The Enhanced Doctor-Chapter 548 APTT that exceeds seven seconds

Postoperative bleeding is actually quite common in surgery. The reason postoperative bleeding is considered normal is that all surgeries involve incisions. Organ removal or suturing, for instance, is performed within the thoracic or abdominal cavity, and drainage tubes are generally used.

What was unusual about this patient was that he had already undergone numerous small-incision appendectomies. Yet, this small wound began to ooze blood less than two hours after the procedure.

His immediate thought was a postoperative infection. He’d encountered such situations before in the hospital, and the outcomes were rarely good.

Rushing to the ward, Liu Banxia carefully removed the dressing.

The incision was somewhat red and swollen, but the oozing blood was fresh. It didn’t look like an infection; rather, it seemed to be inflammation. He took out his stethoscope and carefully listened to the patient’s heart and lung sounds, as well as his bowel sounds.

"Dr. Liu, is this abnormal?" the patient asked.

"Dr. Liu, we asked other people, and they all said there normally wouldn’t be any bleeding," the patient’s wife added.

"This indeed isn’t normal," Liu Banxia said. "Sister Li, immediately draw blood for a complete blood count, blood biochemistry panel, coagulation tests, vitamin K assay, and a rapid DIC screen."

He then addressed the patient and his wife, "Try not to worry for now. My auscultation of his heart, lungs, and abdomen revealed no issues. We’ll check his temperature and blood pressure shortly."

"We didn’t perform a blood transfusion during the surgery, and the blood loss was minimal. Normally, symptoms like this wouldn’t occur."

"Before coming to the hospital, did you take any medications like aspirin or warfarin? It’s also possible you took something inadvertently and don’t recall."

The patient shook his head. "Dr. Liu, I didn’t take any medication at home. I suspected my appendicitis was recurring, and medication wouldn’t help anyway. Besides, I’ve been in good health recently; I didn’t even drink much over the New Year."

"I’m very health-conscious. Even with exercise, I don’t overdo it. That can easily lead to kidney failure, right?"

Liu Banxia nodded. "So, we’ll need to check your blood again. Oozing like this is often related to liver function or hematological factors."

"Also, your incision is a bit swollen. Right now, I can’t definitively determine if it’s normal postsurgical swelling or due to other factors. Everyone’s constitution is different, so wounds manifest differently."

"Try not to worry. The amount of oozing isn’t significant, and I’ll have the lab expedite the tests. Are you feeling anything else? Anything different from usual?"

The patient shook his head. "No, just a little pain in my abdomen. That should be a normal reaction, right? The anesthesia ought to be wearing off soon."

"Alright, let’s wait for the test results here. I haven’t eaten my meal yet... Hey, Li Hao, could you run and grab my food for me?" Liu Banxia said with a smile.

"Dr. Liu, there’s no need! You go eat first. We have to wait for the results anyway," the patient said quickly.

"It’s all the same. Just don’t get too envious of my food," Liu Banxia said.

The patient chuckled. This small joke significantly eased the tension in the ward.

"Dr. Liu, is it always like this for you? Having to work in the middle of a meal?" asked a family member of the patient in the next bed.

Liu Banxia nodded. "This is common. Whether there’s an issue in the ward or an emergency patient arrives, we have to deal with it immediately."

"We can eat anytime, but a patient’s condition can’t be delayed. I’m not just saying this to sound good; it’s the truth. Basically, if we’re busy or have many surgeries, we just drink glucose solution."

"Those news reports about doctors sleeping anywhere and surviving on glucose? That’s all perfectly normal, especially common in the operating room. Many anesthesiologists often work back-to-back shifts."

"Scheduled surgeries have to be done, no matter what time it is. Emergency surgeries also have to be performed; this work can’t wait. But we’re all used to it, even these interns."

"But it’s truly not easy. I saw on the news that you were stabbed recently," said the patient’s family member.

"That’s not a common occurrence; it was an isolated incident. Otherwise, no one would dare to be a doctor," Liu Banxia said, laughing.

Laughter filled the room.

Many people had only heard Liu Banxia’s name in passing; after all, he didn’t have the capacity or the energy to attend to every single patient.

However, his general reputation was excellent, which made many who didn’t know him personally quite curious. 𝑓𝑟ℯ𝘦𝓌𝘦𝘣𝑛𝑜𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝑐ℴ𝓂

Reputation? That’s precisely what it was—something built up gradually by word of mouth.

Everyone has their own communication style, and Liu Banxia’s main approach when interacting with patients and their families was to maintain a relaxed atmosphere.

Being sick and hospitalized is inherently stressful. It involves not only physical suffering but also financial costs. For many families, even with medical insurance, it remains a significant burden.

After chatting in the ward for a bit, Li Hao brought Liu Banxia’s meal over. Liu Banxia started eating right away, without any pretense.

"Dr. Liu, we have some celery leaves we seasoned ourselves. They’re very tender. Would you like to try some?" the patient in the second bed asked with a smile.

"Do you have enough for yourselves? If you do, I’ll try some," Liu Banxia said.

"How could there not be enough? It’s homemade. The room is warm, so it won’t keep for two meals anyway. I don’t have much of an appetite right now, so please, help yourself if you don’t mind," the patient in the second bed said, taking a small basin from the bedside cabinet.

Liu Banxia, again not standing on ceremony, walked over and took the small basin.

"Hmm? These seasoned celery leaves are quite good! You’re hospitalized for a bowel obstruction, aren’t you? In the future, you’ll need to eat fewer sticky foods. You’re on an IV drip now, which can affect your digestive system somewhat," Liu Banxia said.

"You know about that? You were off duty the day I was admitted," the patient asked, curious.

"Teacher Liu reviews all the case files and our ward round notes every day," Li Hao, who was nearby, replied with a smile.

"Sigh... It really is tough. I try to control my eating, but sometimes I just can’t manage it," the patient said.

"It’s the same for everyone, especially with food and drink; one just needs to be a bit mindful. For example, with these seasoned celery leaves of yours, try to use less salt next time. We northerners tend to consume too much salt," Liu Banxia said.

"I get so confused. On TV and in the news, they say you can’t eat this and you can’t eat that. If we can’t eat anything, how are we supposed to live?" the patient asked.

"Some things are still fine to eat, in moderation, of course. I often eat barbecue. The charred parts of food are carcinogenic, aren’t they?" Liu Banxia said with a laugh.

"It’s the same with hot pot; it tastes best when it’s piping hot. But very hot food puts stress on our esophagus. If it’s excessively hot, it can cause burns, and over time, this might lead to pathological changes."

"Then there’s alcohol—don’t underestimate it. People often say a small drink ’improves circulation’ and ’strengthens the body.’ Actually, that’s nonsense. Any alcohol consumption increases the liver’s workload."

"However, for many people, smoking and drinking are necessities of life. So, moderation is key. If you’d normally drink a large amount, say five units, try to stick to two. If you usually smoke a whole pack, cut it down to half."

"Try to control it as much as possible. That way, you still get some enjoyment, and it’s less harmful to your body. I drink too, but only when I’m off duty and can unwind. And I don’t dare drink too much, in case there’s an emergency at the hospital."

"Dr. Liu, you’re different from others. They usually say these things must be avoided completely," the patient with the oozing incision spoke up.

"HAHA, if people are told not to touch something, does that mean no one actually does? Our cleaning staff sweeps up loads of cigarette butts from the hallways every day and confiscates dozens of makeshift ashtrays," Liu Banxia said with a laugh.

"Take salt, for instance. We northerners generally prefer stronger flavors; food with too little salt tastes bland. Chili peppers are similar. Eating too many can affect the digestive system and also increase the heart’s workload."

"But in many southern provinces, people can’t enjoy a meal without chili. So, in my personal opinion, moderation is fine. Complete restriction is impossible unless the item itself ceases to exist in the world."

"HAHAHA... Dr. Liu, you’re hilarious!" The patient who had given him the seasoned vegetables laughed heartily.

"Honestly, the key is to try and be open-minded about things. Getting agitated doesn’t help; you have to find a way to resolve the issue," Liu Banxia said.

"Sometimes, people might feel that we doctors are cold, always saying ’no’ to everything. You might try asking a passing doctor for advice, but they might not pay you any attention."

"Often, it’s not that they’re heartless or arrogant. It’s because they aren’t familiar with the patient’s specific situation and genuinely can’t provide an answer."

"Why else do we have admitting physicians, operating surgeons, and the doctors in charge of your ward? Only these doctors will have a detailed understanding of your specific condition."

"Take this gentleman, for example. Even though I ate the seasoned vegetables he offered me, all I know is that he ate too many glutinous rice balls, which caused a bowel obstruction. I don’t know any further details."

"And this brother here has some oozing from his incision. I’m still figuring out the cause. If you were to ask just any doctor, they wouldn’t know what surgery you had or what your blood test results are, so they truly couldn’t give you an answer."

"As patients, you should be selective about whose advice you follow. Listen to the doctor in charge of your ward and your attending physician; that’s the safest approach. If there’s a problem, call a nurse immediately. Don’t delay."

"Of course, if you can’t decide what to have for dinner, you don’t need to ask them about that. If you’re really stuck, just draw lots. That’s quicker."

Everyone chuckled again.

"Teacher Liu, the coagulation results are back! The aPTT is slightly elevated, 7 seconds above the normal range," Xu Yino rushed in at that moment.

Hearing her report, Liu Banxia frowned deeply.