Chapter 2308: Chapter 2308: One-on-One Duel
Doctor Cheng Yuchen believes that to truly assess someone’s capabilities, you must see them in action. He doesn’t trust anything he hasn’t witnessed personally. Every school tends to excessively tout their favorites, much like some schools boast about their far-fetched campus beauties.
A nurse came in to inform the doctor that the patient’s family had arrived.
Cheng Yuchen instructed a young resident, Doctor Wong, to communicate with the family and obtain signatures on the surgical consent form. At the same time, suspecting a possible liquid pneumothorax, a CT scan was necessary for the patient.
The CT results would take time, so during this period, medical staff hastened with the pre-operative preparations. This procedure could be done bedside, without the need to enter the operating room unless the patient’s condition changed during the process.
"Put on the gloves." Doctor Cheng Yuchen, as the self-appointed guide, instructed the student preparing for the operation.
The students from Guodu formed a circle, vigilant and awaiting any mistakes, seemingly ready to critique at any moment.
The hearts of Guoxie students pounded: it was Student Xie’s debut in the enemy camp, preparing for a solo showdown.
According to Zhao Zhaowei, the most "troublesome" person was Devil Teacher Cao, who had instigated opposition by unusually silencing Student Xie from the start.
The patient was a bit anxious. This age group, being half-grown, bridged the gap between maturity and immaturity—sudden outbreaks of panic should not be overlooked.
"Don’t worry, it’s just like getting an injection; it won’t hurt," Xie Wanying said to the young girl.
The elder sister in front of her had beautiful big eyes. The young girl felt as if she were dreaming: was she meeting a celebrity today at the hospital?
Weren’t they supposed to insert a big tube? How could it be similar to an injection?
Doctor Cheng Yuchen cleared his throat to remind the students: comfort wasn’t needed much. The lengthy duration of the procedure could raise patient suspicions, making it worse. Children aren’t as tough as adults and might start crying.
The effectiveness of the doctor’s comfort relied heavily on the techniques to follow. Otherwise, no amount of comforting words would avoid self-defeat.
The senior’s words were valid. Xie Wanying said no more after that.
The operator and the assistant were ready.
Like other puncture procedures, after positioning, they sterilized and arranged the drapes.
There are several choices for puncture sites in cases of pneumothorax. The most common one, which Student Xie had done before, was the second intercostal space along the midclavicular line, inserting the needle at the patient’s anterior chest wall. For fluid, it’s usually at the midaxillary or posterior axillary line. Fluid behaves differently from gas; naturally, water flows downwards within the body.
The drawback with liquid pneumothorax is that larger volumes can be drained more easily, while smaller volumes are difficult to draw.
The recent CT results indicated a thickening of the pleura, where the fluid visibility was unclear to the instruments at this stage.
Doctor Cheng Yuchen didn’t mind helping the patient by draining the fluid if possible, as it would surely bring comfort. Yet, extracting this localised fluid, which could very well be mucus, required significant skill.
Failures to extract by medical students were common; they should be thankful if they managed to extract gas. Some medical students unrealistically aimed to solve all patient problems like a boss. Even clinical teachers wouldn’t lightly harbor such thoughts.
Student Xie positioned herself to make the incision along the midaxillary line.
Doctor Cheng Yuchen, as the supervisor anticipated, was waiting to see who would eventually falter.
The nurse assisted as the chief surgeon picked up the syringe filled with local anesthetic mixed with saline, quickly pivoted, and in a flash, the needle tip disappeared into the patient’s skin.
Her movement was so swift that those unfamiliar with her operations at Guodu were left in wide-eyed amazement.
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