Surgery Godfather

Chapter 281: Chapter 0265: Suicide in the Palace

After seeing off Old Cheng, Yang Ping hastened to apply for the free staff parking.

In Sanbo Hospital’s car park, both above and below ground, one could register for free parking at the security department with their ID, work card, and driving license.

Having completed the procedures for free parking, Yang Ping went to look for Director Han from the Orthopedics Research Institute. Director Han had asked Yang Ping to discuss his PhD studies with him.

The Orthopedics Research Institute planned to utilize three floors, but currently, only one was in use. This floor was responsible for the study of orthopedic implants, involving research in orthopedic materials, biomechanics, and 3D printing.

The other floor was mainly for tissue repair research, especially for various tissue defect restoration studies. This involves biochemistry, tissue engineering, repair mechanism, and so on, but some of the equipment has not yet arrived.

The last floor was devoted to stem cell research. The laboratory was already set up and awaiting approval from the higher-ups. After the inspection, a certificate would be issued to start the related work. This floor was where Director Han had set the focus of his research on spinal cord injuries.

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Each of the three floors had different research priorities.

“Xiao Yang, the PhD entrance exam is in March this year, how’s your preparation going?”

Director Han attached great importance to Yang Ping’s upcoming exam, repeatedly urging him to study well and make sure he succeeds.

With his intervention, he might be able to secure a spot without examination, but Director Han wanted Yang Ping to earn his position fair and square.

“Director, rest assured, I will certainly not let you down.” Yang Ping was confident.

After reviewing the material so many times in the system space, Yang Ping was confident. If he couldn’t pass the exam after all this, then he really wouldn’t be suitable for medicine.

Hearing Yang Ping’s confidence, Old Han was even more assured. It would only be when Yang Ping had his PhD that he could soar high and far, like an eagle.

For a doctor, academic qualifications were extremely important. It was a pass to many opportunities. Without the qualifications, one could not even touch the doors of many big hospitals, not to mention entering them.

There were also some research topics that one couldn’t apply for without the necessary qualifications. People who claimed that qualifications aren’t important and only capabilities mattered, they simply didn’t understand the ecosystem of the medical profession.

Only those who had undergone regular training at the master’s and doctorate levels had the highest probability of producing valuable research results. The majority of Nobel Prize winners were PhDs who had undergone formal research training. There were exceptions, but they were few.

Yang Ping told Director Han that the car Boss Cheng had sent had arrived. Yang Ping had previously discussed the matter of Boss Cheng’s gift with Director Han and sought his advice.

While pouring tea for Yang Ping, Director Han said, “Your cooperation with him is open, honest, and completely legal. It’s just a car, a trifle. Considering the profits you’ll bring to their hospital in the future, it wouldn’t be too much even if they gave you shares. Xiao Yang, money, legally and reasonably earned, should be taken; don’t hesitate. If it’s not legally earned and goes against your conscience, we won’t take a cent; we won’t extend our hands. Be clear and feel at ease.”

“Gentlemen love money, in a proper way!” Yang Ping took the cup from Director Han.

Director Han laughed heartily, this child is teachable: “Correct!”

They didn’t often have the chance to sit down and chat due to their busy work schedule, so the two talked for a long time. Old Han gave Yang Ping some career advice, encouraging him to set higher and more distant goals.

After finishing their talk, Director Han received a call from Director Mei of the Obstetrics and Gynecology department: “Old Han, we have a pregnant woman having a sonogram; we need your help.”

Director Han hung up the phone: “Xiao Yang, are you free?”

“There’s nothing much, Song Zimo is leading the team in doing routine surgeries!” said Yang Ping.

Director Han said: “Come with me to the ultrasound department. There’s a patient in Obstetrics and Gynecology with a peculiar condition. Director Mei wants me to take a look.”

It was probably a case of fetal abnormality related to orthopedics. Possibly a friend of Director Mei, so she directly called Director Han for help with a voluntary consultation.

The two men finished their tea and headed for the ultrasound department. A pregnant woman was undergoing a sonogram, performed by Director Yan of the ultrasound department himself. Several directors were gathered around, the pregnant woman was undergoing IVF treatment at Sanbo Hospital, she had gone through a lot to conceive.

“Old Han, Doctor Yang!” Director Mei was intently standing by the examination bed.

“At 26 weeks of pregnancy, the fetus has several limb deformities, the amniotic fluid is slightly reduced, and there’s a band-like echo at the deformation sites.” Director Yan explained while moving the ultrasound probe on the woman’s abdomen.

Yang Ping understood, they suspected that the fetus had Amniotic Band Syndrome, a relatively rare disease. Most malformations involved orthopedics, hence Director Han was called over for a consultation.

The directors were quite experienced. Upon hearing Director Yan’s description, Director Han asked, “Are we considering Amniotic Band Syndrome?”

Director Ke of Pediatric Surgery nodded, “Right! Look at these limbs. It seems they have all been constricted by the amniotic bands. We plan on performing an MRI for further examination. If diagnosed, we will need your assistance to carry out the surgery.”

Pediatric Surgery specifically handles surgeries for children, particularly congenital deformities. In recent years, they have started performing fetal surgeries. Director Ke planned to perform surgery on this fetus to prevent further deformities, some of which could be serious enough to lead to in utero amputation.

Due to the constriction from the amniotic bands, the limbs become ischemic and necrotic at the far end. This, in essence, equates to an amputation. Without the distal part, a child would be born with a congenital disability. Current fetal surgery procedures enable the fetus to be removed from the uterus for the operation and then replaced. This method of timely surgery to correct deformities can prevent disabilities after birth.

Although pediatric surgery can perform a variety of operations and is quite proficient in organ deformities, it is not very adept at orthopedics. Therefore, they wanted to invite an orthopedic specialist to assist, especially for operations under a microscope where orthopedic surgeons excel.

The fetus is at 26 weeks and only measures about 20 to 30 centimeters long. Much of the surgery would require the use of a microscope.

Orthopedic surgeons are proficient in reading X-rays, CT scans, and MRIs, but do not usually interpret surface ultrasounds. However, Yang Ping had undergone diagnostic assistance training in the system space. Thus, not only could he interpret surface ultrasounds, but he could also interpret all other types of tests and perform them as well.

“Director, the fetus’s neck is also constricted. Look, the slightly underdeveloped head suggests that the blood vessels in the neck have been compressed, leading to insufficient blood supply to the head. We must perform surgery immediately; otherwise, it could lead to death,” warned Yang Ping.

If the neck was constricted, Director Yan noticed the abnormal posture of the neck, but he had overlooked that the head size was within normal limits, although data suggested it was slightly smaller than expected. There were no signs of abnormal deformity or echogenic bands here.

An orthopedic surgeon knowledgeable about surface ultrasounds, that’s odd!

Director Yan revisited the fetus’s neck using the ultrasound multiple times. Indeed, the neck appeared to be unusual with abnormal echoes. He had previously dismissed these as skin wrinkles.@@novelbin@@

“Based on the proportions of this fetus’s head and body, the head is slightly smaller!” Yang Ping added. When it comes to professional knowledge, there is no room for vagueness; otherwise, it would harm the patient.

The directors wouldn’t feel offended by his comments; they aren’t petty. They didn’t even consider Yang Ping as an ordinary doctor.

“Yang, now that you mention it, it does seem so! Should we perform an MRI for further clarity?”

“Let’s do an MRI. If it’s as Doctor Yang mentioned and the neck is constricted, there’s a risk of in utero strangulation. We must act promptly and perform surgery.” Director Ke was also of the view that Yang Ping’s words should be given due consideration.

The expecting mother was a bit anxious upon hearing this. “Doctor, is it very dangerous?”

“Don’t worry, we are currently evaluating. We noticed that the neck is also constricted. We will conduct an emergency MRI to ascertain this. If the neck is indeed constricted, we need to schedule a surgery soon.” Director Mei reassured her.

“Then let’s perform the MRI immediately. I will follow your advice. I will do whatever it takes to save this child.” The pregnant woman seemed on the verge of tears.

Indeed, it was not easy for her. She had spent a lot of money, visited many hospitals, and only then, after using in vitro fertilization technology at Sanbo, did she finally conceive this child.

“Let’s arrange an MRI!”, Director Mei instructed the Doctor in charge of prenatal care for the woman.

“Should we admit her to Pediatric Surgery after the test?” Director Mei asked.

Director Ke nodded, “Yes, let’s admit her. The Obstetrics Department will provide cover for us while we perform the surgery in collaboration with our orthopedic colleagues. Many steps will require the support of our orthopedic colleagues.”

“Keep in touch with Doctor Yang during that time!” Director Han instructed Director Ke.

The woman’s surface ultrasound was completed, and she was sent to have an MRI. In our country, MRIs for pregnant women are rarely performed. Some hospitals, fearing trouble from patients, simply do not offer this service.

In actuality, an MRI is as safe as a surface ultrasound. It is more commonly performed in foreign countries, especially for diagnosing fetal deformities, where an MRI has distinct advantages over a surface ultrasound.

“Pingping! Your dad and I will be arriving by high-speed train tomorrow; we will be there by noon!”

She had just left the ultrasound room when her parents called.