The Enhanced Doctor-Chapter 401 You Should Not Underestimate Cavities

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Because of Liu Banxia’s unexpected discovery, Wang Huan and his team gathered once again. Merely finding a tooth damaged by an impacted wisdom tooth wasn’t enough; it was just one potential cause of endocarditis. 𝗳𝚛𝚎𝚎𝘄𝕖𝕓𝕟𝕠𝚟𝚎𝕝.𝗰𝕠𝐦

You can’t just open the chest and perform surgery merely on suspicion of endocarditis. No matter what kind of surgery you’re performing, there must be a clear indication for it.

Now, everyone gathered to carefully observe the patient’s echocardiogram.

"Have you found anything?" Su Hongbo asked, rubbing his eyes.

"I didn’t find any vegetations, but it should be infective endocarditis," Wang Huan said.

After the two finished speaking, they, including Xu Guosheng, all turned to look at Liu Banxia.

Liu Banxia smirked. "I didn’t notice anything initially either. Let’s pull up all the previous examinations. Each person looks at one; even if we have to go frame by frame, we have to find it.

"We can’t let this delay the best window for rescue. He currently only has heart failure and mild liver failure. If it progresses any further, it will be even more dangerous."

"Alright, let’s do it this way. I’m going downstairs to the duty room on the second floor; there aren’t enough computers here," Wang Huan said and sprinted out.

In wartime, the phrase ’a military situation as urgent as fire’ is often used to describe rapidly changing circumstances, and this patient’s condition was no different.

The only other test they could perform was a blood culture, but that would take too long, and the patient simply couldn’t wait.

If they couldn’t see the vegetation in the coming period, they couldn’t perform surgical rescue on this patient, who would then develop multiple organ failure.

It was like a snowball effect. Initially, it was just heart failure, but as time progressed, the failure rate of other organs would accelerate significantly, and no one could predict exactly how long this would take.

And this vegetation? It was an infectious mass composed of platelets, fibrin, red blood cells, white blood cells, and microorganisms that had formed on the surface of the heart valve.

This was the clearest indication for surgery. As long as it was discovered, the patient could be sent straight to the operating room.

As time passed, second by second, Liu Banxia felt his eyes growing sore from staring at the images on the screen. But since he still hadn’t found it, he had to pull up another echocardiogram.

After looking for a while, Liu Banxia furrowed his brows, hastily rewound the images on the monitor a bit, and then hit the spacebar hard.

"President Liu, did you find it?" Xu Guosheng hurriedly asked, hearing the firm keystroke.

Liu Banxia nodded. "Book the operating room. There’s a tiny bit of vegetation on the tip of the mitral valve. It’s so thin, I initially thought I was seeing things."

DING! Patient Consultation Completed

You have gained 400 experience points, 500 points of proficiency in diagnostic skills, and 5 Glory Points.

"The patient was breathing so rapidly that the image isn’t very clear. Luckily, we found it. Are there any cardiovascular surgeons from our emergency center still available?"

"President Liu, it’s tough," Xu Guosheng said. "Chen Xuehai is performing a lung tumor removal on another patient, and we don’t know when he’ll be finished."

"Brother Xu, could you please call Wang Huan? I’ll contact Dr. Chen," Liu Banxia said.

Xu Guosheng nodded. It was rare for the emergency center to have two major surgeries at once.

"President Liu, this is circulating nurse Li Tong. Dr. Chen is still in surgery," Li Tong said after answering the phone.

"Could you please ask him how much longer he’ll be?" Liu Banxia said. "I have another patient here who needs a mitral valve replacement and is currently experiencing heart and liver failure."

"Can you wait for thirty minutes?" Li Tong asked after a moment.

"No problem. I’ll arrange the operating room now and prepare the patient for surgery," Liu Banxia quickly replied.

Although the patient’s condition was very critical, now that the cause of the symptoms had been identified, thirty minutes was still manageable. Having Chen Xuehai perform the surgery was more reliable; otherwise, they would need to find another senior physician from the inpatient department.

After booking the operating room, Liu Banxia stretched expansively.

"I finally feel a bit relieved. I’ll treat you to Four Happiness Meatballs for dinner," Wang Huan said.

"Brother, can we hold off on that?" Liu Banxia said helplessly. "I’ve been eating too much greasy food at home these past couple of days, and I’m still injured."

"Haha, I forgot about your injury! We were lucky to have you today. Without you, we couldn’t have done it. You even detected such a deeply hidden cavity," Wang Huan said with genuine relief.

"It was just good luck," Liu Banxia said. "After all, there are many cases in our country where dental cavities lead to endocarditis. This is a key difference between our country and Western countries, where dentists are highly sought after."

Wang Huan nodded. "It’s said that over there, a high percentage of people go to the dentist, starting from a young age. What about us? We generally don’t go unless our teeth are in excruciating pain.

"When I explained to the patient’s family just now, his wife didn’t understand at all. Why would a cavity in a tooth cause a heart infection?

"Fortunately, she was primarily worried about her husband’s safety and quickly signed the consent form. They have good financial means and opted directly for the biological valve."

"Did you explain the pros and cons of the biological valve versus the mechanical valve to her?" Liu Banxia hastily asked.

This matter indeed needed confirmation. Biological valves have a limited lifespan and require future replacement, making them expensive. Mechanical valves are cheaper and permanent but necessitate long-term use of anticoagulant drugs.

Some patients with good financial means often directly chose the expensive ones. Actually, both types of valves had their benefits. Biological valves would require future surgeries, while mechanical valves necessitated long-term medication.

Wang Huan smiled and nodded. "Of course, I explained. The patient’s wife understood. At first, she thought the mechanical one was better, but when she learned she would have to take anticoagulants for a long time, she chose the biological one."

"Don’t think I’m second-guessing you," Liu Banxia said. "I’m just afraid you might forget this important detail in your excitement, and we end up with another complaint. That would be really dangerous."

"Seeing this patient makes me want to get my tooth extracted," Su Hongbo chimed in. "I also have an impacted wisdom tooth. I’ll get it treated whenever I have time off."

"Actually, we often underestimate the damage cavities can do to the body in daily life," Liu Banxia said. "Even if not every patient with cavities develops endocarditis, the current incidence rate is already high."

"Though many people brush their teeth morning and night, incorrect brushing techniques can also damage the gums. If we doctors were to say this publicly, people outside would probably think we’re just trying to fool them."

"But people are paying more attention to this now," Wang Huan said with a smile. "There are so many dental clinics on the streets, and dentists earn more than us. It’s not as tiring for them either."

"Alright, I have to leave now. I won’t be hanging around here. Dr. Su, keep up the good work. In a few days, they’re sure to increase the staff. Don’t worry about that," Liu Banxia said.

"Banxia, give me a straight answer. When exactly will that be?" Su Hongbo asked, stopping Liu Banxia.

"Just hang in there. It should probably be after the Spring Festival. That’s when there will be some staff turnover, so the personnel will be in place," Liu Banxia said before hurrying away.

Su Hongbo shook his head helplessly. Although Liu Banxia said it would be ’after’ the Spring Festival, ’after’ probably meant April or May. Having worked at the Second Hospital for so long, he was well aware of its efficiency. He’d just have to persist. After all, they’d already held on for so long, and at least there was something to look forward to.

"Banxia, I’ve realized, if anyone has a difficult case, they should definitely come to you," Wang Huan said with a smile.

"Don’t praise me like that," Liu Banxia replied. "I was so nervous I was sweating today. My back is still damp and cold."

"Just hold on a bit longer in internal medicine. Though it’s just a rumor I heard, the expansion of departments and addition of doctors at our emergency center is inevitable."

"The Chief Director has grand plans. After all, the ultimate goal is to become a national-level trauma emergency center. So, just keep pushing. By then, our salaries should increase somewhat at the very least."

"Let’s hope so. Also, be well-prepared by then. Don’t be complacent. Pass the attending physician examination directly, and your contract is sure to be revised," Wang Huan reminded him.

"Looking at the current situation, I have a hunch the hospital might offer you a deputy director position. You must give it your best. All of us brothers will be counting on you then."

"Brother Wang, are you just guessing, or did you hear some news?" Liu Banxia asked, a hint of interest in his voice.

"Heh, I thought you couldn’t care less about anything else after having Qiaoqiao," Wang Huan said with a chuckle.

"It’s neither a guess nor something I heard; it’s my analysis. Your professional skills are more than adequate for an attending physician’s responsibilities. What you’re doing right now is essentially an attending’s work."

"Plus, you’ve been in the spotlight lately. As long as you don’t stir up any more trouble, what’s stopping the hospital from giving you a deputy director position? Who could object?"

"But wasn’t I disciplined for that unauthorized surgery incident?" Liu Banxia asked.

"What does that count for? It’s not even on your record. Besides, everyone understands that incident; you were just unlucky," Wang Huan replied.

"I’m not worried about anything else, just that you might act impulsively. But it’s not a huge deal. Old Wang has already been taken away. Although the personnel changes haven’t been finalized, I think our director becoming a Deputy Chief Director is quite possible."

"Having a Deputy Chief Director lead the trauma emergency center would also show its high priority. Anyway, these are just my wild guesses. You can ask around yourself."

Liu Banxia nodded. "Actually, I did ask the director, but he didn’t tell me anything."

Wang Huan gave him a helpless look. This guy really had guts. Probably even Shi Lei wouldn’t dare to ask so directly.

But it couldn’t be helped; Liu Banxia had the grounds for his confidence. His skills were truly top-notch.