Doctor: Picking Up Attributes in the Hospital-Chapter 467 - 384: Twin Swords United, Invincible Under Heaven!
This also fully illustrates that in Liu Ziang’s mind, Zhao Heng is on the same level as him. This recognition, in the entire Eastern Hospital, probably only Zhao Heng could have attained it.
"Let’s take the retrosigmoid supracondylar, brainstem safe zone, olivary approach. Left post-auricular C-shaped incision, and conduct intraoperative MEP, SEP, and hypoglossal EMG monitoring."
Zhao Heng thought for a moment and voiced his opinion, which was a combined conclusion from neurosurgery and anesthesiology.
This retrosigmoid approach craniotomy involves opening a bone flap via the retrosigmoid and supracondylar route, exposing the sigmoid sinus and foramen magnum, removing the outer margin of the foramen magnum, including the condylar fossa, and extensively exposing the cerebellomedullary cistern around the olive. The dura is incised along the sigmoid sinus and the incision extends downward through the foramen magnum.
This surgical method is considered a relatively difficult type of craniotomy in neurosurgery. This is because such an incision exposes the brainstem and medulla directly, and a single mistake could lead to very serious consequences.
With this type of craniotomy, it’s crucial to protect vital cranial nerves and blood vessels. After releasing cerebrospinal fluid from the cerebellomedullary cistern, one must be meticulous in dissecting cranial nerves, the choroid plexus, PICA, and vertebral arteries, and carefully observe the lateral medulla, ensuring the protection of the posterior group of cranial nerves, PICA, and penetrators leading to the medulla.
"Yes, I was thinking the same thing."
Liu Ziang nodded approvingly. Zhao Heng’s opinion was highly consistent with his own, which could be considered as great minds think alike.
"Then let’s start."
Liu Ziang glanced at the instrument nurse, Sun Li, and spoke slowly.
The surgery officially began, and as soon as it started, the atmosphere in the operating room became extremely solemn and quiet, as if the drop of a pin could be heard clearly. The only sounds in the operating room were the "beep, beep" of the life monitor and the "crackling" of the cranial bone drill opening the skull.
Once the skull was opened, Zhao Heng and Liu Ziang were even more focused, slowly clarifying the anatomical structure. It can be said that in surgery within the brainstem region, the space available for operation is basically at the millimeter level, meaning that during surgical operations, hand movements can’t exceed millimeter-level errors, or it might damage important cranial nerves.
Moreover, such precise and minuscule operations have to be maintained until the surgery ends. This surgery is expected to take at least three hours at the quickest.
Maintaining a state of complete concentration is very exhausting. Many surgeons, after finishing a surgery, are drenched in sweat and completely tired. Sometimes, after a major surgery, for the chief surgeon, it’s no less than a marathon run.
As Zhao Heng and Liu Ziang continued with the surgery, the others in the operating room watched in awe. These precise, nimble, and swift surgical movements seemed to have an artistic and mechanical beauty. It can be said that any highly skilled surgeon’s operations look very good, like flowing water.
Using one word to describe them: smooth, extremely smooth.
A surgery has to be like this; the smoothness is the greatest test of a surgeon’s skill.
Only with a high understanding of anatomical positions and complete confidence in the operation can one achieve the level of flowing water.
Observing from the side, Ruan Liuzheng felt utterly shocked. To reach even half of the surgical skill exhibited by these two would suffice for a lifetime.
In major hospitals, one would certainly become a pillar of the surgical department.
Finally, the surgery reached the critical phase: clearing the brainstem hemorrhage and repairing the damaged parts of the brainstem.
The operation on this part is particularly critical. This brainstem region is equivalent to the CPU of a computer. To repair it bit by bit without stopping the CPU’s operation gives a clear idea of the difficulty involved.
The surgical precision required at this moment even exceeds the millimeter level. In the vast Eastern Hospital, there are very few who have the confidence to perform surgery with such precision.
By this point, an hour and a half had passed. Zhao Heng still didn’t feel anything, as his physical fitness is extremely strong. But Liu Ziang was already showing signs of fatigue, with sweat continuously beading on his forehead.
"Senior, let’s take a ten-minute break."
Seeing Liu Ziang looking a bit tired, Zhao Heng couldn’t help but suggest.
"Alright."
Liu Ziang nodded. For such a high-intensity, mentally demanding surgery, usually about an hour in, it’s necessary to take a break to allow the chief surgeon to recover.
During the break, Liu Ziang couldn’t help but say to Zhao Heng, "Junior, youth is indeed a good thing."
Although he is only in his thirties, in terms of physical endurance, he clearly cannot compare to Zhao Heng.
Just looking at Zhao Heng is enough, conducting such ultra-high-intensity surgery for over an hour, yet still composed and unperturbed, looking no different from the start. Such physical fitness is arguably most suitable for a surgeon.
"To become an excellent surgeon, besides exquisite skills, physical strength and body condition are also very important. In your spare time, you must exercise and work out."
Taking this opportunity, Liu Ziang also started giving advice to the two resident doctors in neurosurgery.
"Director, with our work, where is there time to exercise."
One resident doctor said with a bitter face.
The work intensity in the Eastern Hospital’s surgical department is unimaginable to ordinary people. Many times, continuously working for 12 hours or 24 hours is commonplace. After such high-intensity work for so long, getting home, they probably fall asleep as soon as their head touches the pillow, leaving no extra energy for strenuous exercise.
"Then look at how Director Zhao maintains such good health?"
Liu Ziang chuckled as he spoke.
"By the way, junior, your physical condition is indeed a bit too good, isn’t it? Do you have any secret formula?"
After a pause, Liu Ziang asked Zhao Heng.
"Secret formula? I do have one."
Zhao Heng replied with a slight smile.
"Ha? Let’s hear it."
Liu Ziang asked with an interested look.
The other people also perked up their ears; they all wanted to hear what "secret formula" Zhao Heng was going to share.
"The secret formula is to stay up late and sleep in without exercising, eat fatty meat, and watch plenty of pretty women."
Zhao Heng chuckled and said jokingly.
Upon this remark, several young people who were also riding the high tides of stress laughed along.
The atmosphere in the operating room immediately relaxed quite a bit.
"Well, all the others are doable, but looking at pretty women does indeed have its effects."
Liu Ziang said with a straight face. 𝒇𝒓𝙚𝒆𝔀𝓮𝓫𝒏𝓸𝙫𝓮𝓵.𝓬𝙤𝙢
After Liu Ziang finished speaking, the air in the operating room became more lively, with a few resident doctors mumbling about things like "[Jokes of surgeons count as jokes too]" and "[If he can say it, then I shouldn’t hesitate]" that were somewhat hard to comprehend.
Actually, in the operating room, surgeons and instrument nurses love to joke around because the pressure from surgeries is very high, and to relax and relieve stress, they naturally make some unrestrained jokes.
Of course, Liu Ziang and Zhao Heng are the type who joke around without going overboard, unlike some surgeons who constantly make heavy jokes.
For instance, Zhao Heng had heard a supposedly classic one:
Doctor: Wipe my sweat, please.
Circulating Nurse: Where?
Doctor: Start with the forehead; the rest we can handle after the surgery.
Before long, the break ended, and Zhao Heng and Liu Ziang resumed the operation.
It was not until another hour had passed that Liu Ziang took a long breath and said to Zhao Heng: "Junior, it was fortunate to have you this time; otherwise, I might not have been able to handle it alone."
"Just treat me to a late-night snack, and a bigger meal would be even better."
Zhao Heng glanced at Liu Ziang and replied.
"Alright, whatever you say, I’ll do."
Liu Ziang rarely didn’t argue. That late at night, to set aside resting time to accompany him in such a time-consuming and labor-intensive surgery of ultra-high difficulty, it can be said, Zhao Heng, as a junior brother, truly owed him no small gratitude.
