Healing Doctor

Chapter 773 Dispute

"I have a friend who was very loving with his wife and they never argued in their entire lives. But when his wife was in her thirties, she got cancer. It was very malignant, and she passed away in two or three months without suffering much."

"At the time, I thought my friend would be unable to handle the shock and would have a mental breakdown. So when I learned that his wife was about to die, I rushed over to comfort him and prevent any accidents from happening."

But the truth is quite the opposite.

Director Liu slowly told Ji Xiang a story from the past, and Ji Xiang listened attentively.

Having experienced empathy many times, Ji Xiang can easily put himself in someone else's shoes, but he doesn't lose himself in the situation.

"My friend was very calm about his wife's passing. He was very polite and courteous to the relatives and friends who came to pay their respects, just like he always was. There were even a couple of moments when I felt a little dazed."

"That can't be right," I thought to myself. "Could all those loving couples from the past have been an illusion?"

"I've also heard other people say that he might be having an affair, or that he's unwilling to spend money on his wife's medical treatment, but none of that seems to be the case, at least from my perspective."

"On the day of the funeral, my friend was still smiling as usual when he was talking to people. In short, he was completely different from what everyone had imagined, and there was no sign of sadness."

As he spoke, Director Liu looked at Ji Xiang, whose expression remained calm and unchanged.

"About six months later, people started introducing him to girlfriends. My friend was widowed, and although he had a child, he was still quite young. His income, figure, looks, temperament, and status were all top-notch. Calling him a diamond bachelor would not be an exaggeration."

"But no matter what kind of people are introduced to him, even if they are college graduates in their twenties, he will refuse them outright and won't even look at them."

"Later, rumors started circulating that he had someone else outside all along, and the rumors were so detailed that I almost believed them."

"Rumors spread like wildfire, and everyone seems to like them."

Ji Xiang thought of Shen Lang.

Lang Ge... seems somewhat similar to the people Director Liu was talking about, yet also quite different.

They know perfectly well what's going on.

"A year later, many rumors were debunked. One day, we had a gathering and were talking about our younger days. There was nothing that brought back memories, but he suddenly burst into tears."

She cried so miserably.

I'm used to seeing a lot, but that day terrified me; I'd never seen him cry like that before.

"!!!"

Ji Xiang was taken aback.

A year and a half has passed!

Director Liu's friend had been emotionally broken for a year and a half before finally letting it out.

"What happened after that is not important," Director Liu said casually. "Looking back on this incident, I guess my friend's previous calmness was a form of self-protection. Humans, after all, have a subconscious instinct to protect themselves."

"I can't say for sure exactly, but I guess he subconsciously wanted to forget it, so it finally came to light one day as time went by. But after a year and a half, the wound had mostly healed, so he wouldn't have gone completely insane."

Ji Xiang sighed.

"Director, what about next?" Ji Xiang asked, just like Shen Lang.

"He's still single. No matter who tries to persuade him to find someone else, he just shakes his head. He has no interest in that at all. Last year, his son got into university, but he still has no intention of finding a girlfriend or getting married again."

"In his words, after we got married, he would have to take away all the photos of his wife, and the house wouldn't feel like a home anymore. It's better now. When he sees the photos, he feels like his wife is still here."

The words were simple, but Ji Xiang could feel a tremendous force enveloping him.

After thinking for a moment, Ji Xiang suddenly asked, "Director, have you read Turgenev's *Cabbage Soup*?"

"Cabbage soup? Pearl, jade, and white jade soup?"

"It's a short story about the sudden death of the most capable young man in a village. After hearing about the young man's mother's misfortune, the village's matriarch visits the old peasant woman to comfort her."

"The old woman, who had just lost her son, stood in front of the table in the center of the small house, calmly and steadily raising her right arm."

He scooped up the light cabbage soup from the blackened pot and drank it spoonful by spoonful.

Her face was sunken and dark, her eyes swollen and bloodshot, but she stood solemnly and upright, as if in a church.

Ji Xiang recited it effortlessly, and Director Liu knew he was memorizing an obscure short story.

This child has an amazing memory, and the short story he randomly found actually matched the "story" he had just told with remarkable accuracy.

"Good heavens!" the woman thought, "At a time like this, she can still drink soup. How can this person be so cold-hearted? Doesn't she know the coldness of human nature?"

At this moment, the woman recalled that a few years ago, when she lost her nine-month-old daughter, she was so grief-stricken that she refused to go to a villa near St. Petersburg to escape the summer heat and spent the entire summer in the city!

Director Liu listened silently.

Although he hadn't read the novel, and although Ji Xiang was merely retelling it, the expressions and words of the patient's family, his own friend's experience, and now this scene... Listening to the simple yet powerful words, Director Liu felt inexplicably conflicted.

The mistress asked, "Aren't you sad?"

"My son Vasya is dead," the old peasant woman said in a calm voice, tears of grief streaming down her sunken cheeks.

Of course I was sad.

He died, and I went with him; he ripped my heart out of my body.

She burst into tears, but then her tone returned to calm. "But this soup can't be wasted; it still has salt in it."

"Director, to be honest, I didn't understand this article at all at the time. What does a son have to do with salt?"

Ji Xiang said very frankly.

"So, I went to ask my father."

"Your father? You two have a pretty good relationship. I thought you'd hold a grudge because he used a fake account to pretend to be a girl and date you." Director Liu laughed.

Ji Xiang was slightly embarrassed, but still smiled. "My father just wanted to teach me a lesson. No matter who it is, they'll be fooled sooner or later. In his words, it's better for him to do it himself than to be fooled by others."

"..."

Director Liu expressed his bewilderment at the strange thought processes of this father and son.

"What did your father say?" Director Liu asked.

"He put it very simply—'Why not eat meat porridge?'" Ji Xiang replied calmly. "I've always had a hard time understanding what 'Why not eat meat porridge?' means, but today I think I understand a little better."

"so."

Director Liu nodded.

Ji Xiang's maturity has found a fairly perfect explanation.

I was worried that Ji Xiang might have misunderstood, so I explained to him why the patient's family members had such strange language and expressions.

But his father had already given him relevant education early on, and Ji Xiang even thought about it more than he did.

"That's pretty much it, Xiao Ji. I think you..."

"Director, excuse me for interrupting," Ji Xiang said politely and respectfully, bowing slightly.

"Um?"

"I believe the patient can still be saved; it's too early to be sad."

"..." Director Liu paused for a moment.

"That's right. I think the patient's mother, being a nurse, has basic CPR skills and the timely rescue was very important. After losing spontaneous breathing, the patient's hypoxia period may not be very long, and it may not cause any irreversible damage."

"But the patient still isn't breathing on his own," Director Liu emphasized. "The diagnosis of brain death and vegetative state isn't wrong."

"But why don't we give it a try?"

Director Liu hesitated for a moment. He did not answer Ji Xiang directly, but picked up his phone after about a minute of silence.

When I called Director Bai, Director Liu didn't mention that this was Ji Xiang's idea; he mainly explained the patient's condition.

"How about trying double plasma exchange?" Director Liu asked. "The only problem is the cost is quite high, and I suspect the patient's family will have a hard time affording it. After all, he was a former employee. Do you have any solutions on their end?"

Director Bai said something on the other end, and Director Liu smiled knowingly.

After hanging up the phone, Ji Xiang eagerly asked, "Director, how did it go?"

"Double plasma exchange is a new procedure at our hospital, and it costs 6000 to 7000 yuan per session. With other expenses added, it's probably hard for patients' families to afford."

"Since it's new equipment, let the manufacturer provide it, and have their technicians conduct another on-site training session. This is for the manufacturer's benefit and to help the product be promoted more quickly."

Ji Xiang recalled the difficult problem the system NPC had given him at the very beginning.

Director Liu seems to have developed a habit of ordering around Section Chief Bai, though he rarely does so.

"Thank you, Director."

"Why are you thanking me?" Director Liu waved his hand casually. "Come on, let's go see the patient's specific condition."

Ji Xiang was very grateful for Director Liu's trust.

Despite his own opposition, Director Liu agreed to my proposal and prepared to try it using a double-layer plasma exchange method.

In the operating room, I underwent treatment with double-layer plasma exchange under the guidance of senior doctors.

Double-layer plasma exchange is a new technology developed from membrane plasma separation technology.

Compared to membrane plasma exchange, this technology has advantages such as high safety, wide applicability, less nutrient loss, and less plasma usage.

Selective plasma separation therapy is a treatment that involves secondary separation of pathogenic plasma after primary separation, followed by the return of the plasma, after the pathogenic factors have been removed, to the body along with the formed elements of the blood.

The patient was declared brain dead and in a vegetative state after ingesting an unknown drug that caused him to stop breathing spontaneously.

However, Ji Xiang performed emergency resuscitations many times in the operating room, and it was eventually proven that the patient lost spontaneous breathing due to drug-induced suppression of the respiratory center.

Double-layer plasma exchange can "filter" out drugs in the shortest amount of time.

This is also a therapeutic diagnostic method that can determine whether a patient is brain dead or has had their respiratory center suppressed by drugs.

Upon arriving at the intensive care unit again, Ji Xiang was astonished to see Zhou Tianbo and Wei Fusi arguing in the department's corridor.

A faint sound came from within, and Ji Xiang's ears twitched.

"The patient still has the possibility of treatment, and I firmly oppose performing a transplant surgery directly."

Zhou Tianbo seemed to be getting tired, and his attitude became very tough. He said it very bluntly.

Ji Xiang could see it from afar, and he could even sense the change in Zhou Tianbo's aura.

Zhou Tianbo had always been known for his gentle and refined demeanor, but this time he was particularly resolute, like a long sword drawn from its sheath.

"Director, why is Professor Wei still here? I remember he came to Feidao a few days ago, and it seems he went back to the capital."

"They probably got wind of the transplant opportunity; their noses are sharper than a dog's," Director Liu said disdainfully.

"Is the number of surgeries important?"

"The number of surgeries performed is not the main focus of the selection for Outstanding Young Scientists, but if the two candidates have similar backgrounds, identities, educations, publications, and their employers, then the number of surgeries becomes an objective indicator."

"oh."

"Professor Zhou Tianbo has accumulated a sufficient number of surgeries, and Professor Gu placed him here for support work very early on. Professor Wei's opponent is not Professor Zhou, so..."

Director Liu didn't finish speaking; he stopped short of saying everything.

"Old Zhou, what do you mean!" Wei Fusi asked, his face flushed, seemingly a little anxious.

"It doesn't mean anything. I think the patient's condition can still be treated," Zhou Tianbo said earnestly.

"you!"

"Old Wei, let's get him treated first." Zhou Tianbo patted Wei Fusi on the shoulder.

Wei Fusi shrugged, shaking Zhou Tianbo's hand away.

Even from a distance, you could already see the gunfire erupting between the two men.

Director Liu, with a broad smile, strode over and asked, "What are you two busy with?"

Zhou Tianbo and Wei Fusi both shut up at the same time, and Wei Fusi glared at Zhou Tianbo fiercely.

"We just had a small consultation."

"A consultation? How come I didn't know that?" Wei Fusi said in surprise.

"Ha, the patient is, after all, in our Second Affiliated Hospital. Even if an organ transplant coordinator comes to investigate and complete the procedures, that's only on the premise that the patient has been diagnosed with brain death." Director Liu began to speak in a bureaucratic tone, his words flowing extremely smoothly.

"The diagnosis in the medical record is still questionable, don't worry."

"You! The patient's family has already agreed!!!" Wei Fusi said anxiously.

"So what? The patient's family isn't a doctor."

"..."

Wei Fusi felt that the whole world was against him.

Ji Xiang didn't understand what Wei Fusi was thinking either.

Ji Xiang had heard that there were several orthopedic professors in Shanghai and Beijing who could turn minor illnesses into major ones, but he didn't quite believe it.

Perhaps it's because my family is well-off that I find some things hard to understand.

Ji Xiang thought to himself.

However, no matter how he consulted the system NPCs about similar matters, he was unwilling to answer, presumably because it fell into the category of "family scandals should not be aired in public."

"Professor Wei, wait a moment. After all, I am the director of the relevant department at the Second Affiliated Hospital." Director Liu did not mention Ji Xiang at all, but took everything on his own shoulders, not caring whether Wei Fusi was happy or not.

"Let's get a definitive diagnosis first."

"What are you planning to do?" Wei Fusi asked helplessly.

"Double-layer plasma exchange, we'll see after a few sessions."

"Such expensive treatment! And the patient isn't breathing on their own, what are you doing! What are you doing?!"

Wei Fusi was somewhat angry.

Director Liu smiled, shrugged, and walked directly into the intensive care unit ward.

The patient lay on the hospital bed, his chest rising and falling with the ventilator.

Although there were still basic vital signs, and the vital signs were relatively stable, the doctors present knew that this was just a machine maintaining the most basic functions of the human body.

"Is he breathing on his own?" Director Liu asked.

The doctor in the intensive care unit shook his head.

"I just reported this to Director Bai, and we believe there's still a need for treatment. Let's give it a try."

Director Liu took on everything, assuming all the problems upon himself.

Ji Xiang stood to the side and listened silently.

He was well aware of the extent of Director Liu's care for him. As a junior resident trainee, he didn't really have the final say on this matter. More importantly, if the patient in front of him followed Wei Fusi's advice, there would be no problem.

Director Liu originally shared similar ideas with Wei Fusi.

The patient's family has already agreed, so what's the point of all the fuss? Besides, patients who need organs are still patients.

But because of his insistence, Director Liu changed his attitude and even treated the professor from the capital city with disdain.

It was really worry-free. Ji Xiang didn't say a word of nonsense and just silently watched over the patient while standing next to Director Liu.

Soon, the machine was pushed in, and Director Bai followed behind.

"I've looked into the situation; was it Xiao Ji's idea?"

As expected, Director Bai understood his old friend well; he immediately revealed the truth.

"Hmm." Director Liu nodded and looked at Wei Fusi, whose face was covered in soot.

"Let's give it a try. We can't rush into organ transplantation while there's still screening to be done," Director Bai stated calmly.

"When I was working in neurosurgery, I once resuscitated a patient who suffered cardiac arrest," Director Bai continued. "Back then, there was no Saab. We lined up, and a dozen or so medical staff took turns pressing and squeezing the balloon."

"It took one hour and twenty-three minutes for the patient to be successfully resuscitated and regain spontaneous breathing."

"The patient was fine afterwards, and was clear-headed and articulate."

Director Bai was quite talkative and spoke in a slightly loud voice; Ji Xiang knew he was speaking to Wei Fusi.

Watching the critical care doctors perform double plasma exchange on a patient, Director Bai chatted casually: "The provincial TV station invited me to do a program these past few days, and I originally wanted to popularize cardiopulmonary resuscitation. I think it's very necessary to popularize it among the general public."

"That's right. In the past, when I was on emergency duty, some patients were brought in too late. If we had similar conditions, the chances of saving them would be much higher."

"I remember when Xiao Ji went to film a variety show, the program even explained the Heimlich maneuver," Director Bai said.

Wei Fusi's expression grew increasingly grim.

Although Director Bai was just chatting casually, his bias was quite obvious.

Wei Fusi didn't know who he had offended. Zhou Tianbo? That was unlikely. Zhou Tianbo was supporting the First Affiliated Hospital.

He was somewhat agitated, and even started indulging in conspiracy theories, feeling that someone was deliberately targeting him.

But Wei Fusi had no idea who that person was.

The double plasma exchange equipment was installed and started operating. Wei Fusi simply stood in front of the ventilator panel with his arms crossed, looking at the values ​​and waveforms on it.

Director Bai walked over and then switched the ventilator from IPPV mode to A/C mode.

Breathing rate: 15 breaths per minute.

IPPV mode is a basic ventilation mode characterized by the ventilator regularly and forcefully delivering air to the patient in a certain manner, regardless of the patient's spontaneous breathing, and all parameters are provided by the ventilator.

A/C mode assisted breathing simply means that when the patient breathes, the ventilator helps you; when the patient stops breathing, the ventilator controls the ventilation!

"You really are very confident," Wei Fusi said coldly.

"I'm used to fiddling with ventilators," Director Bai said casually. "When I first came to the hospital, apart from the anesthesiology department, the first ventilator in all other departments was assigned to our neurosurgical intensive care unit."

Uh……

Wei Fusi was taken aback.

This person doesn't look very old, but what he said made people think a lot.

Ventilators were rare back then. Wei Fusi didn't experience that era, but he had heard about it from others.

"Back then, whenever the anesthesiology department encountered a situation they couldn't handle, they would come down and consult me." Director Bai smiled slightly. "Once, the pressure was particularly high, and after searching for a long time, we couldn't find the problem. It turned out that there was water accumulation in the pipes."

Wei Fusi had no intention of debating with the old doctor; he was focused on the waveforms on the ventilator.

The A/C mode has been provided. If the waveform changes, it indicates that the patient is breathing spontaneously.

But is that even possible?

According to Wei Fusi, the patient was brain dead and had no spontaneous breathing. He had tried switching the mode to Spoon mode, but it reverted to Spoon mode in less than ten seconds.

The patient can only breathe with the help of a machine.

Director Bai set the respiratory rate to 15 breaths per minute, and the actual respiratory rate was also 15. Furthermore, the respiratory waveform was very regular, indicating that the patient was not breathing spontaneously and was completely controlled by the ventilator.

The waveform was very smooth and regular, and Wei Fusi felt that all of this was a waste of time.

He could still hear Director Bai and the others chatting, which made Wei Fusi even more unhappy.

"Old Wei, don't rush, take a rest." Zhou Tianbo felt that Wei Fusi was a little embarrassed, so he came over to ease the suffocating atmosphere.

"What's there to rest about? I'll just stand here and watch," Wei Fusi said coldly. "I don't believe that brain-dead patients can be cured with double plasma exchange. If that works, it's a medical miracle! I'll apply for a Nobel Prize for you."

"Look at what you're saying." Zhou Tianbo scratched his head. "Clearing the residual drugs from the blood should help the patient wake up; there's always a glimmer of hope."

Wei Fusi was unhappy, so he simply threw a tantrum and ignored Zhou Tianbo, just watching by himself.

Each double plasma exchange takes 3-5 hours.

2500ml of plasma, 4 hours and 22 minutes later, Wei Fusi was still standing in front of the ventilator in the same position, staring intently at the waveform on the ventilator.

Ji Xiang had finished today's surgery and returned to the intensive care unit when he saw Wei Fusi's back.

"This person is really stubborn and persistent," Ji Xiang thought to himself.

"It's been 12 minutes since the replacement was completed. Has the waveform on the ventilator changed?" Wei Fusi pointed at the values ​​and waveforms on the ventilator panel and reprimanded in a deep voice.

"Such a regular breathing pattern, all done by a ventilator. I really don't know what your Second Affiliated Hospital was thinking. Your technical level is so low!"

"Old Zhou, I didn't expect your skill level to drop so much in less than a year!"

(End of this chapter)