged it, his resentment for Liu Banxia intensified. Why hadn't he shown this skill earlier? Why wait until after I took his surgery to reveal it?

The others had simpler thoughts, their discussions centering on Liu Banxia's suturing technique.

Liang Xiaolin, standing in a corner, couldn't help but bite her lip. This Liu Shoutian seems truly formidable. Surpassing him... won't that be incredibly difficult?

Thinking this, the young woman tried to rally her spirits. I've only just begun, and he's been practicing for so long. I'm not afraid of him. I must defeat him!

But hearing the murmurs of admiration around her, her spirits sank again.

In this surgery, Liu Banxia had been merely a supporting player among supporting players. Yet, through his final act of suturing, he had somehow stolen the spotlight, exuding the air of a protagonist. After all, considering his standing, his performance today—from the intraoperative Q&A to the final closure—was truly exceptional.