CHAPTER 134: 134 SINKING UNDER QINGYANG

Xu Pinglin angrily hung up the phone. After hesitating for three seconds, he still contacted Gastroenterology Department 2, the Proctology Department, and the Chinese Medicine Department for a consultation.

Someone from the Proctology Department arrived, but he remained silent, offering no constructive opinions.

Deputy Directors from Gastroenterology Department 2 and Gastroenterology Department 3 came. After listening to Doctor Hou’s description, they stared at each other, speechless.

The treatment methods they knew, Xu Pinglin and his team also knew.

Now, the medication was ineffective and even exacerbated the patient’s condition. The two Deputy Directors had no better solutions.

Moreover, the patient’s impaired clotting function and difficulty breathing severely limited their options.

Now, all eyes turned to the Deputy Chief Physician from the Chinese Medicine Department; he was their last hope. If he couldn’t offer a solution, their only recourse was to have the Hematology Department urgently correct the patient’s clotting function to a level where surgery could be performed as soon as possible.

The Deputy Chief Physician of the Chinese Medicine Department did not speak immediately.

They had just seen the patient together. To be honest, he had never encountered a case of gastric ptosis this severe.

Seeing him silent, Xu Pinglin urged, "Director Li, please share any ideas you have. The patient’s condition is deteriorating rapidly, and we can’t afford to wait."

Doctor Hou, seated beside them, was also fraught with anxiety. The patient was admitted under his care, making him more anxious than anyone.

However, in this setting, surrounded by Deputy Directors, his role was limited to presenting the patient’s condition and then listening attentively.

He lacked both the authority and the nerve to hurry the Deputy Directors.

Director Li coughed. "Our Chinese Medicine Department also treats patients with gastric ptosis. We’ve managed dozens of cases quite effectively with traditional Chinese medicine. We have some experience. However, I’ve never encountered a case as severe as this patient’s."

Xu Pinglin was growing impatient. He had called Director Li for a consultation, not for idle talk. His tone was slightly brusque as he asked, "Deputy Director Li, do you have any effective methods?"

Deputy Director Li didn’t rush. After some thought, he said, "This patient suffers from spleen and stomach qi deficiency, with a sinking of clear yang; that’s why the abdomen is so severely distended. Based on our past experience treating gastric ptosis, the Center-Supplementing Qi-Boosting Decoction is optimal. This formula has the effect of supplementing the center and boosting qi, as well as promoting yang rising and decline raising. Therefore, using this prescription is the best approach."

However, just as he finished, he paused and added, "Wait a moment. Let me call Director Zhang and ask for his opinion."

Director Zhang was the one who had given Xu Pinglin the tiger bone. He was an expert in treating pulmonale. Although he was knowledgeable in other areas, his expertise was not as profound as it was in cardiopulmonary conditions.

However, Director Zhang had recently been plagued by bad luck. During the May Day holiday, while accompanying his grandson to a roller-skating class, he was accidentally knocked down by a child and landed heavily on his backside.

The child’s impact was quite forceful. Coupled with Director Zhang’s advanced age and mild osteoporosis, the fall was serious. After being taken to the hospital for an examination, it was discovered that his coccyx was fractured.

Consequently, the person currently overseeing the Chinese Medicine Department was this Deputy Director Li.

Deputy Director Li made a quick call. After receiving a response, he hung up and said, "Director Xu, our Director Zhang also endorses my treatment plan. We’ll use the Center-Supplementing Qi-Boosting Decoction, and add cornus officinalis, psoralen, and agarwood to consolidate the original qi of the lower burner."

With both the Director and Deputy Director in agreement, Xu Pinglin immediately decided to proceed with Deputy Director Li’s plan.

Once the plan was finalized, everyone returned to their respective duties.

And Xu Pinglin, engrossed in his work, completely forgot about Du Heng waiting for him at the restaurant.

Du Heng waited, feeling bored. He glanced at the time: forty minutes had passed.

The waiter had even approached his table several times, making Du Heng feel quite awkward.

I have no choice. Although he knew it was impolite to rush someone, he decided he had to call and inquire.

"Director Xu, have you arrived?"

"Doctor Du, I apologize. I have a patient with an acute condition and can’t get away," Xu Pinglin said hurriedly before quickly hanging up.

So, it was a patient.

Du Heng could understand that.

But for both of them to be like this... it’s a bit much.

Are all the doctors at the Provincial First Hospital this busy?

At this moment, Xu Pinglin’s expression was incredibly grim.

He had administered a dose of the Center-Supplementing Qi-Boosting Decoction to the patient, following the treatment plan provided by Deputy Director Li of the Chinese Medicine Department.

However, more than half an hour later, the patient’s condition showed no improvement, nor were there any signs of flatulence. Instead, the abdomen had become even more distended, the skin stretched taut.

Doctor Hou, the attending physician, was nearly frantic. This was his patient. He looked at Xu Pinglin anxiously and asked, "Director, what do we do now?"

Xu Pinglin didn’t answer. He turned to Deputy Director Li, hoping for an explanation.

But Deputy Director Li was also stunned.

After prescribing the decoction for the patient, he had returned to the Chinese Medicine Department and discussed it with his colleagues. Everyone had agreed that the prescription was appropriate.

Furthermore, they had all praised the addition of cornus officinalis, psoralen, and agarwood, considering it a mark of a seasoned and experienced physician.

Yet now, the patient’s lower abdomen continued to distend, and he too was baffled as to why.

Seeing Deputy Director Li’s expression, Xu Pinglin lost all hope in him.

Observing the patient’s increasingly labored breathing, Xu Pinglin decided he had to take a risk.

Because if we don’t take a risk now, given the current situation, the patient might actually... rupture.

"Xiao Hou, speak with the family. Get them to sign the consent form as soon as possible. I’ll contact the operating room."

Doctor Hou was taken aback. "Director, are we really proceeding with surgery?"

Xu Pinglin nodded. "Yes. If we delay any longer, the patient won’t make it."

"But... but the patient has a clotting disorder! What if the bleeding can’t be stopped post-surgery...?"

"I’ve reviewed the patient’s inspection sheet. The issue isn’t that severe."

Even as he said this, Xu Pinglin felt a distinct lack of confidence.

However, the gastric ptosis was severe, and the abdomen was alarmingly distended. Medication hadn’t just been ineffective; it had worsened the condition. Surgery was now their only option.

There was one piece of good news: the patient’s clotting function was close to normal levels.

At this level, performing major surgery would be difficult and carry significant risks. However, a minimally invasive surgery might just be feasible, albeit reluctantly.

Nevertheless, the current situation had pushed both the doctors and the patient into a corner.

Proceeding with surgery posed risks for both the doctors and the patient’s family. Not proceeding meant helplessly watching the patient’s condition deteriorate.

Who was to blame?

Ultimately, the patient could only blame himself.

When the symptoms first appeared that morning, he should have come to the hospital for professional medical treatment. Instead, he self-medicated and waited until his abdomen was like a drum before seeking help.

Upon hearing Xu Pinglin’s decision, Deputy Director Li of the Chinese Medicine Department didn’t linger. He turned and left for his department, unwilling to stay a moment longer.

He had confidently prescribed the decoction, yet the patient’s condition worsened. Crucially, he couldn’t identify the cause, which was deeply embarrassing.

Xu Pinglin said nothing more, nor did he try to detain Deputy Director Li. He prepared to leave and contact the operating room.

It was precisely at this moment that he thought of Du Heng.