Chapter 433
Even if this surgery ultimately proves successful, it will still cause lifelong impacts on the patient.
For example, unformed stool, loss of actual function in the colon, and so on.
“Trim the cut edge of the intestinal mucosa and ligate active bleeding points to stop the bleeding. Continuous suture the full thickness of the two cut intestine walls with absorbable thread.”
Zhou Can adjusted the intestinal wall’s incision, essentially equivalent to wound cleaning!
[+1 Wound Cleaning Skill Experience Points, +1.]
[Congratulations on completing your first adaptation of the intestinal mucosal edge, awarded +100 Wound Cleaning Skill Experience Points.]
Today’s fight over this part of the colonic Anastomosis surgery was a huge win.
But the difficulty of each step is actually significant.
Risk comes with reward.
The more difficult the operation, the greater the gain.
The key is to avoid major errors, or else in his upcoming Digestive Surgery residency, he will have nothing to do but watch others operate.
“After suturing the posterior wall, continue to suture all layers of the anterior wall. Then, suture the seromuscular layer with non-absorbable interrupted stitches.”
Director Jia was practically guiding Zhou Can through the surgery step by step.
Why can’t many surgical steps be learned through instructional videos? Because all the critical parts require hands-on teaching from a teacher. This method of verbal and practical instruction is the easiest way to learn.
Nearly an hour later, Zhou Can completed all the procedures.
Sweating profusely several times over, the gains were also tremendous.
Especially in Anastomosis, Incision Skill, and Wound Cleaning Skill, there have been significant leaps in skill.
It’s like a soldier on the battlefield; having killed an enemy is a completely different concept from never having killed at all. Similarly, killing an enemy general versus killing two enemy soldiers are distinct concepts.
Previously, Zhou Can’s most common Anastomosis were blood vessels and, on rare occasions, nerves and tendons.
This successful colonic anastomosis achieved multiple firsts, akin to having slain a general on the battlefield, a feat of great significance.
“Not bad! To do so well on a lateral side-to-end intestinal Anastomosis on your first attempt is commendable. Your aptitude and foundation in surgical skills are among the best I have seen in my life.”
After praising him, Director Jia pointed out several areas for improvement, all of which Zhou Can took to heart.
Praise followed by immediate critique, probably to prevent Zhou Can from becoming overconfident.
From this, it is clear that Director Jia has taken a strong liking to Zhou Can and wants to cultivate his talents.
Winning Director Jia’s recognition through two surgeries was no easy feat.
“Why don’t you close up the cavity, too!”
Director Jia was clearly intensifying his efforts to train him.
“That anastomosis just now was too difficult, I’m physically drained. I’m afraid to mess up, better let another senior resident close up the cavity!”
Zhou Can artfully found an excuse, relinquishing the opportunity to close up the cavity.
This tactful show of modesty endeared him even further to the other doctors.
Their gazes towards him softened considerably.
“I’ll close the cavity!”
Qiu Hong, seeing that Zhou Can, still in his residency phase, could complete such a high-difficulty lateral side-to-end anastomosis, felt hugely challenged and took over the task.
No one wants to fall behind.
She, too, wanted to strive and improve her surgical skills, to become a duly qualified attending physician.
And to prepare herself for striving for the title of associate senior professional title in the future.
…
By the time this surgery was finished, it was past ten in the evening.
And this was when the surgery went smoothly; otherwise, it could have continued even later.
Now one can only hope that this young female patient can recover soon and preferably without cancer recurrence or metastasis.
The first six months after surgery are a high-risk period for recurrence.
Cancer is like a demon; it may only lurk and grow insidiously if left undisturbed. But once cut out, it can rebound at a frightening pace. And if it spreads, it proliferates in vital organs like weeds.
At this stage, even a Divine Doctor would have difficulty.
This is why patients are advised to undergo chemotherapy following surgical removal if their physical condition allows it, aiming to kill any remaining cancer cells thoroughly.
Statistics show that cancer in China is on the rise and occurring at younger ages.
The recent annual increase in new cancer cases has reached a shocking 3.8 million people/year, averaging more than ten thousand new cases daily. Moreover, this number is growing at an alarming rate.
This year it has already reached a horrifying 4 million people/year.
In just one year, the number of new cases increased by 200,000.
One must remember that behind each case is a family! Just one case, falling upon any family, constitutes an unprecedented disaster.
With the continuous environmental degradation, increased air and water pollution, excessive pesticide residue, and the heartless use of chemicals by unscrupulous vendors on food, fruits being sprayed and waxed for preservation – unless these issues are effectively resolved, the number of new cancer patients will continue to surge rapidly.
For a country with a population of 1.4 billion, even a yearly increase of 4 million cancer patients is a terrifying figure.
Zhou Can felt the weight on his shoulders, doubling his efforts to improve his medical skills, hoping to cure more patients one day.
Today’s surgery also made him realize the importance of early diagnosis.
He would work hard on diagnostics, making every effort to enhance his skills in diagnosis.
Finding cancer early might save a life and spare a family from devastation.
After finishing the surgery and returning to his apartment, he fought back his exhaustion and recorded the day’s surgical summary.
Following that, he showered and studied late into the night.
With the first comprehensive medical exam only a few weeks away, his time was exceptionally tight.
Every minute was a battle.
Immersing himself in questions and textbooks brought back the intense pressure only felt during national college entrance examinations (Gaokao).