CHAPTER 346: 346 INTERN’S FIRST SHOW

This wasn’t the first time Liu Banxia had misdiagnosed a patient, yet every such instance had been sensational.

As he said, sometimes illnesses aren’t as frightening as they seem. Once detected, they can be treated with modern medical procedures.

Narcolepsy itself is truly incurable. However, if the condition was actually a misdiagnosed Chiari malformation, then once the diagnosis is corrected, current medical procedures can address the underlying issue.

The patient’s deformity wasn’t particularly severe; it only had such a significant impact because he was still in his developmental stage.

The treatment plan devised after the consultation was to expand the posterior cranial fossa to relieve pressure. It was this excessive pressure that had led to symptoms of hypersomnia and high blood pressure.

Although the surgery sounded terrifying, for Director Xiao Zhaoqiu of Neurosurgery, it wasn’t much of a challenge.

Liu Banxia also invited Director Hu from the Department of Plastic Surgery. With these two leading the operation, the child could return to a normal life after surgery.

Having just returned to duty, Liu Banxia first demonstrated his blind clamping technique on a blood vessel, then showcased his diagnostic skills with challenging illnesses. It would be difficult for him not to attract attention.

After all, these were attention-grabbing accomplishments that would likely spread throughout the hospital and even reach the ears of the leadership.

"This kid really can’t stand a quiet life. He created such a stir just after returning to work. How do you think we should handle this?" Chen Zhenxing asked Zhou Zhiyong with a smile.

"To be fair, his suspension this time was a bit harsh," Zhou Zhiyong replied.

"Moreover, he performed several surgeries consecutively last time, and all the patients recovered well postoperatively. This has already earned him some renown among the patient community. Although it hasn’t spread widely yet, it’s just a matter of time."

"It seems Old Wang is only upset because Liu Banxia talked back to him last time and didn’t show him deference. I also inquired around; when Liu Banxia’s parents came to our hospital for a check-up, he didn’t even queue-jump for them. What are your thoughts? What kind of compensation are you planning to give him?"

"That’s what I’m wrestling with," Chen Zhenxing said. "I want to promote him again, so people can see his capabilities. However, his qualifications are still too weak; he hasn’t even reached the level of an attending physician yet. That makes it very difficult."

"Currently, the operations of the Emergency Center are stabilizing. Although there are some deficiencies in the department’s configuration, they should gradually be rectified. I’m confident we’ll qualify for the selection in a year’s time."

"I was genuinely worried he’d get upset and quit last time. We might as well observe him for a few more months. There’s no need for us to keep arguing with Old Wang and his faction over this."

"Although we can’t assign him a new position right now, I’ll talk to Shuwen about granting Liu Banxia more autonomy in the Emergency Center."

"Despite being a surgeon, he also seems to have excellent diagnostic skills. You have to admire these young people. Their minds are so agile; they’re much sharper than we were in our prime."

Zhou Zhiyong laughed. "Isn’t that the truth? When I came over, I heard some people muttering that Liu Banxia, a surgeon, is poaching cases from the internists."

"I’ll also talk to him later to see if he has any other ideas for training. The interns he’s mentoring are progressing very quickly. This can be attributed to his boldness and the consistent training he provides."

Chen Zhenxing nodded. "If all else fails, let Shuwen worry about it. He’s the director of the Emergency Center, after all. Once he relinquishes his general surgery duties after the New Year, he’ll be able to focus all his energy on the Emergency Center."

It’s said that wherever there are people, there is a martial world. This statement is not wrong at all.

Chen Zhenxing might be the Chief Director of the Second Hospital, but he had higher ambitions. The Second Hospital, in its current state, wasn’t entirely under his control, and this was a constant source of his headaches.

Only by successfully managing the Second Hospital and achieving better results could he distinguish himself. The development of the Emergency Center impacted far more than just him.

Liu Banxia, working in the Emergency Center, was oblivious to his near promotion. Instead, he was quite intrigued by two patients who had been admitted for acute abdominal pain.

"As the saying goes, there’s no time like the present. You’ll perform your first surgery today," Liu Banxia said, putting down the two patients’ test reports.

"Both are routine: one appendicitis, the other gallbladder stones. Although we’re supposed to choose the best among you to operate, your skill levels are all pretty similar."

The interns surrounding him were dumbfounded. Who could have anticipated that the opportunity to be the primary surgeon for the first time would arrive so suddenly, out of the blue? This was too abrupt.

"Be bold. We’ll leave the choice of who operates to fate. We’ll draw lots later. The first two drawn will perform the surgeries: the first will do the appendectomy, and the second, the cholecystectomy," Liu Banxia continued.

"I’ll supervise the appendectomy, and Dr. Shi will supervise the cholecystectomy. Since the Emergency Center’s surgical schedule isn’t too packed right now, congratulations to you all."

After speaking, Liu Banxia stepped aside, giving them time to process the news.

Liang Xiaolin was relatively relaxed since she wasn’t in general surgery, but the others, including Qing Kewa, were somewhat nervous.

"There’s no escaping this," Xu Yino said. "Those who are picked shouldn’t worry too much, and those who aren’t picked shouldn’t feel too relieved either."

"Knowing Teacher Liu’s personality, I’d say he definitely plans to give all of us a chance to operate within the next few days. Brace yourselves and good luck."

Although she spoke encouraging words, her expression was far from relaxed. This was the pressure of interning under Liu Banxia. The opportunity to perform one’s first surgery was incredibly rare, and as interns, they had fantasized about it countless times. But when it actually arrived, the pressure was immense.

Liu Banxia didn’t care about their pressure. Today’s lucky ones were Liu Yiqing and Li Hao. Liu Yiqing, drawn first, was to perform the appendectomy under his supervision.

The remaining interns also divided into two groups, each choosing their first assistant. Today, Liu Banxia and Shi Lei were merely there to supervise in the operating room.

"Want to switch with someone else? You seem quite nervous," Liu Banxia joked as they were scrubbing in.

"Teacher Liu, you’ll have to watch very carefully. If I make any mistakes, please step in quickly," Liu Yiqing said, her face etched with worry.

Liu Banxia nodded. "Naturally. But I’d prefer not to intervene unless absolutely necessary. You’ve assisted in so many surgeries, and this is just a laparoscopy. It’s actually quite simple."

He spoke lightly, but Liu Yiqing grew even more anxious. For Teacher Liu, it’s indeed simple, but for me, the pressure is immense.

Wang Lei, the anesthesiologist in their operating room today, knew this surgery was for the interns’ training and found the prospect quite interesting.

After verifying the patient’s information, Wang Lei began administering the anesthesia.

"Liu Yiqing, any thoughts on this surgery?" Liu Banxia asked with a smile.

"Teacher Liu, I’m so nervous," Liu Yiqing said, a strained smile on her face.

"It’s normal to be nervous," Liu Banxia said with a laugh. "Essentially, it’s just making an incision, observing, making another incision, and then performing the procedure."

"Xu Yino is your first assistant, so what’s there to worry about? It’s not like you’re doing an open procedure with a small incision where finding the appendix can be tricky. With laparoscopy, you’ll have a clear view of everything."

"Dr. Liu, you can do it. I’ve seen you assist Banxia; your hands are plenty steady," Wang Lei encouraged.

Things were different now than outside the operating room. It was crucial to give Liu Yiqing enough confidence. This would help her reduce errors during the operation and avoid endangering the patient’s life.

This was the key. Allowing an intern to be the primary surgeon naturally involved risk; each supervising doctor chose a different opportune moment for an intern to take the lead.

Although Liu Banxia hadn’t performed many surgeries during his own residency, and the few opportunities he’d had as primary surgeon were from the colorectal department, he had, in fact, accumulated a wealth of experience in laparoscopic appendectomies. It was just that no one had seen him practicing.

He observed Liu Yiqing’s technique very carefully. Although her movements were a bit slow and her hands occasionally trembled slightly, he didn’t intervene to correct her.

Everyone has a first time, right? If I didn’t have the System, my own first attempt at a laparoscopic appendectomy probably wouldn’t have been as good as Liu Yiqing’s.

After the surgery, Liu Yiqing turned her head and looked at Liu Banxia with a pleading expression.

"What are you looking at me for?" Liu Banxia asked with a smile.

"Teacher Liu, did I... did I do okay?" Liu Yiqing asked, mustering her courage.

"Add chicken legs for us at dinner," Liu Banxia said before walking out.

"Why do I have to buy chicken legs?" Liu Yiqing asked, dumbfounded.

"What nonsense are you spouting? It’s because you passed! HAHAHA!" Xu Yino exclaimed. "I was so nervous just now."

"Teacher Wang, did I really do okay?" Liu Yiqing asked Wang Lei again, pumping her fist in the air.

"From an intern’s perspective, it was acceptable," Wang Lei said. "But by a qualified doctor’s standards, it was still a bit lacking. Your operating speed was a little slow; the entire surgery took forty-three minutes, and that’s not even counting the patient’s recovery time from anesthesia."

"Thank you, Teacher Wang! I’ll work harder!" Liu Yiqing declared, pumping her fist again.

Her confidence surged. I can be faster. I was just too nervous earlier, that’s why I couldn’t pick up the pace.

Liu Banxia left that OR and went to the adjacent one, where a cholecystectomy was underway. This procedure was more complex than an appendectomy, which was why he hadn’t chosen to observe it first.

Li Hao’s performance was similar to Liu Yiqing’s. His anatomical understanding was spot on; only his speed and stability needed improvement. In particular, his control over the suturing force was slightly lacking.

However, these were minor issues and didn’t stop Liu Banxia from praising them. They had earned chicken legs for tomorrow’s lunch as well.

For their debut as primary surgeons, both Liu Yiqing and Li Hao received passing marks. Even though their performances were merely adequate, they were both content.

After all, they had only hoped not to make any major mistakes; they didn’t dare to ask for more.