White armor

Chapter 718 This is the dirtiest surgery in our department, bar none.
It turns out that it's called finger palpation, something even Director Xiang had never heard of.

However, it's probably just a type of palpation used in ENT, so it's normal that I can't feel it myself. I sighed and said to the director, "Thank you, Director Shen."

"You're welcome." Shen Zizai didn't move, but looked at "Xiao Meng" and waited for it to continue explaining tonsil stones.

"In addition, the patient has halitosis."

Tonsil stones are tiny, but they can obstruct the tonsillar ducts or crypts, causing poor drainage, bacterial growth, or food residue buildup, resulting in unpleasant, rotten egg-like bad breath, severely impacting the patient's quality of life.

"!!!"

“An experienced ENT doctor can remove it with a small scraper; it’s very simple,” “Xiao Meng” continued.

“Oh, okay then,” Shen Zizai said. “The child will come with me in a bit, and the family will drive with me. I’ll contact the head of the ENT department for you, and you can have the stones scraped off with a scraper at our hospital.”

Director Xiang stared blankly at "Xiao Meng," and asked, "Director Shen, is it not allowed here?"

"Stop joking," Shen Zizai laughed. "I'm not an ENT doctor. Are you sure your doctors can do it? If you're sure, I won't be busy."

"..." Director Xiang immediately backed down.

"Xiao Meng makes it sound simple, that it can be scraped off with a scraper, but what if it gets into the respiratory tract? Director Xiang, don't you agree?"

"!!!"

"It's not far to go to the provincial capital, just in case something really happens. You still need to be careful about the child; he's so young, and many things he does are different from what adults do," Shen Zizai cautioned.

Director Xiang nodded repeatedly, saying that it was truly good if nothing went wrong.

Shen Zizai stood up, about to speak, when a commotion broke out outside.

He didn't seem to mind and said with a smile, "Okay, then tell the patient's family how long it will take."

"I'll complete the discharge procedures here in half an hour, and then my family will come with me," Director Xiang said.

“Sure,” Shen Zizai said. “Xiao Meng and I will take a look around your county hospital and see the layout.”

"Huh?" Director Xiang was taken aback.

Treating the hospital like a tourist attraction? Hasn't Director Shen gotten tired of seeing so much in the provincial capital?

"I don't need you to keep me company, go do your own thing."

Shen Zizai walked straight to the office door with his hands behind his back. Director Xiang was taken aback. Before he could even think of anything, he suddenly saw the young doctor walk quickly to the door and open it.

Shen Zizai never laid a hand on anyone; he simply walked out with his hands behind his back, completely unconcerned.

What style!
Director Xiang was dumbfounded, staring blankly at Shen Zizai's retreating figure.

He was certain that Shen Zizai wasn't showing off; it was all just a matter of habit.

"Damn, that's awesome," Director Xiang thought to himself.

Shen Zizai went out, turned the corner, and saw a patient lying on a stretcher with a high belly, and family members listening to the doctor's instructions.

This kind of scene is common and not surprising at all. Shen Zizai didn't pay attention to it and planned to take "Xiao Meng" to visit the county hospital, which could be considered as collecting scenes.

Although Shen Zizai knew it was unnecessary, he was too lazy to talk to Director Xiang any further.

No matter what the reason was for Director Xiang talking about his family in the county, Shen Zizai could smell a decaying and desolate aura about him.

Perhaps it's not rotten enough yet, but in a few generations, it will inevitably stink like a latrine. And yet, they themselves are oblivious, even enjoying it.

"Brother Gao, you're being too concerned about poverty alleviation. Don't even mention the five-guarantee households; even if someone is from the county town, they still can't afford to treat this disease," the doctor advised.

"Sigh, seeing him suffer makes me suffer too."

Shen Zi glanced at the patient as he passed by; it seemed to be an intestinal obstruction.

Based on the conversation between the doctor and the poverty alleviation cadre, Shen Zizai had a rough idea of ​​what was going on.

Poverty alleviation work is difficult. Shen Zizai recalled a poverty alleviation cadre who came back to complain that an old bachelor in the countryside wanted to use the pigs given by the poverty alleviation program as a bride price to marry Liu Yifei.

Shen Zizai wouldn't even dare to have such a dream.

There was also an old lady who wanted her own "funeral expenses," and she started crying and making a scene when she wasn't given them. No matter how the poverty alleviation officials explained, it wouldn't work; she just wanted the money.

The complexity and diversity of the work were fully demonstrated.

But this is tough on the poverty alleviation cadres. It's said they have to clock in on three phones every day, keeping them extremely busy.

"Intestinal obstruction caused by late-stage cancer?" Shen Zizai walked over and asked in a low voice.

"Huh? Yes." The poverty alleviation cadre was taken aback and answered subconsciously, "There's no good way, we just have to go back and wait...sigh."

He sighed deeply again.

Shen Zizai looked back at Director Xiang with a helpless expression.

"There really isn't a good solution," Director Xiang said with a forced smile. "Surgery is not an option. He's had two courses of chemotherapy at the county hospital, but the results weren't good. Now he has intestinal obstruction and can't open up."

"Director Xiang, come here." Shen Zizai waved.

When Director Xiang heard Shen Zizai address him as "you" (formal), he immediately stopped smiling and became serious.

"Director Shen, please go ahead."

Upon reaching a short distance away, Director Xiang spoke in a low voice.

“For patients with advanced cancer who have bowel obstruction, stenting can solve the problem. Stents are now procured through centralized procurement, costing around 1,800 yuan each, which isn't expensive. He should have rural cooperative medical insurance, so if he can get reimbursed, it won't cost much.”

"Huh? This can be cured?" Director Xiang was stunned.

Shen Zizai looked at Director Xiang helplessly.

Small county towns are indeed becoming more and more closed off and rigid. As class structures solidify, so too do the minds of the people here, becoming as solid as if they were filled with cement.

Others might not know, but you, the director of a county hospital, don't know either?!

Shen Zizai knew that the person in front of him was just stupid, not bad.

"It's not about being able to cure it, but about preventing patients from suffering so much in the terminal stages," Shen Zizai emphasized. "Being suffocated to death, and eventually having intestinal necrosis, is so painful. By letting them pass stool, they suffer less, and they can die when they're supposed to."

"Ugh ugh ugh ugh ugh~~~" A strange sound came from Director Xiang's throat.

"Look, this is the intestines."

Shen Zizai raised his right hand, making a circle with his thumb and forefinger, assuming it represented the intestines, and his left hand represented the stent, demonstrating to Director Xiang how to insert the stent and how to open the obstructed segment to allow the patient to defecate.

"As long as the intestinal wall isn't too thin, it can be done. If all else fails, a colostomy can be performed. To just suffocate like that is just too..."

Shen Zizai didn't use the word "cruel," as he was worried it would be too harsh on people.

"Director Shen, can you do that?" Director Xiang asked.

“Yes, you can arrange an ambulance to transfer the patient to my clinic. I’ll contact one of my professors,” Shen Zizai said.

"Okay, okay, thank you, thank you," Director Xiang said repeatedly.

He wasn't bad, he was just stupid, and Shen Zizai's impression of him deepened.

"Your poverty alleviation work is really well done. Now the poverty alleviation cadres are even bringing patients to the hospital for treatment, running around taking care of everything." Shen Zizai didn't have much else to say, so he could only praise the poverty alleviation cadres.

“Sigh, those people,” Director Xiang said with a sneer. “They have quotas from above, and they have to clock in every day. They need two or three phones just to keep up with the clocking-in numbers.”

Shen Zizai knew about this, smiled slightly, and didn't care at all.

"Most of the elderly living alone in the countryside are lazybones. If you ask me, it's pointless to use that money to help them. They are poor because they are lazy and greedy. Director Shen, you've never seen piglets or calves sent there and then stewed and eaten the next day."

Shen Zizai smiled and said that while that's true, not everything needs to be considered in terms of cost-benefit ratio.

There must be a way out for those who are neither lazy nor greedy; raising the bar is the most important thing.

As for the upper limit, Shen Zizai glanced at Director Xiang.

It doesn't matter.

Shen Zizai took "Xiao Meng" around the county hospital. The hospital building was less than ten years old and was still considered relatively new. The equipment looked quite good, but the medical level was a bit lacking, which was a bit of a pity.

Although Shen Zizai knew that the medical level here was definitely not high, let alone the county hospital, even if it was the First Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University, so what? "Xiao Meng" could crush 95% of the doctors at the First Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University.

It's a bit of a shame that Xiao Luo didn't let "Xiao Meng" do the hands-on practice.

If possible, "Xiao Meng" could have her tonsil stones treated at the county hospital, without having to go all the way to the First Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University.

But Shen Zizai did not deny Luo Hao's idea. He did not even reflect on it or think about why Luo Hao wanted to do it.

Whatever Xiao Luo says goes, why should I think so much?

After making a round, the patient had already gotten into the car, so Shen Zizai didn't say anything more and drove back.

Shen Zizai hadn't expected to bring back two patients on his trip.

Back at the First Affiliated Hospital of the Medical University, Luo Hao wasn't there; he must have gone to teach at the Medical University. Honestly, of all the professors, Luo Hao was the most dedicated to his classes.

Almost none.

He almost never missed a class, unless there was an urgent surgery or emergency, in which case he would skip a class.

Or perhaps he's not in the provincial capital and the schedule doesn't work out, but he'll ask for leave in advance and quickly make up for any missed classes.

When Shen Zizai took his child to the ENT department, he witnessed the ENT doctor scraping out a tonsil stone with a small scraper.

This was the first time Shen Zizai had ever seen tonsil stones in person.

These things are rare, especially stones as large as the one in front of us, which are quite unusual.

After thanking the director profusely, Shen Zizai turned and left, feeling a sense of exhilaration as if he had accomplished his mission and left without a trace, keeping his identity and fame hidden.

This exhilarating feeling lessened my worries about Shen Yifei, at least temporarily.

"Director Shen, may I take a look at the emergency surgery?" Director Xiang asked.

"Sure," Shen Zizai laughed. "By the way, Director Xiang, you've never seen a stent placed for intestinal obstruction?"

Director Xiang raised his hand to touch his head, looking embarrassed. "The last time I went out for further training was around 2004. In the blink of an eye, more than 20 years have passed."

"There are many new technologies that I don't know about. For example, I don't know how to treat patients with intestinal obstruction caused by late-stage cancer. In my impression, stents can only be placed in the esophagus or blood vessels."

As Director Xiang spoke, his voice grew softer and softer, clearly showing his embarrassment. "Sure, I'll go take a look," Shen Zizai replied readily. "Director Xiang, I'm not being nosy, but it's still important to maintain good social skills. You can learn from Director Chen Yan when you have time, so it'll be easier to contact him later if you need anything."

"Yes, yes, yes." Director Xiang knew that Shen Zizai was saying nice things and that he was thinking of his own interests.

The patient arrived at the First Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University shortly after. This kind of emergency patient needs to be operated on immediately. Shen Zizai made a phone call and took Director Xiang straight to the operating room.

"I don't know what the director was thinking. What's so great about taking in this patient?"

"The room smells terrible after surgery. If you're under a lot of stress, you might even get feces sprayed all over the walls. I don't mind having surgery, but just thinking about cleaning up the operating room afterwards makes my head spin."

"Last time, a patient sprayed Dr. Yuan all over. Dr. Yuan went to a bathhouse and said that even after scrubbing off all the skin, he still felt that he smelled bad."

In the changing room, Shen Zizai overheard the nurses chatting and complaining.

Director Xiang was a little embarrassed, but Shen Zizai didn't seem to mind. He smiled and said, "This surgery is the dirtiest in our interventional radiology department, bar none."

"Uh……"

"I don't dare to say anything to them. After all, I'm not the one cleaning the operating room after the surgery. I can't just let them scold me if they want," Shen Zizai said in a low voice.

Director Xiang was taken aback; Shen Zizai's temper was a bit too good.

If it were me, and my doctors and nurses dared to cheat on me with crickets behind my back, I'd definitely teach them a lesson.

But Shen Zizai spoke these words with embarrassment, which didn't seem like he was faking it.

"There's nothing we can do. Everyone says it's about treating illnesses and saving lives, but who treats medical staff like human beings? We work so hard, and there's no overtime pay. By the way, have you gotten a raise?"

"The increase is on the surface," Director Xiang answered honestly. "Didn't they say they wanted a sandwich system, to increase the proportion of fixed income, so they raised our basic salary? But, actually, they can't pay it. A few years ago, when they built a large building, the county hospital owed the bank a mountain of debt, and now the doctors and nurses have to pay it back."

"Hehe, they don't pay us, and we have to deal with poop and pee every day. What can we do? It's like being a poverty alleviation cadre. We have to keep doing it. What can we do but quit?" Shen Zizai didn't continue what the director was saying, but instead expressed his understanding of the nurses.

After changing his clothes, Shen Zizai strolled into the control room.

"I have to smell poop again. I always feel like there's poop in front of my nose when I go to sleep at night. It'll give me dementia sooner or later."

"I'm not afraid of Alzheimer's disease. I heard from Professor Luo that the nerve-venous lymph node anastomosis surgery in Anhui can cure it," said Technician No. 66.

"???" Director Xiang was taken aback.

Is this how sophisticated people chat in the operating room of the First Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University? No, it must be just joking around.

"Sixth Brother, stop talking nonsense."

“No, the old lady next door used to always bring me delicious food a few years ago, but she’s had Alzheimer’s in the last few years, and I’m doing research on it.” Technician No. 66 said very seriously, “Professor Luo found me some papers, I studied them, and I think that procedure makes some sense.”

"That makes no sense. Professor Luo is indeed amazing, but you can't make Professor Luo a jack-of-all-trades," the nurse said irritably.

"Director Shen!"

"Director Shen!"

When they saw Shen Zizai, they quickly greeted him, and one by one they all shut their mouths and didn't say a word.

"Sixth Brother, what are you researching?" Shen Zizai asked with a smile, as if unaware that the nurses were complaining about the patient and the surgery.

"Deep jugular vein lymph node anastomosis can treat Alzheimer's disease, which I think makes sense. I'm planning to ask Professor Luo which hospital can perform it. We can do the surgery remotely, or we can have an expert come. If all else fails, I'll tell them I'll have it done in the south."

"Oh? Tell me why." Shen Zizai asked with great interest.

"Professor Luo recommended an article published in Nature in 2015 that changed my understanding of the absence of lymphatic tissue in the brain."

The presence of lymphatic tissue in the brain suggests that lymphatic circulation and metabolism also occur within the brain, and related surgeries could be effective in treating Alzheimer's disease.

"Really?" Shen Ziyi was taken aback.

“It’s true, these days in the South, especially in the Suzhou and Hangzhou area, a paper is published for every similar surgery performed,” said Technician 66.

"Sixth Brother, that was a success. You haven't seen the failures."

A familiar voice came in.

"Xiao Luo, why are you back so early?" Shen Zizai turned around and saw Luo Hao.

"I finished class and heard about a case of intestinal obstruction caused by a tumor, so I came to take a look." Luo Hao said as he put on a mask and walked inside.

Shen Zizai laughed heartily. Only Xiao Luo is so trusting. If it were anyone else, they would stay as far away as possible.

This isn't exactly a good surgery. Whether it's profitable or not is another matter. The main problem is that the surgery itself isn't very difficult. People are complaining about it for no other reason than that it's dirty.

The danger lies in the shock caused by the sudden drop in intra-abdominal pressure, etc., which Shen Zizai was aware of.

"Xiao Luo, you said there are actually successful cases of surgery to treat Alzheimer's disease?" Shen Zizai asked.

"Yes, but not many. The relationship between lymphatic circulation and Alzheimer's disease is still unclear, and everyone is researching it. However, some patients who have undergone deep jugular vein lymph node anastomosis have indeed seen improvement in their Alzheimer's disease."

"!!!"

"!!!"

"I'll do the work today," Luo Hao suddenly said.

"Oh?"

"Ok?"

The doctors and nurses in the operating room all looked surprised.

What's the point of robbing such a dirty, shoddy surgery?

“If the surgery isn’t done properly, everyone will leave afterward. I’ll clean up and make sure the disinfection is up to standard,” Luo Hao said, making arrangements.

Shen Zi was taken aback, but then he realized that Luo Hao wanted to have the AI ​​robot do these tasks.

"Xiao Luo, AI robots are very sophisticated. What if you break them?"

"Director, they are AI robots after all. It doesn't matter if they are treated like cattle or horses. Even if there is a robot uprising in the future, this will be a dark history and can be used to threaten them."

"What does this have to do with anything?" Shen Zizai looked at Luo Hao speechlessly.

"The AI ​​robots are military-grade equipment. After cleaning, they take a bath themselves and then stand in the operating room for ultraviolet disinfection, just like nothing happened," Luo Hao said with a smile. "Don't worry, Director, they're not that delicate."

"!!!" Shen Zizai still couldn't believe that such a sophisticated robot could be so easily messed up.

"Sixth brother, don't think too positively. I know you have feelings for the grandma next door and you want her to get better. But, a thesis is just a thesis. Although there are successful cases, it's not 100% effective. In fact, this technique is still only being researched and explored, and we don't know the specific effects yet."

"Professor Luo, I heard that several elderly people have regained their memory after the surgery." Technician 66 stood up and spoke to Luo Hao.

Shen Zizai was both angry and amused.

When this bastard talks to me, his butt seems glued to the chair, but when he talks to Luo Hao, he stands up and acts all respectful, like a grandson.

But Shen Zizai didn't care. Although Xiao Luo didn't include Lao Liu in the medical team, he never hesitated to help Lao Liu whenever he needed it.

"It's different. After food enters the intestines, protein is absorbed through the lymphatic circulation, not through intravenous absorption."

After the lymphatic tissue absorbs protein, it undergoes a series of processes before entering the bloodstream through the thoracic duct.

The lymphatic circulation system plays a crucial role in absorbing and transporting proteins from tissues.

The brain is a high-speed organ, so it must have metabolism.

Current medical research is gradually revealing that various brain dysfunctions are accompanied to varying degrees by abnormalities in one or more brain proteins.

The brain's metabolism also produces some metabolic byproducts, proteins. These proteins must be transported out of the brain via the brain's lymphatic system, and then enter the systemic circulation via the veins, where they can be detoxified in the liver or excreted through the kidneys.

Luo Hao paused mid-sentence, then laughed, "Isn't it too complicated?"

Technician No. 66 nodded, while Director Xiang listened intently.

"In short, the connection between lymphatic circulation, protein absorption and circulation and Alzheimer's disease is not yet clear. It has only been found that some patients experience relief from Alzheimer's disease after deep jugular vein lymph node anastomosis."

"Sigh." Old Six sighed.

Luo Hao patted him on the shoulder, "I'm going to have surgery with Xiao Meng in a bit, so you can help me with the equipment."

"Okay!" Technician No. 66 nodded vigorously, and Shen Zizai could vaguely hear the creaking sound coming from his neck.

"Director Yuan, let me perform this surgery," Luo Hao said to Yuan Xiaoli.

"Professor Luo, are you planning to have Xiao Meng do it?"

"Hmm, I see. The surgery isn't too difficult. I'll handle the key steps, but the messy ones will have to be done by Xiao Meng."

Director Xiang felt contempt after hearing Luo Hao's conversation; this was just bullying a young, incompetent doctor.

He hadn't heard what Luo Hao and Shen Zizai were whispering to each other, so Director Xiang simply looked down on this young expert who spouted righteousness and morality but did nothing of substance.

This person appeared to be of high status, and everyone treated him with respect.

Director Xiang is a seasoned veteran; he knows that true respect lies in the details, and he has observed these details.

Shen Zizai seems to be the kind of not-so-assertive director, and his subordinates are already on the verge of rebelling against him.

Director Xiang had his own judgment, but he didn't say anything. Soon he saw two almost identical young men start scrubbing their hands and disinfecting them without even wearing lead aprons.

"Director Shen? They're only responsible for disinfection?" Director Xiang was stunned.

"Them? They need to be operated on." Shen Zizai was focused on watching the surgery, as this was the first surgery that Xiao Luo had the AI ​​robot perform.

If a surgical manual is ever compiled in the future, this will be included in the textbook.

He even secretly noted down the time, down to the second.

"Going into surgery? Without a lead apron?" Director Xiang asked in surprise.

"They are AI robots. The one that did the diagnosis this afternoon was also an AI robot."

Ai!

robot!
Director Xiang heard the sound of his heart rupturing.

With a crisp, pleasant sound, it snapped.

(End of this chapter)