99: Chapter 99 uses today's case as a basis to write a high-quality case report.
After Director Li Sen settled the family, he brought Lu Chen into his office.
Closing the door.
Only the two of them were in the office.
Director Li Sen sat in his chair and looked at Lu Chen for about five seconds.
"Sit down."
Lu Chen sat down opposite him.
"To be honest," Director Li Sen began.
"What?"
"How many times have you practiced Ultrasound-Guided Puncture?"
"Strictly speaking, today was my first real-world operation."
Director Li Sen was silent for three seconds.
"How am I supposed to understand that you could perform at this level in your first real-world operation?"
"I spent a lot of time studying the theory and anatomy beforehand, and I've been self-studying ultrasound image reading."
This wasn't a lie.
He had indeed spent time studying.
It was just that the skill itself was given by the system.
"Lu Chen, do you know what the operation you performed today means?"
"Apical Ultrasound-Guided Puncture and drainage for loculated pericardial effusion."
"Right. In most top-tier Hospitals in the country, this operation is considered high-difficulty. Fewer than 20% of doctors in the department can perform it independently, and you did it in one go, with zero complications, and in less than five seconds."
Director Li Sen paused.
"And you completed it within an extremely narrow respiratory window. This means not only is your technique excellent, but your judgment of timing and your psychological fortitude are equally excellent."
Lu Chen didn't speak.
"I didn't call you here today to praise you; there will be plenty of opportunities for praise later."
"Then what is it?"
Director Li Sen leaned back in his chair, hands clasped on the desk.
"I have an idea. This case today has significant academic value."
Lu Chen's eyebrows twitched slightly.
"Loculated pericardial effusion is not uncommon clinically, but cases where drainage is uneven due to loculated cavities leading to acute compression of the contralateral chamber are rarely reported in literature. In actual practice, cases where this problem can be identified on-site and successfully treated are even rarer."
"What does Director Li mean?"
"Write a paper."
Director Li Sen said it very directly.
"Based on today's case, write a high-quality case report and submit it to a core domestic journal."
Lu Chen was stunned for a moment.
He had never thought about papers.
His energy had always been focused on technical improvement and making money.
In his plan, things like papers didn't rank high.
But he reacted immediately.
Papers carry great weight in promotions.
From Resident Physician to attending, from attending to associate senior, every step requires papers and research achievements for support.
If he could have a paper in a core journal now, it would be a huge help to his future promotion.
And promotion meant higher salary.
Higher salary meant more money.
More money meant the roof of the Orphanage could be repaired, and Director Mother's life could be better.
He thought through this line very clearly.
"I haven't written a paper before," he said truthfully.
"I know, so I will guide you in writing it."
Lu Chen glanced at Director Li Sen.
A department director personally guiding a Resident Physician to write a paper.
This was extremely rare treatment in any Hospital.
Generally, Resident Physicians write papers by following an attending or associate senior.
Experts at the director level, unless they are their own doctoral or master's students, would never spend time guiding a Resident Physician.
"I will help you set up the framework, and I will guide you on the literature review and discussion parts. You are responsible for writing the case report and the detailed description of the operation process. After all, you are the one who personally performed the Puncture; the operational details will be more authentic if you write them than if I do."
"Which journal are we targeting?"
"First, submit to the Chinese Journal of Emergency Medicine."
Lu Chen's breathing paused slightly.
Chinese Journal of Emergency Medicine.
One of the top core journals in the domestic Emergency Medicine field.
For a Resident Physician to publish a paper in such a journal is almost impossible under normal circumstances.
But if an expert of Director Li Sen's level acts as the corresponding author and mentor, plus the scarcity and academic value of the case itself, it is possible.
"Okay."
Lu Chen didn't hesitate at all.
"Good. After you go back, write out the operation process of today in detail, including the ultrasound image characteristics, the basis for selecting the Puncture path, and the thinking behind the timing judgment. The more detailed, the better. Write a first draft for me to see first."
"Understood."
"Also, have Zhao Yaqin help you save today's ultrasound images and the patient's imaging data; they will be needed for the paper."
"Okay."
Director Li Sen nodded.
"One more thing."
"What?"
"The family of Zhou Desheng today will likely send a banner or write a thank-you letter later. Just handle it normally when the time comes. Don't refuse, but don't be too enthusiastic. Positive feedback from patients with such social influence is good for the department and for you personally."
"Understood."
"Alright, go get busy."
Lu Chen stood up.
When he reached the door, Director Li Sen called him again.
"Lu Chen."
"Hmm?"
"That needle today—I couldn't have done it."
Lu Chen turned to look at Director Li Sen.
This sentence carried a lot of weight coming from Director Li Sen.
A chief physician who has worked in the Emergency Department for over twenty years and performed countless Pericardiocentesis.
Admitting that he couldn't do an operation that a Resident Physician did.
This wasn't modesty.
This was the truth.
"Director Li did the first 90% of the work; I just filled in the last 10%."
"You know that the last 10% is sometimes more important than the first 90%."
Lu Chen didn't say anything more and pushed the door open to leave.
In the hallway.
His expression returned to its usual calm.
But his heart was not calm.
He needed to start the paper matter as soon as possible.
The first real-world use of Ultrasound-Guided Puncture was completed.
And it was an extremely beautiful debut.
...
Back in the Red Zone.
Zhao Yaqin was arranging the transfer of the patient.
"The Cardiology Department has been contacted; there is a bed available, and He Wenbin is coming to pick him up personally."
"Good."
"Lu Chen, did you back up today's ultrasound images and monitoring data?"
"Not yet."
"I'll help you with it. Director Li Sen told me about the paper, and I'll save the image data for you."
"Thank you, Sister Zhao."
"What are you thanking me for? That needle of yours today gave everyone in the Red Zone a lesson; I should be thanking you."
After Zhao Yaqin finished saying this, she shook her head and walked away.
Shen Xiaoning walked over at this moment holding a cup of warm water.
"Dr. Lu, drink some water."
"Hmm."
Lu Chen took the cup and took a sip.
"Were you nervous just now?"
"Ah?"
"You were in the Resuscitation Room just now, your hands were shaking."
Shen Xiaoning's face blushed.
"A... a little."
"You'll get used to it later."
"But you weren't nervous at all, how did you do it?"
"Practice more."
"Just like that?"
"Just like that."
Shen Xiaoning looked at his profile.
Then she whispered, "You are really amazing."
"Hmm."
"I mean, not just generally amazing, but that kind of..."
"What kind?"
"The kind of amazing that makes people feel at ease leaving anything to you."
Lu Chen didn't pick up on this.
He put down the cup.
"Help me fill out the Pericardiocentesis operation record form for today—the operation time, drainage volume, Puncture site, etc. You saw it all from the side."
"Okay! I'll fill it out right away!"
Shen Xiaoning ran off.
Lu Chen sat at the Nurse Station.
He took out his phone and checked the time.
11:15 AM.
It had been less than two hours since this patient was sent in.
But the things that happened in these two hours were extremely dense.
His Master Level Ultrasound-Guided Puncture had completed its first real-world use.
And it was an operation of S-rank difficulty or higher.
Apical Puncture for loculated pericardial effusion.
Entering the needle during the respiratory window.
One needle to the right spot.
Completed in four seconds.
He had a premonition that the system settlement for this operation would be very substantial.
But now was not the time to check the system.
There was still work at hand.
1:00 PM.
Zhou Desheng had been successfully transferred to the Cardiology Department ward.
He Wenbin came to pick up the patient personally and took an extra look when he saw Lu Chen.
"Old He, what are you looking at?"
"I'm thinking about a question."
"What question?"
"How many more skills do you have that I don't know about?"
Lu Chen thought for a moment.
"Quite a few."
He Wenbin was speechless for a long time.
"You know, you are really annoying."
"You are not the first one to say that."
He Wenbin shook his head and pushed the patient away.