Chapter 414
Chapter 412: Chapter 191 Junior Brother Zhou, the Incurable Crohn’s Disease
From her description, it seems highly likely that she has chronic ulcerative colitis.
The risks of intestinal polyps and colon cancer also exist.
Considering she is still very young, in her twenties, the age of blooming youth, the risk of colon cancer is relatively low.
Moreover, she has been diagnosed with enteritis at a local hospital.
However, the medication was ineffective.
Plus, she is now exhibiting symptoms of vomiting; even if it is indeed enteritis, it is an extremely dangerous type.
“Qiu Hong, please conduct a physical examination on her.”
Director Jia might have considered that the patient is female, hence asking the female doctor, Qiu Hong, to conduct the physical examination.
In reality, doctors truly do not differentiate between genders.
Female patients often encounter male doctors when undergoing an ECG or when it comes to breast diseases, many male doctors see patients. During physical examinations, female patients are required to lift their shirts for doctors to perform palpation and visual inspection.
According to hospital policy, a female nurse or a female doctor must be present.
If it’s just a male doctor and a female patient, in case the patient accuses the male doctor of misconduct, that’s akin to trying to clear oneself after jumping into the Yellow River—it’s impossible.
Moreover, female patients can bring their husbands or other relatives during consultations.
Family members can enter the outpatient room.
Only the surgery room, examination room, and intensive care units do not allow family members.
The situation in the emergency room depends, but principle family members are not allowed; however, after the resuscitation or if the doctor feels it’s necessary, they might ask family members to encourage the patient and to stimulate their will to live.
They would actively invite family members to enter.
A physical examination is actually much more complicated than one might think. It includes measuring axillary body temperature, counting respiratory rates, taking blood pressure in the right upper limb more than three times, observing the patient’s complexion, development, nutrition, listening for bowel sounds, and several other items.
It’s not as simple as shown on TV, where they just press on the painful area a couple of times and that’s it.
While Qiu Hong was conducting the physical examination, Zhou Can picked up the patient’s medical report to review.
The first thing he checked was the routine blood test result.
After the body contracts a disease, in over 70% of cases, the disease will be reflected somehow in the blood picture.
This female patient had a significantly increased white blood cell count, while red blood cells and Hemoglobin were below normal levels. The hematocrit index also showed a noticeable decrease, and sedimentation rate increased. Mucoprotein levels increased while albumin decreased.
Just from the blood test results, it was clear she was ill.
With so many abnormalities in the blood picture, from a professional medical standpoint, this disease wouldn’t be a minor one.
Enteritis would only be considered a minor disease.
Then, what could be a more severe disease than enteritis?
Intestinal perforation could be ruled out, as intestinal perforation often comes with peritoneal infection, exhibiting much more severe symptoms.
The patient would also experience unbearable pain, high fever, and even chills.
Zhou Can then looked at the stool examination, where red and white blood cells were visible, and the occult blood test was positive.
The disease was most likely in the intestines.
CT scan showed no significant abscess in the abdominal cavity.
Based on these examinations, the diagnosis was ordinary enteritis. The treatment plan and diagnosis given by her local hospital were not incorrect.
“Zhou Can, did you find anything?”
Director Jia’s address to Zhou Can unwittingly changed.
From Xiao Zhou to Zhou Can.
Not sure if it’s out of consideration for patient respect to not call him Xiao Zhou in front of patients, or because Zhou Can identified a hidden condition in the third bed patient and deserved respect.
Either way, this was a good sign.
At least when addressing the beautiful doctor, Qiu Hong, Director Jia did not call her Xiao Qiu but used her full name.
“It’s still too early to say; there’s too little information from examinations. We can only infer that the disease is likely in the intestines, it might be enteritis, but certainly not ordinary enteritis.”
Zhou Can provided his diagnostic opinion.
Asking him to give a definitive diagnosis would indeed be asking too much.
He had managed to narrow down the scope of the disease again and again, which was already commendable.
“Not bad at all, your diagnostic approach lacks the impatience of many young people and is very solid. You’re even better than I expected.”
This was the first time Director Jia had complimented him.
And it was in front of the patient.
It indicated his satisfaction with Zhou Can’s performance.
“Her specific diagnosis will require a colonoscopy to determine further,” Director Jia said, also intending for the patient to hear.
“Can we avoid the colonoscopy? I’ve heard that it’s terrifying. I fear the pain and even more afraid that the colonoscopy will perforate my intestines!” The patient was very resistant to the idea of a colonoscopy.
In her local hospital, doctors might have already discussed conducting a colonoscopy with her.
“If you insist on not having a colonoscopy, we can do a barium enema for you instead. But personally, I still recommend a colonoscopy for a clearer view,” Director Jia told her.
“Um… no, not doing it. A close friend of mine had a colonoscopy at a hospital once, and she was in pain for many days. I’d only consider it if it was a painless colonoscopy.”
She seemed somewhat childish.
Actually, girls like her are often kind-hearted, aspiring, and have cheerful personalities.
They tend to be more optimistic when facing hardships.
Their resilience is much stronger than that of ordinary girls.
“You this girl, you’re already sick, why care so much about the minor pain caused by the exam? Painless colonoscopy needs scheduling, at least half a year of waiting, and your condition cannot afford further delay. Moreover, the cost of a painless colonoscopy is much more expensive, why bother.”