The Surgeon's Studio

Informing the family took almost ten minutes and by the end of it, the family members were pale as ashes.

Every pre-surgery briefing ended this way as doctors explained all the potential complications that could arise from surgery.

The probability of complications was one in a thousand, some were one in ten thousand.

The possibility of complications was enough to scare most patients’ families, especially this family who adored the pigtailed girl. To the family, signing the informed consent documents felt like signing a death warrant of their precious granddaughter.

Zheng Ren did not rush them. The Chu sisters needed at least ten minutes to prepare the anesthesia and that should be enough time for the family to make a decision.

After saying his piece, Zheng Ren waited patiently for the family to sign off the documents.

“Dr. Zheng, the surgery will be a success, right?” the old man asked meekly. The color from his cheeks had faded due to worry and anxiety.

“This surgery has a high success rate but complications do occur in a tiny population of patients,” Zheng Ren explained. He was careful with his words.

Medical doctors were not allowed to promise any outcome.

Hence, the rise in popularity of miracle doctors and traditional chinese physicians among the public.

The wait continued until a middle-aged man came downstairs to inform Zheng Ren that the patient was anesthetized and ready for the surgery. At last, the family decided to go ahead with the surgery and signed the documents.

Zheng Ren left the paperwork for Chang Yue and went to change before heading to the operating room.

“Big sisters, both of you are so pretty. I want to become a doctor like you when I’m older.”

“Big sisters, do you like spicy strips? Once I’m healed, I’ll share mine with you.”

“Big sisters…”

The pigtailed patient was talking with Chu Yanran and Chu Yanzhi when Zheng Ren walked in. There was no hint of fear in the child.

The presurgical preparations were already done. Su Yun stood at the usual spot as the assistant. He held the surgical gauze and mosquito clamp up with a solemn expression.

Zheng Ren scrubbed in and changed into the sterile scrubs. He assumed his position as the lead surgeon.

The girl was chatting with the Chu sisters when Zheng Ren made the first incision.

The subcutaneous adipose layer was thin and Zheng Ren was able to part the tissues quickly.

“Will there be a scar?”

The question came when Zheng Ren located the swollen appendix. He proceeded to clamp the appendicular artery.

“I won’t be able to wear a swimsuit if there’s a big scar.”

Once the appendicular artery was ligated, Zheng Ren removed the appendix.

“If there’s a scar, I should get a tattoo to cover it.”

The clanging sound of metal hitting metal echoed in the operating room as the clamp was tossed into the surgical tray. The excised appendix laid in the tray together with the surgical instrument.

“Doctor…”

The young girl’s imagination had just started and the surgery was already over.

Zheng Ren took the surgical tray to show the family members. This patient was referred to him by Chief Surgeon Su and the family also had ties with Chief Physician Pan. Zheng Ren figured he should interact more with the patient’s family, for the department chiefs’ sake.

Outside the operating room, the four elders were pacing anxiously. None of them would take a seat.

The middle-aged woman had tried to coax them but all she got were snappy remarks.

Criticisms from decades ago were lobbied at her.

When the doors of the operating room swung open, they were met with Zheng Ren in his surgical scrubs, face covered by a surgical mask. He walked out with a red and swollen appendix served on a surgical tray.

“The surgery is done. We’ll send the appendix to the labs for some tests,” Zheng Ren explained.

“Will she be okay?” one of the elders asked nervously.

During the briefing, Zheng Ren had mentioned the symptoms of appendicitis overlapped with that of appendix cancer, though the probability was low.

“From the naked eye, there’s nothing to be worried about.” Zheng Ren chose not to hide the truth from the elders.

Their anxiety and frustration was understandable to Zheng Ren.

He was not one to seek revenge for the earlier misunderstanding. He elaborated on his observation, “Come and look at this appendix. There is minimal inflammatory edema and the tissues show no sign of malignancy from the naked eye.”

“How about the parts that we can’t see?” the elder asked. She was more riled up after hearing Zheng Ren’s explanation.

“That’s why we need to send it to the pathology lab but the probability is very low,” Zheng Ren clarified calmly despite feeling frustrated.

“Mom, Dr. Zheng already said it’s fine,” the middle-aged woman said to the old woman.

“Yaya is your flesh and blood! How can you be so apathetic?” the old lady retorted emotionally. Tears sprang to her eyes.

“There is no cause for worry. The pathology tests will take three to five days but you can ask Chief Surgeon Su to help expedite the process if you’re worried. The experts who have viewed many specimens can more or less judge with their naked eye.”

“Is it a certainty?”

Zheng Ren could not guarantee it.

He shook his head and left.

Hopefully with the Two-Child Policy in effect, there would be fewer situations like this.

Zheng Ren was happy for the girl. She had family who cared and supported her, unlike himself. He had to support himself through each stage of life.

Despite all the love and attention she got, the girl learned to be self-reliant.

Zheng Ren could only hope for the child to continue her path to independence.

He went back into the operating room. Su Yun and Chu Yanzhi were readying the stretcher trolley.

He did not follow them to the patient’s room. He passed the appendix sample to Xie Yiren and went to change.

He sat in the smoking area of the changing room and accessed his mission list.

The duration provided for the mission, One Tree Does Not Make A Forest, was one week. Zheng Ren had to assess each patient’s case and decide who should wield the scalpel. He would not risk a patient’s life just to complete the mission.

Today’s patient was a referral by Chief Surgeon Su and Old Chief Physician Pan, hence Zheng Ren performed the surgery.

Now, he had a problem.

Su Yun had bragged about his ability to learn any surgery after a one-time observation. Zheng Ren believed him. After all, he had witnessed Su Yun perform a perfect appendectomy.

Perhaps Zheng Ren could let him try his hand at a laparoscopic appendectomy or hernia repair surgery. Maybe he could let him handle a case of acute cholecystitis.

Zheng Ren mulled over the thought. He should just observe for now. He was not interested in the 3D Reconstruction of CT Scans which was the mission reward. After all, it was a supplementary skill that mostly benefited a CT scan radiologist.

Zheng Ren put out the cigarette in his hand and pocketed his cigarette pack.

He put on his white coat and walked out of the changing room.

The emergency ward was quiet at this hour. No patient wanted to stay in the hospital any longer than required. Once their conditions met the criteria for discharge, they quickly packed their bags and left for home.

Chang Yue was talking to the girl’s family while Su Yun sat in a chair and scrolled his phone.

“Dr. Zheng, thank you so much,” the middle-aged man took Zheng Ren’s hands and thanked him.