53: Even after going through so much trouble and losing everything, I still have to be grateful to the doctor!
Chapter 053: Going Bankrupt and Still Thanking the Doctor!
“Does the patient have any drug allergies? Any previous medical history…?”
After asking the patient’s family for some crucial pre-operative information again,
Lu Chenxi decisively led Lin Yi to the operating room.
For Limb Replantation, the less time wasted, the higher the chance of successful surgery.
After scrubbing, disinfecting, putting on surgical gowns, and quickly completing pre-operative preparations,
Lin Yi and Lu Chenxi approached the patient… “Lin Yi, you’ll handle the disinfection and debridement of the severed finger.”
“According to the patient’s description, there might be animal feces, grass clippings, and other debris on the severed finger.”
“Make sure to disinfect thoroughly to prevent post-operative infection.”
After instructing Lin Yi on the precautions,
Lu Chenxi proceeded to treat the wound on the patient’s foot separately.
After tearing away layers of plastic and cloth mixed with hastily bandaged wounds and thoroughly cleaning them with hydrogen peroxide,
Lu Chenxi could clearly see that the extent of the wound was more severe than she had imagined… Although the family immediately found someone to send the patient to the Hospital,
Because their home was in the countryside and transportation was inconvenient, too much time was wasted.
Furthermore, the patient’s family lacked basic medical knowledge.
When bandaging the wound, they didn't even perform the simplest disinfection.
This led to animal feces, dirt, and grass clippings adhering to the wound, and infection and inflammation had already appeared… “How is the patient’s severed finger?”
Lu Chenxi, who was continuously debriding, asked with a frown.
“The situation is not too optimistic.”
“The infection at the wound is very severe, and blood vessels, nerves, tendons, etc., all show varying degrees of atrophy.”
“Thorough debridement and isolation of the contaminated area will take at least another ten minutes.”
After describing the specific situation on his side,
Lin Yi also reported an approximate completion time.
“Understood.”
“Let’s finish the treatment first.”
Lu Chenxi responded dully, then shut her mouth in frustration.
Based on past experience, the possibility of the patient saving the severed finger was almost non-existent… Under normal circumstances, if a patient’s finger or toe is severed at one joint,
As long as it’s simply disinfected, preserved with cold compresses, and medical attention is sought within 8 hours, the chances of successful reattachment are very high.
However, the situation presented by this patient was much more complex than normal.
Wound contamination and infection, along with atrophy of blood vessels and nerves, were just one aspect.
All five of the patient’s right toes were almost completely severed from the base.
Especially the big toe area, which also included a portion of the foot.
This already far exceeded the difficulty of Limb Replantation, and if this area was not reattached properly,
It could also lead to post-operative necrosis, requiring another amputation… “Doctor, can my toes be reattached or not?”
“Please tell me clearly.”
“Also, how much will it cost if they can be reattached, and how much if they can’t? My child is in school, and I need to save money for her education.”
After hearing Lin Yi and Lu Chenxi’s conversation,
Wang Youcai, lying on the operating table, suddenly spoke up and asked.
Because Limb Replantation surgery generally uses local anesthesia,
The patient can hear everything the doctor says with a clear mind.
He knew his own situation.
When his five toes, along with a portion of his foot, were severed by the guillotine,
Wang Youcai knew that with such severe injuries, the possibility of reattachment was almost nil.
If his wife hadn’t threatened to die, he wouldn’t have come to such a big Hospital at all.
He would have just gone to the township health clinic and had the doctor bandage it up casually.
It was too late to regret now.
It would be better to save some money so his daughter Juanzi could study well and fly out of this poor mountain gully sooner… Although he was forced into the operating room by his wife,
After hearing the doctors’ not-so-good conversation, Wang Youcai again had thoughts of giving up treatment.
No matter what,
A simple bandage would definitely cost much less than surgery… “Since you can maintain this composure,”
“Then I won’t hide anything from you; I’ll tell you the truth.”
Lu Chenxi hadn’t expected that, facing the possibility of disability,
This honest man could still maintain such composure.
And the meaning expressed in his words was also very clear: the family was not well-off, and not a single penny could be wasted.
Given this situation, Lu Chenxi felt there was no need to hide anything from the patient.
“You now face two choices.”
“First, we try our best to reattach your severed toes.”
“But I can tell you clearly that the chances of the severed finger surviving are minimal.”
“If any infection or necrosis occurs post-operatively, there’s a high probability you’ll need another amputation.”
“Reattachment and secondary amputation are two different surgeries, both costly, and the Hospital stay won’t be too short.”
“Second, if you agree to forgo reattachment and directly suture and bandage the existing wound,”
“The cost will be lower, and the recovery time will be very short, but you will also be permanently disabled.”
As Lu Chenxi presented the two options, her heart felt very heavy.
Though she said there were two choices, for such a poor family, there was essentially no second choice.
Giving up on reattachment would surely be their final decision.
They couldn’t and couldn’t afford to spend so much money to gamble on a tiny possibility… Having been a doctor for so long, she had seen many similar things.
But every time it happened, Lu Chenxi’s heart felt like it was blocked by a stone, incredibly heavy… At this moment, Lin Yi had wanted to interrupt Teacher Lu several times.
However, the debridement he was performing had reached its most critical part, and he couldn’t be distracted.
The more time saved, the better the patient’s post-operative recovery would be.
He decided it wasn’t too late to tell Teacher Lu that he was fully confident in reattaching the patient’s severed finger after he finished his current work.
“Thank you, Doctor, thank you for telling me the truth.”
After hearing Lu Chenxi’s plan,
Wang Youcai remained calm, expressing his gratitude repeatedly.
Fortunately, he met a good doctor who allowed him to save a lot of money while avoiding suffering.
If he had encountered a heartless, unethical doctor, they would reattach it without a word, then amputate it if infection occurred.
Leaving him bankrupt, and still having to thank the doctor.
Although Wang Youcai lived in the countryside, he had seen such scenarios on short videos many times… “I’ve decided, Doctor, I’ll go with the second option you mentioned.”
“Please tell my wife.”
“Just say this is my personal decision, and no one can change my mind!”
“Alas…”
After hearing the patient’s decision, Lu Chenxi sighed deeply.
She immediately turned and left the operating room to find the patient’s family for a signature.
“Teacher Lu… Teacher Lu!”
“I can do this surgery, and I guarantee the patient will be lively and well afterward.”
Seeing Lu Chenxi leave the operating room,
Lin Yi, who was almost finished with debridement, shouted anxiously.
However, Lu Chenxi, who was already outside the door, couldn’t hear his shouts due to the soundproofing.
“Forget it, I’ll just have to act first and report later!”
Even with the Master-level Limb Replantation Technique from the Elite Blind Box, the less time wasted, the better the patient’s recovery would be.
Looking at the dispirited patient on the operating table,
Lin Yi made up his mind…