Chapter 2: The Perfect Surgery

Words : 1762 Updated : Mar 13th, 2025

With lives at stake, the train adjusted its schedule, making an unscheduled stop at Quinton County, where an ambulance stood ready on the platform to save the patient. Although Quinton County had a hospital, it was a county-level facility and lacked the specialized surgeon needed for this operation. Experts had to be dispatched from Xyros Hospital. As a thoracic surgery expert, Max did not shy away from the challenge. He volunteered to participate in the surgery, accompanied by his students. At the hospital in Quinton County, the operating room lights turned on. Outside, the patient's granddaughter waited anxiously. Max donned his surgical attire, preparing for the chest operation. "Kai, Walter, you two will assist me. Kai, you're first assistant; Walter, you're second." Kai had excelled at school and had previously assisted Max as the first assistant, and Walter had impressed Max with his calm and adaptive response in the train car earlier. As assistants, they were to undertake most of the operation under Max's guidance, including opening the chest, locating bleeding points, stopping the hemorrhage, and suturing. Kai volunteered to handle the chest opening. He was confident in his skills and hoped to secure a position at Tenos Hospital post-graduation. Also, Walter's unexpected diagnostic and treatment success on the train gave Kai a sense of urgency. Walter, unfazed by Kai's ambition, focused entirely on the patient. Judging by the blood seeping from the wound, this surgery promised to be unpredictable. Walter observed Kai's every move, analyzing potential internal issues and formulating contingency plans. Kai deftly snipped the surgical thread and carefully separated the original incision with the scalpel, his movements precise and fluid. Everything seemed to proceed smoothly until the chest cavity was fully opened, and suddenly, the situation changed. Sweat beaded on Kai's forehead. "Mr. Showyer, bad news. The bleeding has suddenly increased!" His voice quivered, his eyes pleading for Max's help. Max pushed the flustered Kai aside. Walter's instincts proved correct—surgery could change in an instant. The human body was intricate, and unforeseen complications were always possible. And now, massive bleeding, known as a surgeon's worst nightmare, had occurred. Max took immediate control, implementing a series of emergency measures. Walter stepped up, supplying instruments and executing orders for cleaning and medication. Max could sense Walter's intuitive synchronization, responding swiftly and accurately to every request. After over ten minutes, the bleeding lessened, but the situation remained dire. Max's expression grew increasingly grave. In his own hospital, the advanced diagnostic equipment would have pinpointed the bleeding source, but in a county hospital, hasty attempts risked further hemorrhage. After exhausting various hemostatic strategies, Max made a reluctant decision. "Walter, you handle the chest closure and suturing!" It wasn't that Max didn't want to save the patient; he had tried everything he could think of. Walter stood at the operating table, convinced there was still a chance. "Walter, what are you doing? I told you to do the chest closure. Didn't you hear me?" Max demanded, noticing Walter's unusual behavior. Instead of picking up the needle and thread, Walter made a bold move. "Oh my God!" The room collectively gasped in disbelief. Walter reached into the patient's chest cavity with his hands. Without the aid of an endoscopic camera, his actions were audacious. Kai shivered in fear. The key difference between military doctors and civilian counterparts lay in their determination to ensure every soldier's survival, regardless of the cost. "Is he... attempting to stop the bleeding manually?" "Manual hemostasis is typically for external wounds; he's trying it on organs?" "He's actually... compressing the aorta?" It was unbelievable. Not only did it require precise control, but it also had to align with cardiac rhythm and blood flow velocity. Max understood Walter's approach but still thought he was attempting the impossible. Walter immersed himself in his task, intensely focused. One hand controlled the bleeding while the other picked up the scalpel, enlarging the incision. Based on his experience, he suspected additional bleeding points deeper within. Layer by layer, he cut through skin, subcutaneous tissue, muscle, and peritoneum, revealing a clearer view. The chest cavity was filled with pooled blood and over a dozen visible bleeding points, with others too small to see with the naked eye. Beep! Beep! Beep! The monitor blared. "The patient is in shock!" In emergency medicine, shock indicated a critical condition. Everyone in the operating room was on edge. "Squeezing such delicate, vital blood vessels—how could nothing go wrong?" "This is truly reckless!" After a full minute, the bleeding visibly reduced. "Shock symptoms have disappeared." "The patient's ECG is returning to normal." Things began to take a positive turn. "Electrocautery!" Walter took the electrosurgical knife and sealed all visible bleeding points. While outsiders saw a spectacle, insiders recognized skill. Max let out a sigh of relief—the most critical step, hemostasis, was a success! The surgery continued, with Walter closing the tear in the heart valve. Muscle memory revived, like spring's return to the earth. His right hand moved with precision and grace, while his left was as steady as a rock, harboring immense power. What defined an excellent military doctor? Without resources, their methods might seem rough; when conditions allow, they could be as delicate as necessary. Within the first minute, Walter manually compressed the blood vessels to control the bleeding. He sealed all bleeding points two minutes later and began suturing the tear. Ten minutes to complete the tear suturing. Fifteen minutes to close the chest cavity. Twenty minutes and the surgery concluded. The greatest challenge lay in multitasking during the first two minutes—compressing with the left hand while suturing with the right. This reduced surgical time and minimized blood loss. Every movement was decisive, with no mistakes. It was a textbook-defying, perfect surgery! The medical students could only glimpse the brilliance while top expert Max struggled to calm his racing heart. His sterile cap was sweaty, and his gloves were clammy beneath. Who would believe such a perfect surgery could unfold in such demanding conditions, executed by a medical student? As Walter put down the scalpel, the monitors confirmed the patient's vital signs remained stable.

Chapter 2: The Perfect Surgery

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