Challenge (4)
“Okay.”
Jennifer continued speaking with a smile on her face.
A total of seven general surgery patients visited the emergency room last night. Among them, only one person was hospitalized after undergoing emergency surgery for intestinal obstruction.
“I’ll take that patient.”
“Nonono. Mr. Choi’s cap (the number of patients managed per doctor) is already full.”
“I think you’re mistaken. I can take two more.”
Choi Ki-seok tilted his head.
“I know that, but I need to take on other patients, not this one.”
“Another patient?”
“First, take a patient under Morgan’s care.”
Jennifer ran the patient’s chart on the monitor.
The patient’s name is Mickey, he is 27 years old and was hospitalized for severe obesity without any special diseases.
“It was decided at the morning meeting yesterday. We will perform Ruwaii surgery on this patient.”
Ruwai surgery.
This is a surgery to prevent complications in severely obese patients.
In Korea, gastric band surgery and sleeve gastrectomy are performed, but in the United States, Rouye gastric bypass surgery has become the standard surgery.
“Mr. Choi will perform Ruwai’s surgery.”
“really?”
“Of course. Are you sure you’re going to play around during the handover?”
“Wow. I never thought this opportunity would come.”
Choi Ki-seok could not hide his excitement.
I expected that if I were to perform the surgery, I would have to have another appendectomy like my classmates. However, I had to undergo Ruwai surgery, which was several times more difficult than that.
Tiring!
[You have obtained the new mission ‘Successfully complete your first official task.’ Special rewards are provided upon mission completion.]
The fun was doubled with the notification.
“Ethan will do the housework, and Emma and I will help.”
“It’s good, but I think it’s too fast.”
“I agree. I know Mr. Choi is good at it, but I still think this is speeding.”
“The final decision is up to Mr. Choi.”
Morgan, who had been silent, joined in.
“If it’s too burdensome, you don’t have to. Of course, I don’t think you’ll miss this opportunity.”
“answer!”
Choi Ki-seok nodded vigorously.
“By the way, Meijo is really amazing. You can entrust Ruwaii surgery to a new resident. It’s an operation that takes over two hours. It even has to be sutured.”
“That’s Meijo’s style. Talented people grow up at a rapid rate as if riding an elevator, while unskilled people climb up the ladder.”
Jennifer and Morgan said something each time.
“If you two were me, would you do Ruwai’s surgery?”
“I never do it. There’s no need to take risks. In surgery, it’s not about success, but about not failing.”
“If it were me, I would do it. I have to beat my classmates faster.”
The two people’s tendencies were clearly different.
“I’ll tell Ethan that Mr. Choi said he would perform Ruwai’s surgery.”
“thank you.”
“You’re welcome. The second message is also about Mr. Choi. Lavin Williams came and went to the general surgery clinic yesterday? I heard the test results yesterday and he’s coming to be admitted this afternoon.”
“Am I your doctor?”
“that’s right.”
Choi Ki-seok sighed and placed his hand on his forehead.
After seeing him in the lobby yesterday, I had a feeling that we would meet again.
But it really turned out that way.
“Why? Isn’t it good? Everyone is going crazy because they want to be Ravin’s doctor. Or do they not know Ravin?”
“I know. He’s a famous actor in Korea too.”
“Then why do you hate it?”
“Because it’s burdensome. Meeting in a normal situation is different from meeting as a doctor as a patient.”
“Well, that might be possible.”
“What is the diagnosis?”
Choi Ki-seok changed the topic.
“Crohn’s disease. He was treated at another hospital’s internal medicine department, but came to our hospital because there was no improvement.”
Crohn’s disease.
It is a chronic inflammatory disease that can occur in all digestive organs.
In Ravin’s case, surgery is necessary due to severe inflammation and fistula in the small intestine.
Choi Ki-seok listened carefully to Jennifer’s subsequent explanation.
Eventually, the handover was completed.
“You worked hard. Go in and get some rest.”
“You two do a good job too.”
I said goodbye to Jennifer and went to prepare for the meeting with Morgan.
“Aren’t you nervous?”
“what?”
“Today is the day.”
Morgan asked with a worried look on his face.
Today is the first laparoscopic living liver transplant surgery at Meijo.
Being the first in Mayjo means almost the same thing as being the first to be attempted in the United States.
Numerous hepatobiliary pancreatic surgeons requested to observe the surgery.
Although the department could have declined at its discretion, Smith, the surgeon and head chief, allowed the observation.
A truly unconventional decision.
It is common to reveal surgeries you are familiar with and confident about, but Smith shattered that rule.
What is even more surprising is that Choi Ki-seok was selected as the second assistant for the surgery.
“Ah… I was wondering what you were talking about again.”
Ki-Seok Choi continued speaking, belatedly snapping his fingers.
“You’re talking about laparoscopic liver transplant surgery, right? I’m not particularly nervous, right? I’m very fearless about things like this.”
“There’s no need to show off in front of me.”
“You’re not bluffing, are you?”
“Isn’t the thought of going into Head Chief’s surgery enough to make you blush? Plus, this is Meijo’s first surgery, and people from outside will even come in to observe!”
“What you said had nothing to do with me.”
“….”
“Still, thank you for your concern.”
Choi Ki-seok put his hand on Morgan’s shoulder, and Morgan tilted his head as if he was confused.
“Mr. Choi really doesn’t know even if he knows.”
“I don’t even know myself.”
A smile appeared on Choi Ki-seok’s lips.
The reason why he may appear abnormally calm in the eyes of others.
That’s because of the passive effect of Frozen Heart. If I hadn’t had a frozen heart, I wouldn’t have been able to sleep well for the past few days.
‘Is Taesik doing well?’
Suddenly, Taesik Kim, who had learned the skill, came to mind.
After a while, staff gathered into the conference room.
Inpatient reports and case presentations were completed smoothly.
“I will tell you what I have to say before the meeting ends.”
The gastrointestinal surgery resident chief opened his mouth.
“Monthly regular medical volunteer service is scheduled for next week. If you would like to participate, please let me know or write your name on the list on the bulletin board.”
“….”
“In addition, a membership training for the second half of the year is scheduled for 3 days and 2 nights at the beginning of next month. The location and number of people will be announced soon. Thank you.”
The morning meeting ended with the Resident Chief’s remarks.
Ki-Seok Choi left the conference room and stood in line for the morning rounds.
“….”
“….”
By chance, I met Smith’s gaze.
The two stared at each other in silence as if they had made a promise.
“It was Mr. Choi who announced laparoscopic living liver transplant surgery. Coincidentally, Mr. Choi is Korean.”
“….”
“Are you confident about this surgery?”
“yes!”
“I’ll look forward to it.”
As Smith walked in front of the procession, numerous staff followed behind him.
Morning rounds begin.
* * *
That morning.
Choi Ki-seok was entering patient orders at the medical office.
When I finished work and checked the time, it was 1 PM. The long-awaited liver transplant surgery was just two hours away.
“Mr. Choi. I have a favor to ask you.”
Morgan asked cautiously.
“What?”
“One of my patients is Ron. I suspected tunnel syndrome, so I asked for a consultation with a neurosurgeon, but he never came down. I wish you could call me for me. Now I have to go into scrubs.”
Tiring!
[You have obtained the new mission ‘Ron’s Collaboration Request’. We need to contact a neurosurgeon and make sure Ron gets a consultation. Upon completion, 200 P.P.
is provided.]
“Okay. Don’t worry, just go.”
“thank you.”
After Morgan left, Ki-Seok Choi called the neurosurgery clinic.
I called every few minutes, but as I was still on the phone, I thought I might have to go and see in person.
‘Then, shall we get up and try our best?’
Choi Ki-seok left the medical office and entered the hospital room where Jace was.
“Hello, Dr. Choi.”
“How are you feeling?”
“Well, there’s nothing particularly good or bad about it.”
Jace continued speaking with a calm expression.
“Well, if you take a nap, the teachers will take care of your condition.”
“I hope other patients follow Jace’s example.”
“is that so?”
Jace fingered the necklace with his daughter’s photo on it.
“Last night, my daughter appeared in my dream. I was so happy that I was scolded for holding back my tears. But strangely, I couldn’t hear my daughter’s voice. She just kept talking, but I couldn’t tell what she was saying…” “I think I know what it is
. ”
“Are you Dr. Choi?”
Jace’s eyebrows rose.
“I would have definitely asked for the surgery to be successful and stay healthy. Given your daughter’s personality, wouldn’t that have been the case?”
“After hearing it, it seems like it really was.”
While there was a moment of silence, Choi Ki-seok changed the topic.
“I don’t see William… Where did he go?
“He must have been nervous, so he kept snooping around from room to room.” As soon as
Jace finished speaking, William returned to the room.
“Hello.”
“Nice to meet you. William. “You must be very nervous as the surgery approaches, right?”
“Yes. It’s my first time having surgery.”
William sat on the bed, shaking his legs. Then he started biting his nails. He
looked much more anxious than expected.
“Lay down and breathe slowly. If you focus on breathing, some of your worries will disappear.”
Choi Ki-seok comforted William and used encouragement.
[You failed to use the encouragement skill. The target cannot accept encouragement.]
“It’s no use?”
William did as he told him. After following along, he got up from his seat and walked around the hospital room.
Seeing his distracted appearance, Choi Ki-seok frowned and placed his hand on his forehead. Since
there is no rapport with William, he can’t even use categorical imperatives.
It’s an awkward situation.
I hope he doesn’t have any accidents before the surgery. There was no choice.
Choi Ki-seok walked around the hospital room, inspected the patients, and then headed to the neurosurgery ward.
“Mr. Choi. It’s been a while.”
Leon waved his hand from across the hallway.
Leon was suffering from hypermemory syndrome after meeting him in the surgical observation room in the past.
“Hello.”
“What’s going on in neurosurgery?”
“I’m calling to request a collaboration. “I tried, but he was still on the phone.”
“Really? Follow me.”
Choi Ki-seok followed Leon into the medical office.
The interior of the neurosurgery office was neatly organized, unlike general surgery. So much so that it feels like everything is in its right place without any disruption.
“It’s Bernie’s doing again.”
Leon shook his head and pointed at the phone.
The phone was placed crookedly and incorrectly.
“So this is why you’ve been on the phone the whole time.”
“I’m sorry. I’ll apologize on your behalf.”
“You could make a mistake, right?”
“Would you like to call the patient’s number? I will take care of the collaborative patient.”
Leon entered the patient number called by Choi Ki-seok and looked at the chart carefully.
“I’ll have to check the details, but the symptoms are typical carpal tunnel syndrome. I have some business to do right now, but can I see the patient in about 30 minutes?”
“Yes. Please do so.”
Tiring!
[You have completed the new mission Ron’s collaboration request. We provide
200 P.P. as compensation
.] After saying hello to Leon, Ki-Seok Choi returned to the general surgery ward. Time passed in a blink of an eye as he treated patients in the emergency room and took care of miscellaneous tasks.
1:30 PM arrived like that.
The long-awaited laparoscopic living liver transplantation is just around the corner.
“let’s go.”
Choi Ki-seok patted his cheek and headed to the operating room.
