After changing into their scrubs, Qin Donglai and Wu Ting immediately started the second operation. The two surgeries were scheduled back-to-back.
This patient was a man in his forties. His condition was similar to the last one—a fairly routine case of acute appendicitis.
This was, of course, by Qin Donglai’s design.
The patient was also undergoing a traditional appendectomy. Of course, many patients nowadays opt for a laparoscopic appendectomy. Compared to the traditional open surgery, it has a shorter operating time, is less invasive, and leaves no obvious incision afterward, making it the choice for most people.
However, this man wasn’t concerned about scarring. Besides, the traditional surgery was significantly cheaper.
The consumables for laparoscopic surgery are expensive and not covered by medical insurance. The consumables used at the City Hospital were of better quality than those at county-level hospitals, bringing the cost of one procedure to 13,000 yuan.
Therefore, the man still chose the conventional surgery.
Qin Donglai also intentionally had Wu Ting start his practice with conventional appendectomies. After all, laparoscopic techniques have a certain degree of difficulty. Junior doctors all start as camera-holding assistants and only slowly get the chance to perform laparoscopic surgery themselves.
[Recommended Term Synthesis: Cosmetic-Grade Suturing Skill (Purple) + Laparoscopic Technique (Yellow) + Appendectomy (Yellow) = Scar-Concealing Laparoscopic Appendectomy (Purple). Compared to a conventional laparoscopic appendectomy, this technique is optimized from three ports to a single port, placing greater emphasis on cosmetic results. It holds immense appeal, especially for patients concerned with their appearance. As it treats a common ailment, it has a massive market.]
[Missing Term: Laparoscopic Technique (Yellow). A minimally invasive surgical treatment method. It primarily involves making puncture holes in the abdomen, typically 3-4 ports. Instruments are inserted through these ports to perform surgical procedures in the abdominal and pelvic cavities. The other end is connected to a monitor, like a television screen, which displays the conditions inside the abdominal and pelvic cavities.]
Wu Ting’s heart filled with anticipation as he read the description. ’Once I master Laparoscopic Technique, I can get Scar-Concealing Laparoscopic Appendectomy (Purple). I’ll definitely be able to shine in the emergency department, and maybe even form my own medical team.’
After all, the number of appendicitis patients was huge, and this cosmetic-focused procedure had a fatal attraction for those concerned with appearances. If he could offer this special Surgical Technique, not only would it build a good reputation for City First Hospital, but it would also generate significant revenue. At the end of the day, a hospital had to consider its profitability.
Pushing aside these distracting thoughts, Wu Ting began his first appendectomy as the lead surgeon.
Locating the patient’s point of tenderness, Wu Ting began making the McBurney’s incision.
Qin Donglai observed carefully from the side, giving Wu Ting free rein to operate. He would intervene at the first sign of trouble.
However, to Qin Donglai’s surprise, Wu Ting’s movements were remarkably skillful.
’No way,’ Qin Donglai thought. ’Is this kid really a clinical genius? I only taught him once, and he’s already taken to it so easily.’
Qin Donglai recalled his own first appendectomy, taught by Director Huo back then. His first attempt had been a long and messy affair. He’d spent ages searching for the appendix, sweat beading on his forehead in a panic. Afterward, Director Huo had even complained about his ugly sutures.
Now, looking at Wu Ting, Qin Donglai felt genuinely frustrated.
’You really can’t compare people.’
After making the incision, Wu Ting didn’t pause for a moment. He proceeded to cut through the skin and subcutaneous tissue, his every move perfectly matching what Qin Donglai had taught him, without a single mistake.
’How is it that Luo Ming has been doing appendectomies for so long, yet his skill level is only about on par with Wu Ting’s right now?’
Qin Donglai was baffled. This first time was going far too smoothly.
"Dr. Qin, help me retract the internal oblique and transversus abdominis muscles."
Wu Ting gave the order as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
Dr. Qin instinctively took the retractor and began to assist.
Wu Ting continued his skillful work, quickly completing the laparotomy and fixing the peritoneum to the skin.
His suturing was even more stable and aesthetically pleasing than Qin Donglai’s.
"Dr. Qin, assist me in collecting peritoneal fluid for bacterial culture and sensitivity testing."
"Okay."
Qin Donglai quickly complied, feeling rather speechless. ’In a normal teaching surgery, isn’t this the part where I’m supposed to remind the junior doctor of the next step and control the pace? But with Wu Ting, why do I feel like I’ve been completely relegated to a mere assistant?’
While Qin Donglai’s thoughts were racing, Wu Ting had already started searching for the appendix.
Following the techniques taught by Qin Donglai and combining them with Luo Ming’s Appendectomy (Yellow), Wu Ting located the appendix with just a few simple maneuvers.
???
Qin Donglai had just been thinking of a way to save face, waiting for Wu Ting to struggle so he could offer some guidance. But before he even got the chance, it was over.
’This job as a teaching attending is completely unsatisfying.’
Qin Donglai remembered how, back in the day, Huo Yun would have chewed him out with a whole new vocabulary at this stage. He’d spent all these years learning and mastering those same rebukes, yet with Wu Ting, he couldn’t use a single one.
Wu Ting had already begun dissecting and retracting the cecum. A moment later, he started giving orders again.
"Dr. Qin, help me clamp, cut, and ligate..."
Qin Donglai nodded repeatedly, assisting Wu Ting in completing the procedure.
"Dr. Qin, help me irrigate and treat the area with carbolic acid, ethanol, and saline solution in sequence..."
"Oh..."
"Dr. Qin, count the gauze and instruments..."
"Dr. Qin, I’m done. I’ll leave closing the abdomen and suturing to you..."
Following the standard division of labor for an appendectomy, Wu Ting handed over the remaining tasks to his assistant after completing his duties as the lead surgeon.
Dark lines seemed to form on Qin Donglai’s forehead. But looking at the dead-serious expression on Wu Ting’s face, he ultimately held his tongue.
According to standard teaching practice, closing the abdomen and suturing were tasks that junior doctors would proactively take on. After all, it was a rare opportunity.
Who would act like Wu Ting?
He was making it seem like he was the actual assistant.
’I told you to learn the procedure, not how to boss around your assistant!’
Qin Donglai, a dignified attending physician, only ever acted as an assistant for someone like Huo Yun.
If word of what happened today got out, would anyone believe it?
Dr. Qin felt an inexplicable sense of bitterness.
"Dr. Qin?"
Wu Ting, finding it strange that Dr. Qin had spaced out, gave him a nudge.
With a dark expression, Qin Donglai grunted in acknowledgment and quickly began suturing to finish up.
Qin Donglai swore that the next time he taught an appendectomy, he would thoroughly enjoy the feeling of being the seasoned master. If he ever encountered a student who made him do the grunt work again, he would chew them out. Then, for the crime of stepping into the operating room with their left foot first, he’d make them sit on the bench for a month.
With Wu Ting as the lead surgeon and Qin Donglai as his assistant, the surgery was naturally completed in record time.
[Ding! The host has completed an appendectomy with Dr. Qin Donglai and served as lead surgeon for the first time. You have obtained a term from Dr. Qin Donglai: Escharotomy (Yellow). An emergency measure for burn patients, which Dr. Qin Donglai learned from Director Wei Guoqiang of the burn department during his career in emergency medicine.]
After the surgery was over, a thoroughly unsatisfied Qin Donglai was the first to leave.
Wu Ting had wanted to ask Qin Donglai how he did and if there were any other instructions.
’Dr. Qin must be rushing to the next surgery,’ Wu Ting thought. ’He’s so busy.’
Wu Ting thought for a moment, mentally reviewing the details and process of his first surgery so he could pass them on to Cheng Feng later. One good turn deserved another.
In the on-call room, Cheng Feng listened intently to Wu Ting’s account.
"Wow, so a first appendectomy can be like that! It must have been great having Dr. Qin as your assistant. Nice, nice."
"Dr. Qin is such a good guy."
Cheng Feng jotted down the important details of the surgery. "Yeah, when it’s my turn, I’m going to have to experience what it’s like to have Dr. Qin as my assistant, too."