The Enhanced Doctor-Chapter 525 runaway patient

"What? My father had kidney disease? And it’s hereditary?"

After Liu Banxia came out and explained the autopsy results to the patient’s family, the patient’s son anxiously blurted out.

Liu Banxia nodded. "Polycystic kidney disease is a genetic condition. One type is recessive and commonly affects infants. The other is dominant and typically appears in young to middle-aged adults.

"From the current findings, your father had the dominant type. A significant impact of polycystic kidney disease is high blood pressure and cerebral aneurysms. We found three cerebral aneurysms during a cursory examination of your father’s brain."

"That can’t be right. My father didn’t have kidney disease. I’ve seen people with kidney disease; my father had no such problems," the patient’s son said, shaking his head.

"The onset period for polycystic kidney disease is variable. It’s explainable that your father didn’t exhibit signs of renal function impairment," Liu Banxia said. "Many patients only show symptoms in middle or old age. I looked at your father’s kidneys; the cysts were just beginning to show signs of enlargement. I recommend you also get a renal CT scan to check.

"This time, you also need to thank Doctor Wang. If he hadn’t suggested performing the autopsy at our hospital, your condition might only have been identified when symptoms appeared.

"Alright, this is the information our hospital can currently provide you. If you are also diagnosed, you can choose conservative treatment or surgical intervention with cyst unroofing and decompression. You can consult Doctor Wang about this."

After Liu Banxia finished speaking, he patted the man’s shoulder.

For this family, today was a string of bad news. But he had no choice; these things had to be communicated to the patient’s son.

Whether he undergoes a CT scan or not, he likely also has polycystic kidney disease. The scan is just to see how severe it is and whether surgical intervention is needed.

Actually, in his view, surgical intervention was advisable, but he wanted the patient’s son to consult Wang Chao. This father and son were Wang Chao’s ’burden,’ and Wang Chao was the most appropriate person to handle it.

"Teacher Liu, why did the patient have a history of hypertension, yet his polycystic kidney disease was only in the early stages of onset?" Su Wenhao asked curiously.

"You silly goose, you’ve fallen into a common misconception, haven’t you?" Liu Banxia said with a laugh. "Polycystic kidney disease can be complicated by hypertension, but who ever stipulated that the patient couldn’t have hypertension on its own? It was definitely caused by his frequent drinking.

"If he hadn’t drunk alcohol and had instead maintained a regular lifestyle and a light diet, he might not have even developed cerebral aneurysms. But looking at the state of his kidneys, even without the cerebral aneurysms, the days ahead wouldn’t have been easy for him."

The interns remained silent because there are no drugs that can control this disease.

And for many people, once it manifests, intervention is often difficult. They can only manage it and then wait for a kidney transplant.

This is also a common habit among Chinese people. When they feel unwell, even if they notice it at the beginning, they don’t necessarily pay attention. Actually, sometimes, being afraid of death is truly a good habit.

"Also, let this serve as a reminder to you all. I hope a situation like today’s doesn’t happen to any of you," Liu Banxia said. "Although I can be quite willful, many times, one must be willful within certain boundaries. During our diagnostic and treatment process, we are constantly accompanied by responsibility. We may lose patients like this one, but afterward, we still must adhere to the patient’s family’s requests.

"This time, it was a coincidence that the patient had polycystic kidney disease. What if he didn’t? What if it was merely a cerebral aneurysm rupture? Would our autopsy then be another form of harm to the patient’s family?"

"Teacher Liu, then... then if it were like that, couldn’t we potentially save a life?" Xu Yino said.

Liu Banxia nodded. "That’s merely one possibility. Before the lid is lifted, no one knows what’s underneath.

"Perhaps what I’m saying is a bit irresponsible, but in the prevailing mindset in our country, the completeness of the remains greatly affects the emotions of the patient’s family."

"Then what on earth should we do, Teacher Liu? What you’re saying is like a fortune teller’s pronouncement, hedging on both sides," Huang Bo muttered.

"That’s right. These are indeed words that hedge on both sides," Liu Banxia chuckled. "Actually, what I want to tell you is about responsibility. Responsibility is always with us. Every word we utter, every procedure we perform, every medical order we issue, is a responsibility.

"As doctors, we must be responsible to our patients and to ourselves. How you make judgments at that time is entirely up to you. As long as it’s not a blind or impulsive decision, and you can bear the responsibility for it, then it’s acceptable.

"Alright, line up and wait to see patients. I need to rest for a bit and wait for mealtime. Keep up the good work; you are the little flowers of the new era."

The interns collectively rolled their eyes. Teacher Liu was being mischievous again.

But they had no choice. Although he had talked in circles to get his point across, it also made them treat the matter more seriously.

Liu Banxia stretched his neck. He hadn’t finished his lunch again today; the beating Wang Chao took was all for nothing.

"President Liu, come over here for a moment." At this point, Wang Huan called out.

It seemed his rest was not to be. Liu Banxia hurried over.

"The patient has a pustule on his neck. I plan to do a CT scan," Wang Huan said as Liu Banxia walked in.

Liu Banxia glanced at him; it was a young man, but the abscess wasn’t small at all, about the size of an egg yolk.

"How long has this been swollen?" Liu Banxia asked.

"There was a small lump when I was working before, but I was busy with work back then. Then it was Chinese New Year, and it grew bigger these past few days. It started getting bigger after the holiday began, right?" the young man said. 𝘧𝓇ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝘣𝓃ℴ𝓋𝑒𝑙.𝑐𝘰𝑚

"You’re asking me now? You’re the one who should be telling us," Liu Banxia said helplessly.

"Doctor, can’t this pustule just be incised and drained? Do I still need a CT scan? It should just be a blind boil, right?" the young man asked.

"If it were in a fleshier area, we could directly incise and drain it. But this is on your neck," Liu Banxia said. "There are many blood vessels in the neck. If we drain it for you without a thorough examination, what if something goes wrong? Besides, this lump of yours has grown rather quickly."

"Alright, I’ll do it then. Please prepare the order," the young man nodded.

Wang Huan started working on the computer.

"This is the last patient for now. This lump grew too quickly. It’s probably related to his diet during the Chinese New Year period—too oily," Wang Huan said after the young man left.

"I didn’t expect there to be so many patients, even with work about to resume," Liu Banxia said.

"Isn’t this just the time for it? Otherwise, what would happen when everyone returns to work tomorrow?" Wang Huan said with a laugh. "Things should be a bit easier this month, right? It seems the director will be taking on a lot of the work. You’re a lucky guy; others don’t get this kind of treatment."

"Sigh... this is the darkness before the dawn. How are we going to handle the future teaching and training work? It’s not just our Emergency Center, but our entire Second Affiliated Hospital.

"I don’t even know where to begin. What do you suggest? How about we switch? I’ll cover your clinic duties, and you sort out the residency training program?"

"No deal," Wang Huan said. "I came here to earn a bit more money, not to deal with these troublesome matters. That’s going to be a real headache; there’ll be no end to it."

Liu Banxia rolled his eyes. He knew Wang Huan was just teasing him. Although the future position was highly anticipated, the workload would also be very demanding.

"It goes without saying, Wang Chao really dodged a bullet today. Otherwise, if he had truly gotten entangled, things wouldn’t be this relaxed now," Wang Huan said.

Liu Banxia nodded. "Indeed. If it had escalated, the media would definitely have gotten involved. Our hospital wouldn’t have been able to just pay compensation. It was just a lucky coincidence.

"You should rest for a while too. Everyone’s been quite tired recently. After the fifteenth day of the lunar month, it seems two more internal medicine doctors can be transferred over, and then things will ease up a bit."

After saying this, Liu Banxia strolled out; he still had to supervise the interns.

Sometimes, things are just that frustrating. Like Wang Chao’s situation today, it was fortunate there were no operational violations. Otherwise, it would truly be like yellow mud falling into your crotch—not actual feces, but impossible to explain away.

The patient died from a ruptured cerebral aneurysm. What if it had been sudden cardiac death? Then there would have been a real storm to weather.

"Teacher Liu, the deceased patient’s son has also been diagnosed with polycystic kidney disease. Teacher Wang is explaining the cyst unroofing and decompression surgery to him. Can we join for the surgery when it happens?" Liu Yiqing came over and asked.

Liu Banxia nodded. "You can. This is also a delicate procedure that requires meticulousness. If anything is missed, the significance of the surgery won’t be as great.

"He’s done so quickly? I thought it would take a bit longer. The CT room’s free slot is about to end.

"By the way, have you selected the first group for the rotation training? The time is approaching. Whether it’s pediatrics or ICU, you need to familiarize yourselves with them in advance."

"Su Wenhao and I are in the first group," Liu Yiqing said.

"Not bad. Did you volunteer?" Liu Banxia asked with a smile.

Liu Yiqing nodded. "Well, everyone has to go eventually, so we might as well go first."

"That’s good. There will be a break after the rotation is completed," Liu Banxia said.

This was somewhat expected. Drawing lots for such things would be pointless; someone always needs to step forward.

"Hey, Brother Wang, why are you out?" Liu Banxia was a bit surprised to see Wang Huan walk out after a while.

"I called the CT room. That patient from just now didn’t go over at all. So why would I keep waiting in the consultation room? I came out to get some air," Wang Huan said with a wry smile.

Liu Banxia shook his head helplessly. Actually, the probability of encountering such ’runaway patients’ in the hospital is quite high. They simply don’t want to undergo instrumental examinations.

No wonder the patient agreed to the CT scan as soon as he went over. He was actually just fooling them and then went home.

In this case, the hospital and the attending doctor are not at fault; after all, the patient himself decided to ’flee’.