49: Chapter 49: A hundred repetitions of theory are not as effective as one hands-on experience.

At 8:00 AM, the Red Zone officially entered working mode.

The first patient brought in was a man in his fifties, delivered by the 120 ambulance, presenting with chest pain and difficulty breathing, with a preliminary suspicion of acute myocardial infarction.

Zhao Yaqin led Lu Chen to meet them.

"Where are the family members?"

"They're behind us. They couldn't keep up with the ambulance, so they took a taxi."

"Understood. Push him into Resuscitation Room 1 first. Get the Electrocardiogram monitor on, and give me the twelve-lead result to look at."

Lu Chen followed behind Zhao Yaqin, habitually activating the Eye of Truth at the same time.

[Eye of Truth scan complete]

[Patient information: Male, 54 years old]

[Chief complaint: Severe retrosternal pain for 2 hours, accompanied by difficulty breathing]

[Eye of Truth diagnosis: Acute anterior ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction, proximal left anterior descending artery occlusion]

[Risk level: Extremely high]

[Current symptoms: Profuse sweating, pale complexion, low blood pressure, rapid heart rate]

[Recommendation: Immediately activate the Catheterization Laboratory for emergency PCI]

[Warning: Patient's cardiac function is rapidly deteriorating; if revascularization is not performed within 60 minutes, the risk of death is extremely high]

After reading the system panel, Lu Chen already had a judgment in his mind.

But he did not rush to speak.

Zhao Yaqin was already looking at the twelve-lead Electrocardiogram.

"Anterior myocardial infarction, ST-segment elevation with upward convexity, very obvious from V1 to V4."

Zhao Yaqin's judgment was consistent with the system.

"Notify the Catheterization Laboratory, initiate the emergency PCI protocol, and at the same time, draw blood for Troponin, myocardial enzymes, and a full coagulation panel. Have him chew aspirin and ticagrelor."

Everything was within the standard protocol.

Lu Chen assisted by pushing medication and recording time points, while observing every detail of how Zhao Yaqin handled the critically ill patient.

He discovered that Zhao Yaqin's state in the Red Zone was completely different from when she was in the Yellow Zone.

In the Yellow Zone, Zhao Yaqin was composed, unhurried, leaving room for maneuver in every step.

In the Red Zone, Zhao Yaqin was decisive, with clear instructions and swift actions, leaving absolutely no room for hesitation.

This was the rhythm of the Red Zone.

The patient was sent into the Catheterization Laboratory within fifteen minutes, the entire process completed in one go.

Zhao Yaqin took off her gloves and looked back at Lu Chen.

"Did you understand?"

"I understood."

"The myocardial infarction treatment protocol in the Red Zone is similar to what's in the textbooks, but the most important thing in actual practice isn't how much knowledge you have, but whether you can execute every step in place within the shortest amount of time."

"Theory learned a hundred times is not as good as one practical operation. Next time something similar comes in, you take the lead."

"Understood."

Lu Chen noted it in his heart.

Throughout the entire morning, the Red Zone admitted five patients in succession.

Two myocardial infarctions, one cerebral hemorrhage, one severe asthma attack, and a worker who fell from a construction site, suffering from multiple fractures and blunt abdominal trauma.

Lu Chen followed Zhao Yaqin the entire time, from observing to assisting, gradually finding the rhythm of working in the Red Zone.

But he knew clearly in his heart that he was still just an assistant for now.

The real opportunity belonging to him had not yet arrived.

At noon, the Red Zone had a rare moment of leisure.

Lu Chen sat on a chair in the treatment area, quickly eating a cold steamed bun.

Shen Xiaoning walked over holding a cup of warm water.

"Dr. Lu, drink some water."

"Thank you."

Lu Chen took it and took a sip.

Shen Xiaoning stood to the side and didn't leave immediately.

"The Red Zone is really so busy, much busier than the Yellow Zone. I don't know how many times I ran errands this morning; my shoe soles are almost worn through."

"Hmm, you'll adapt slowly."

"Dr. Lu, what about you? Have you adapted?"

"It's alright."

Shen Xiaoning thought for a moment and asked another question.

"Do you feel like the atmosphere in the Red Zone is especially oppressive? I always feel like the air here is tense, and I don't dare to speak loudly."

"The Red Zone is just like this. You'll be fine once you get used to it."

Shen Xiaoning gave an "mm" sound and looked down at her shoes.

"Um, Dr. Lu, did you receive that little card I drew?"

"I received it."

"Do you like it?"

Lu Chen thought about how to answer this question.

"It's quite good."

The corners of Shen Xiaoning's mouth curled up, and her eyes curved into the shape of crescent moons.

"Really? I drew it for a long time; I drew three before picking the best-looking one."

"Mm."

"If you want any patterns in the future, I can draw them for you too."

"No need, one is enough."

Shen Xiaoning's smile stiffened for 0.5 seconds, then recovered.

"Alright."

She turned and walked two steps, then turned back.

"Dr. Lu, keep it up."

Then she trotted back to the Nurse Station.

Meng Yan watched Shen Xiaoning running over, then glanced at Lu Chen in the direction of the treatment area and shook her head.

"Xiao Shen, run to the doctors' side less during work hours. The Red Zone isn't the Yellow Zone. If Director Li sees you, you'll get scolded."

"Understood, Sister Meng. I was just going to deliver some water."

"Delivering water shouldn't take that long, right?"

Shen Xiaoning's face turned red.

"I'll be careful next time."

"Alright, alright, the IV for bed number three needs to be changed. You go."

"Okay!"

Shen Xiaoning hurried off to work.

Meng Yan watched her back and muttered a sentence.

"Young people."

...

At 1:30 PM.

The Red Zone started getting busy again.

This time, it wasn't someone brought by the 120 ambulance, but a patient who walked in himself.

Saying he walked in, he was actually carried in by two brothers.

The three of them were all young men in their late twenties, each stout and burly, with various patterns tattooed on their bodies, their hair either crew cuts or mohawks; one look and you could tell they weren't office-sitting white-collar workers.

The one being carried had a long wound on his right forearm, blood dripping down his arm, leaving a trail of bloody footprints on the floor.

"Doctor! Quickly, take a look at my brother!"

The two men carried the injured person, rushing to the front of the Triage Desk, their voices loud enough for the entire Red Zone to hear.

Meng Yan stood up and glanced at the wound.

"How did the injury happen?"

"Scratched by a piece of sheet metal while working. Stop asking and hurry up and treat him!"

Meng Yan did not change her expression.

"Go to the second bed in the treatment area first; I'll call a doctor over."

Zhao Yaqin was in Resuscitation Room 1 treating a patient with gastrointestinal bleeding and couldn't get away.

She looked back at Lu Chen.

"Lu Chen, go to the treatment area and take a look. You can handle trauma Suturing."

Lu Chen nodded.

"Alright."

He walked to the side of the second bed in the treatment area.

The injured man was sitting on the bed with his right forearm facing up. The wound was about twelve centimeters long and quite deep; subcutaneous tissue and part of the fascia layer were already visible, but fortunately, no tendons or blood vessels were damaged.

Lu Chen activated the Eye of Truth and quickly scanned it.

[Eye of Truth scan complete]

[Patient information: Male, 27 years old]

[Chief complaint: Sharp object injury to the right forearm, bleeding for about 30 minutes]

[Eye of Truth diagnosis: Laceration of skin and subcutaneous tissue of the right forearm, reaching the fascia layer, not involving tendons, blood vessels, or nerves]

[Risk level: Medium]

[Current symptoms: Active bleeding, mild wound contamination]

[Recommendation: Layered Suturing after Debridement, pay attention to aseptic operation, tetanus antitoxin injection is recommended]

[Warning: None]

Lu Chen felt relieved; although this wound looked scary, it wasn't complicated to treat.

"I am Lu Chen, the Resident Physician. I will treat your wound."

The injured man looked up at him.

"You?"

His gaze scanned Lu Chen up and down.

A twenty-four-year-old face, clean, looking even better than those popular young idols.

"Brother, are you sure you're a doctor? You aren't here at the Hospital to film a movie, are you?"

The two companions next to him also looked over.

"This is too young, right? Does he have any experience?"

"How many years of experience do you have, little brother? My wound isn't small; don't sew it crooked."

Lu Chen was not angry, nor did he explain too much.

He put on gloves, opened the Suturing kit, his movements fluid and smooth.

"First, I'll administer anesthesia, local infiltration anesthesia; it will hurt a little."

"I'm not afraid of pain; I'm just afraid your skills aren't up to par."

The injured man was still muttering, but seeing Lu Chen's technique in preparing the instruments, he quieted down a little.

Because Lu Chen's movements of opening the package, laying the drape, and drawing the medication were too smooth.

It wasn't the cautiousness of a novice, but the muscle memory of someone who had done it thousands of times.

After the anesthesia was administered, Lu Chen began the Debridement.

He rinsed the wound with normal saline, used tweezers to remove several tiny foreign debris, and checked the deep layers of the wound for any missed injuries.

Every step was clean and neat, without a single wasted movement.

"Alright, now starting the Suturing."

"Wait a second," the injured man said suddenly.

"What's wrong?"

"Which stitch is this?"

"I haven't started yet, this is the first stitch."

"Oh, that's fine. I was just asking. Sew a bit slower, don't rush."