20: Chapter 20 You've really never had surgery before?
Purse-string suture complete.
The stump was perfectly embedded within the Cecal wall.
"Irrigate the abdominal cavity."
Lu Chen used saline to irrigate the right lower abdomen and pelvic cavity, washing away the purulent exudate produced by the infection.
Then, he checked the surgical field once more.
No active bleeding.
Stump embedding complete.
Abdominal cavity irrigated clean.
"Withdraw the scope, stop the Pneumoperitoneum."
Carbon dioxide was released, and abdominal pressure returned to normal.
The three Puncture sites were sutured in sequence.
Surgery complete.
Lu Chen looked up at the clock on the Operating Room wall.
From the first incision to the last stitch, it had taken a total of twenty-three minutes.
Twenty-three minutes.
For a standard Laparoscopic Appendectomy, the average time for a senior Attending Physician is about thirty to forty minutes.
Lu Chen took twenty-three minutes.
Furthermore, the surgical field was clean, there was almost zero bleeding, and the Suturing was perfect.
The Operating Room fell silent for a few seconds.
Zhao Ming was the first to speak.
"Holy crap."
Even through the mask, the shock in those words was not diminished in the slightest.
"I said, holy crap."
He repeated it, as if saying it once wasn't enough to express his feelings.
The Scrub Nurse looked at Lu Chen, then at Director Li Sen; she didn't speak, but her expression said everything.
Director Li Sen stood opposite, staring at Lu Chen for a long time.
Then, he took off his mask.
He revealed a very complex expression.
There was surprise, shock, scrutiny, and a trace of suppressed admiration.
"Lu Chen."
"Here."
"How old are you?"
"Twenty-four."
"Twenty-four years old," Director Li Sen repeated the number.
He had worked in the field of Emergency Medicine for over twenty years and had seen geniuses as well as hard workers.
But someone like Lu Chen was a first for him.
A twenty-four-year-old newcomer, performing a Laparoscopic Appendectomy for the first time.
Twenty-three minutes.
Zero bleeding.
Perfect Suturing.
This could no longer be explained by mere talent.
"Your Suturing level is at least that of a senior Attending Physician," Director Li Sen said.
Lu Chen didn't respond.
"Your scope control and instrument coordination are also far beyond what a newcomer should have."
Lu Chen still didn't respond.
"I'm asking you, have you really never performed surgery before?"
"I've practiced many times in the school's simulation lab."
Director Li Sen looked at him for three seconds.
"I don't believe you."
Lu Chen fell silent.
"But I don't need you to explain," Director Li Sen continued. "Everyone has their own opportunities and secrets. I won't press you; I only look at results."
"The result of today's surgery is passing."
Lu Chen breathed a sigh of relief.
"No," Director Li Sen suddenly corrected himself, "not passing, but excellent."
He paused.
"Very excellent."
Coming from Director Li Sen's mouth, these words carried immense weight.
Because Director Li Sen was notoriously strict and stingy with praise throughout the Emergency Department.
Being able to hear a "decent" from him was already a high evaluation.
Both Zhao Ming and the Scrub Nurse present were hearing him say "very excellent" for the first time.
The system prompt sounded at that moment.
[Surgery complete!]
[Laparoscopic Appendectomy EXP +1,200]
[Leapfrog Challenge triggered! EXP Critical Hit! ×5]
[Actual EXP gained: 6,000]
[Laparoscopic Appendectomy: Master Level (Progress: 0/100 → 60/100)]
[Basic Surgical Operations: Proficient Level (Progress: 0/100 → 25/100)]
[gratitude points +150]
[Current gratitude points: 400]
[System Evaluation: The host independently completed a laparoscopic surgery as a newcomer, triggering achievement conditions.]
[Achievement Obtained: newcomer: surgical blade]
[Achievement Effect: When the host performs surgery, hand stability is permanently increased by 10%.]
Looking at this string of rewards, Lu Chen felt an indescribable sense of satisfaction.
Six thousand EXP directly pushed his Master Level progress for Laparoscopic Appendectomy to 60%.
Basic Surgical Operations also increased by 25%.
He even gained a permanent achievement effect: a 10% increase in hand stability.
He had hit the jackpot with this single surgery.
...
After the surgery.
The patient was sent back to the observation room with stable vital signs and a smooth recovery from anesthesia.
The boy's father had been waiting outside the Operating Room; when he saw his son being wheeled out, his eyes turned red.
"Doctor, is my son okay?"
"The surgery went very well. The appendix has been removed, there was no perforation, and he can be discharged after one to two days of postoperative observation."
"Thank you, doctor, thank you so much!"
The man bowed repeatedly as he spoke.
Lu Chen supported him.
"You're welcome, it's our duty."
The man took Lu Chen's hand and shook it vigorously a few times.
"Young man, you are a good doctor. Truly, I can tell."
Lu Chen smiled.
"Thank you."
...
After seeing off the patient's family, Lu Chen returned to the Emergency Department locker room to change.
Just as he took off his surgical scrubs, the door was pushed open.
It was Zhao Yaqin.
"Surgery finished?"
"Finished, Teacher Zhao."
"How was it?"
"Very smooth, twenty-three minutes."
Zhao Yaqin froze for a moment.
"Twenty-three minutes? For a Laparoscopic Appendectomy?"
"Yes."
Zhao Yaqin stared at him for several seconds.
"What did Director Li say?"
"He said it was very excellent."
Zhao Yaqin's expression became very strange.
She had been in the Emergency Department for over three years and had never heard Li Sen use "very excellent" to describe anyone.
"Are you sure he said 'very excellent'? Not 'just passable'?"
"Sure."
Zhao Yaqin fell silent.
Then she took a deep breath.
"Lu Chen, what exactly is your background?"
"From an Orphanage."
Zhao Yaqin was choked up by this answer.
"I mean your medical skills. You're only twenty-four, your internship hasn't even ended yet, how did you do it?"
"Maybe it's talent," Lu Chen thought for a moment and gave a vague answer.
Zhao Yaqin looked at him for a few more seconds, finally shaking her head.
"Forget it, I won't ask. Anyway, someone like you wouldn't tell the truth even if I asked."
"Teacher Zhao, how can you say that? I've always been very honest."
"Honest? As honest as you using Safaguard to wash your face?"
"What's wrong with Safeguard? It's very useful, strong cleaning power."
Zhao Yaqin took a deep breath and decided not to discuss this topic with him any further.
"Fine, hurry up and change, then go write the surgical record. Remember, write Director Li's name as the lead surgeon."
"I know."
Zhao Yaqin turned to leave.
When she reached the door, she paused and looked back.
Lu Chen was changing into his white coat, his body turned sideways and his head slightly lowered.
Zhao Yaqin withdrew her gaze and quickly left.
When she returned to the Nurse Station, Lin Xiaoyu and Sun Tiantian were on duty.
"Teacher Zhao, how was the surgery?" Lin Xiaoyu asked.
"Very smooth."
"I heard Dr. Lu did it? A newcomer performing laparoscopic surgery?"
"Yes."
"Gosh, he's way too amazing."
Sun Tiantian pushed up her glasses and couldn't help but ask a question too.
"Teacher Zhao, did he really only take twenty-three minutes?"
"You guys are quite well-informed."
"Zhao Ming said it when he came out; the whole Emergency Department knows now."
Zhao Yaqin sighed.
"Can you guys focus on your work?"
"This is work, paying attention to a colleague's professional level," Lin Xiaoyu blinked.
Zhao Yaqin glanced at her.
"Is it professional level you're paying attention to?"
Lin Xiaoyu's face turned slightly red.
"O-Of course it's professional level, what else could it be?"
Zhao Yaqin gave her a cold look but didn't expose her.
She turned and walked away.