CHAPTER 37: CHAPTER 37: MAJOR TRAFFIC ACCIDENT

The next day.

a.m.

Operating room lounge.

Zhao Heng sat in his spot, still reminiscing about yesterday’s hot spring trip. One has to admit, you get what you pay for, and after a whole day, the relaxation effect is indeed very noticeable.

As Zhao Heng was reminiscing, Gao Jun walked in and said to Zhao Heng, "Xiao Zhao, we have a major case."

"What major case?"

Hearing the usually calm and composed Gao Jun say this, Zhao Heng curiously asked.

"A major traffic accident occurred on National Highway 113; the injured will be sent over in batches soon," Gao Jun said with a solemn expression.

"I understand."

Zhao Heng stood up, nodded, and said.

To be aware, Eastern Hospital is already short of anesthetists, and if it’s not an emergency surgery, one usually has to queue for several days.

Moreover, some of the already scheduled surgeries can be postponed, while others cannot be delayed.

This leads to the anesthetists having to do what they hate — running between operating rooms — when such major accidents occur and many injured need major surgery.

What’s known as "running between operating rooms" involves constantly shuttling between several surgeries, monitoring all data, and adjusting anesthesia medications at any time.

This is a tremendous test of both the physical and mental stamina of the anesthetists.

Looks like today will be very busy.

Ten minutes later.

In the operating room.

Zhao Heng looked at the young man lying on the operating table, whose legs below the knees were already mangled and bloody. He couldn’t help but sigh inwardly.

He understood that with injuries like the young man’s legs, there was no way to save them; amputation was inevitable.

Seeing this young man, probably just in his early twenties, facing amputation at this age is truly cruel.

The attending surgeon, Li Haiyang, and two other resident doctors followed the young man into the operating room, so it seemed that he would be the main surgeon for this operation today.

Seeing Li Haiyang’s pale face, with bloodshot eyes, Zhao Heng knew he had just finished a night shift and was about to rest.

However, that’s how it is in emergencies; once such incidents happen, regardless of whether you’re on shift or resting, you must step up.

"Teacher Gao, there’s a patient with a high-level paraplegia over there; the director wants you to go over,"

At this moment, the door to the operating room opened, and a thoracic surgery resident doctor called for Gao Jun.

Gao Jun looked at the patient with bilateral lower limb amputations, then looked at Zhao Heng and made up his mind, saying to Zhao Heng, "Xiao Zhao, I’ll leave this to you."

For patients with high-level paraplegia, since their spine and nerves are damaged, the difficulty and risk of anesthesia are extremely high, and only Gao Jun has such a level in the anesthesiology department.

But the patient with bilateral lower limb amputations also needs immediate surgery, so Gao Jun had no choice but to entrust the anesthesia for this patient to Zhao Heng.

"Keep monitoring potassium levels to prevent acute crush syndrome,"

Gao Jun instructed Zhao Heng after a pause.

"I know, don’t worry, Teacher,"

Zhao Heng nodded and said composedly.

"Dr. Li, I’m leaving this to Xiao Zhao,"

Gao Jun said to Li Haiyang.

"Alright, you go ahead,"

Li Haiyang looked at Zhao Heng, pondered for a moment, and nodded.

He had already witnessed Zhao Heng’s anesthesia skills before.

In some aspects, Zhao Heng’s level was almost on par with Gao Jun, and given that Gao Jun was confident enough to entrust it to Zhao Heng, he had no reason not to be.

Gao Jun also nodded and then beckoned the thoracic surgery resident doctor to leave the operating room.

"Xiao Zhao, let’s begin,"

Li Haiyang said to Zhao Heng somewhat weakly.

After all, he had just finished a night shift, and now with another surgery, the intensity was truly overwhelming.

But there was no other choice.

Zhao Heng shook his head slightly; if it were possible, no one would want to be this exhausted.

After a night shift, still doing surgery for several hours, it’s basically depleting one’s health.

But for now, it’s an unsolvable problem for anyone.

Despite the severe injuries of the young man, from an anesthesia perspective, it wasn’t actually very difficult.

The most challenging cases for anesthesia are those with underlying health conditions, especially patients with a long history of heavy drinking.

This young man, before his injury, was healthy with no underlying conditions, so as long as anesthesia is administered normally, and potassium levels are monitored to avoid arrhythmias, everything should be fine.

Quickly, Zhao Heng finished the anesthesia, his actions efficient and precise, and the dosage of anesthesia was also very accurate.

Seeing Zhao Heng’s level of anesthesia, Li Haiyang was somewhat astonished.

In his opinion, such proficiency should belong to a senior attending anesthesiologist with more than ten years of experience.

"Dr. Li, blood pressure, heart rate, and carbon dioxide are normal; surgery can begin,"

Zhao Heng checked the vital signs monitor and said to Li Haiyang.

"Hmm, not bad,"

Li Haiyang nodded; good anesthesia results equate to a good start to surgery, which is what all surgeons prefer.

That’s why they say, never offend the anesthetist in the operating room.

Li Haiyang, along with two resident doctors, began the surgery.

The surgery had not been underway for long when Zhao Heng noticed a white ball of light falling from Li Haiyang.

Zhao Heng, who was already experienced, recognized from the color of the light ball that it was likely at the proficient level.

It’s known that the only time a Perfect Skill light ball fell, Zhao Heng found that the color of the light ball was somewhat brighter than this one.

Instinctively, Zhao Heng moved his thoughts to absorb the light ball.

"Ding! Acquired [Amputation and Stump Repair Technique (Proficient)]."

Indeed, the skill light balls dropping from Li Haiyang were all at the proficient level, none at the Perfect Level.

No surprise there, since Li Haiyang is just an attending physician. It seems Perfect Level skill balls only drop from department heads.

Since the young man’s bilateral lower limbs were completely necrotic, after preoperative communication with the family, an amputation was performed, which is less challenging than preserving the limbs.

However, the stump repair involving blood vessels, nerves, and muscles is no small undertaking, so less than half an hour into the surgery, Li Haiyang’s complexion worsened, and sweat started dripping in large beads due to excessive fatigue.

Seeing Li Haiyang in this state, Zhao Heng was genuinely worried he’d faint right there over the operating table.

Sighing, Zhao Heng stood up and said to Li Haiyang, "Why don’t I do the stump repair, and you guide me from the side?"

Upon hearing this, the two resident doctors looked at Zhao Heng in astonishment.

Although anesthetists are also doctors, with the qualifications to practice and theoretically able to perform surgeries,

they had never seen an anesthetist volunteer to assist the main surgeon.

In other words, while it’s possible to help, almost no anesthetist does so, as it’s a thankless task.

"Xiao Zhao, you...?"

Hearing Zhao Heng’s suggestion, a wave of warmth rose in Li Haiyang’s heart.

In this era where everyone seeks self-preservation, people like Zhao Heng are extremely rare!

Moreover, from previous surgeries, Li Haiyang had already realized that Zhao Heng’s level in emergency surgeries was actually quite high, at least on the same level as his own.

The stump repair, though cumbersome and time-consuming, isn’t particularly difficult technically.

"Dr. Li, you rest a bit by the side, guide me, and once you’ve recovered, you can take over again,"

Zhao Heng continued.

Normally, he wouldn’t engage in such thankless tasks.

But seeing Li Haiyang’s pale face and bloodshot eyes as he persisted, Zhao Heng was suddenly moved.

"Alright, Xiao Zhao, you take over,"

Li Haiyang agreed without pretense, let out a long breath, sat down to the side, and leaned wearily against the wall, handing the operation table over to Zhao Heng.