CHAPTER 64: CHAPTER 64: ROUTINE ANESTHESIA – REMOVAL OF FEMORAL INTERNAL FIXATION

The next day.

AM.

Inside the operating room.

At this moment, a postoperative femoral fracture internal fixation removal surgery is underway in the orthopedics department.

Simply put, it means the patient previously had a femoral fracture, and a plate was placed. Now, another surgery is needed to remove the plate.

Currently, Zhao Heng has gained recognition from the entire operating room and the anesthesia department. He can independently handle routine surgical anesthesia like this internal fixation removal surgery.

Moreover, Zhao Heng is very popular in the operating room. Almost all the chief surgeons like anesthetists like Zhao Heng.

Highly skilled, with a good attitude, and not as arrogant as some senior anesthetists.

Communication is also very smooth; it can be said that Zhao Heng has established his basic foundation at Eastern Hospital.

Surgeons hold very high status in hospitals.

Not to mention at Eastern Hospital, getting a bed is a real test of connections.

Sometimes, if you can’t find anyone, waiting a week or even two for a general surgery is common.

Recently, Zhao Heng has gotten along with almost all the surgeons.

Not to mention, getting a bed is no big deal for him.

Lying on the operating table is a middle-aged obese man undergoing surgery with orthopedic attending physician Bai Ming.

The surgery went smoothly, with the patient’s heart rate, blood pressure, and various metrics normal, allowing Zhao Heng to relax.

"Dr. Zhao, there’s a total vertebral tumor resection surgery next week. It might require you and Teacher Gao to collaborate on anesthesia."

While performing the surgery, Bai Ming spoke to Zhao Heng.

Internal fixation removal surgery is routine in orthopedics. As an experienced orthopedic surgeon, Bai Ming performs it with ease.

The total vertebral tumor resection surgery that Bai Ming mentioned is the most challenging in spinal surgery, only a few top hospitals in the country can perform it.

The spine is located centrally at the back of the body, with complex surrounding anatomy, important organs, and adjacent to the body’s largest blood vessels containing critical spinal nerve structures, making the surgery extremely risky.

Such highly complex surgery can last up to twenty hours.

The long surgery duration requires maintaining deep anesthesia for the patient while preventing prolonged anesthesia from affecting the brain, heart, lungs, and other organs. Therefore, this surgery is an exceptional test for anesthetists.

To perform such highly complex surgery, a technically proficient, experienced anesthesia team is required first.

Now, the teaching duo of Gao Jun and Zhao Heng is recognized by all the surgeons at Eastern Hospital as the strongest anesthesia team.

"Alright, I’ll talk to Teacher about it."

Zhao Heng nodded and replied.

This scenario hasn’t been the first time recently.

Surgeons always work in a high-risk profession, like dancing on the tip of a knife. Hence, a technically proficient, experienced anesthetist can protect the surgeon by maximizing patient stability and minimizing intraoperative incidents.

The importance of anesthesia in modern surgery is becoming increasingly significant, an irreversible trend.

This scene was noticed by the instrument nurse Su Qing.

Zhao Heng’s sudden rise has been a hot topic in the operating room recently.

Whenever people in the operating room gather, they discuss Zhao Heng.

As Xu Man Ni’s close friend, Su Qing closely observes Zhao Heng.

Su Qing frequently glances at Zhao Heng. As Xu Man Ni’s close friend, Su Qing is well aware of Xu Man Ni’s gradual change in attitude toward Zhao Heng, from indifferent at first to now highly attentive, changing almost daily.

However, being so handsome and capable, quickly gaining recognition from both the operating room and several surgical departments, is enough to make a name at Eastern Hospital.

Why didn’t she notice such potential before?

Su Qing couldn’t help but think.

But as much as she thought, Zhao Heng had already caught Xu Man Ni’s eye. She dared not harbor any thoughts.

Xu Man Ni’s formidability is known only to Su Qing, her close friend.

Soon, the internal fixation plate on the patient’s femur was removed.

Seeing the plate removed, Bai Ming entrusted the subsequent cleaning and suturing to a resident doctor while he took off his surgical gown and sat beside Zhao Heng, wanting to discuss next week’s total vertebral tumor resection surgery.

Before this surgery, the orthopedic director knew Zhao Heng would handle anesthesia, so he told Bai Ming to ensure Zhao Heng and Gao Jun were scheduled for the surgery’s anesthesia!

"Dr. Zhao, so it’s settled for next week. I’ll finalize the time once back in the department."

Although Zhao Heng is not yet officially an anesthetist, Bai Ming’s address for him has changed from before.

He could call him Xiao Zhao, or just anybody.

But now, he must formally address him as Dr. Zhao.

Bai Ming’s change in address for Zhao Heng shows that Zhao Heng is doing quite well now.

"Hmm, if there are no other arrangements, it shouldn’t be a problem."

Zhao Heng thought for a moment and said.

He didn’t speak conclusively. Indeed, unless other surgeries came up in between, it shouldn’t be an issue.

"Teacher Bai, you can call me Xiao Zhao; I’m still not officially in the system yet."

After a pause, Zhao Heng continued.

"Not now, but soon. Fine, I’ll call you Xiao Zhao, you call me Old Bai, how about that?"

Bai Ming responded smoothly.

The change in address instantly brought the two closer.

This is unavoidable; while surgeons lead the crucial part of the surgery, without the cooperation of anesthetists and instrument nurses, they can’t work alone.

Soon, Zhao Heng and Bai Ming had a pleasant conversation. Meanwhile, on the operating table, the resident doctor completed the suturing and was covering it with gauze.

With the surgery mainly completed, Zhao Heng stood up, walked to the surgery table, and did a final check.

Initially, it was just a routine check, but when he saw the patient’s right leg slightly trembling, accompanied by a slight increase in heart rate, Zhao Heng noticed.

This slight tremor and heart rate increase were minimal. If not for Zhao Heng’s amalgamation of Gao Jun’s and Huang old professor’s vast experience, he wouldn’t have noticed.

"Send the patient back to the ward."

Bai Ming saw the surgery was completed and told the resident doctor who did the suturing.

Just a suture, a basic operation; Bai Ming believed the resident doctor could complete it well.

"Okay, Teacher."

The resident doctor Li Ziming nodded, ready to help the nurse push the patient back to the ward.

At that moment, a lightning bolt flashed through Zhao Heng’s mind, revealing a possibility to him.

"Wait, don’t move the patient yet."

Zhao Heng spoke up, stopping resident doctor Li Ziming, who was about to push the patient out.

??

With Zhao Heng’s interruption, both Li Ziming and Bai Ming looked at Zhao Heng with confusion, unsure why he called to stop.