This was another race against death. I've already lost once; I don't want to lose again.
If I hadn't consumed the Wisdom Potion, I probably wouldn't have even considered fighting for a chance of survival for the fetus in the mother's womb.
A cesarean section was an obstetrics and gynecology procedure, and Liu Banxia only had some theoretical knowledge about it. But when the scalpel touched the skin, he hesitated.
I'm not sure if rushing into surgery now, with my current skill level, might harm the fetus instead.
Five seconds. Ordinarily, five seconds would pass unnoticed by most. But now, every second was an agony for Liu Banxia; his hands even began to tremble.
"I'm going all in!"
Liu Banxia closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and made the first incision.
With the first incision, Liu Banxia's heart truly calmed. Aided by the Wisdom Potion, the previously somewhat hazy key surgical steps became clear in his mind once more.
There's just over three minutes of the Wisdom Potion's effect remaining; I have to finish this surgery within that time.
He chose the incision site in the fold where the abdominal wall sagged. Fearing his skills were insufficient and that he might harm the fetus, Liu Banxia made the incision a little too long.
This cut was a bit too deep. It not only exposed the uterus but also left a scratch about three centimeters long on its surface.
But this isn't the time to worry about that. When he made the second incision into the uterus, he was even more cautious, and beads of sweat dripped from his forehead.
The others hadn't stopped their tasks, but their anxiety was no less than Liu Banxia's. They were all hoping for a miracle.
"What are you doing? Stop right now! Why aren't you all stopping him?"
Qin Hai, who had just returned from a meeting with hospital administration, felt his heart leap into his throat upon seeing the scene.
Resident doctors, while still doctors, primarily underwent emergency training. They were qualified to perform procedures like cardiopulmonary resuscitation, tracheal intubation, and tracheotomies. However, they could only perform major surgeries like cesarean sections under the direct supervision of an attending surgeon. The attending physician was needed to make sound judgments, provide correct treatment, and mitigate medical disputes.
Yet, Liu Banxia was currently disregarding standard operating procedures entirely.
If anything went wrong with this cesarean section, it would lead to a severe medical dispute, and it would happen in the emergency department under his, Qin Hai's, management. What infuriated him even more was that the other doctors on rotation were just standing by, watching the spectacle.
Liu Banxia merely glanced back at him. "I don't have time to explain so much right now."
"All of you, stop! What? The patient is already dead? Liu Banxia, I order you to stop immediately, or I'll fire you!" Qin Hai exclaimed, nearly fainting after rushing over and grasping the situation.
Hearing his shouts, Liang Xiaolin, who was performing CPR, paused.
"Continue compressions! I'll take full responsibility for any consequences!" Liu Banxia roared back, his hands never stopping.
The director was the ultimate authority in the emergency department. Ordinarily, even if Liu Banxia disdained Qin Hai, he wouldn't dare openly defy him. But today was different. His only focus was the fetus he was about to deliver.
For some reason, upon hearing Liu Banxia's words, Liang Xiaolin's hands instinctively resumed compressions. Her rational mind told her to obey Director Qin Hai, but her body wouldn't listen.
He incised the uterus and punctured the amniotic sac, then Liu Banxia reached inside. There was no time to wait and clear the amniotic fluid; every second was critical for the fetus.
Qin Hai could only watch helplessly, fuming. Cherishing his own position, he dared not make any move that might implicate him. If he intervened, he would undoubtedly share in the blame for any repercussions.
Qin Hai retreated to the side, standing just outside the resuscitation room, his gaze fixed on Liu Banxia, filled with venomous resentment.
Not only did I lose face in front of Zhou Shuwen today, but now this whelp dares to defy me in front of everyone. This Liu Banxia absolutely cannot be allowed to stay.
"I've got the head! Sister Li, gently press the abdomen and push outward!" Liu Banxia exclaimed, his eyes brightening with joy after feeling around a couple of times.
Although Zhou Li was a senior nurse, this was the first time she had experienced such a scene. Her hands, pressing on the patient's abdomen, trembled slightly, terrified of harming the fetus.
Liu Banxia didn't hesitate. He reached his other hand into the uterus and, coordinating with Zhou Li's pressure, swiftly guided the baby out.
But it wasn't over. After clamping and cutting the umbilical cord, Liu Banxia began to clear the baby's airway, his heart pounding with anxiety.
WAAH... WAAH...
Just after he cleared it a few times, the baby strained and began to cry.
Hearing that relatively quiet cry, everyone breathed a collective sigh of relief. Liang Xiaolin, who had been performing chest compressions, slumped to the floor in exhaustion.
DING! Primary surgeon task completed. Reward: 200 Experience Points, 200 Diagnostic Skill Proficiency Points, 200 Cesarean Section Skill Proficiency Points.
Childbirth assistance assessed: Flawless. Reward: 300 Experience Points, 300 Diagnostic Skill Proficiency Points, 300 Cesarean Section Skill Proficiency Points.
"Not bad, kid. Hand the baby over to the obstetrics team. He needs to go to the NICU for follow-up care." Shi Lei, who had arrived at some unknown point, walked up to him.
"Ah... Boss, when did you get here? I..."
Shi Lei waved his hand. "Go get some rest. It was hectic today. Three surgeries in Obstetrics had complications and ran late. Then a patient in the ICU had a minor issue, so they called me over. Good thing you held out and saved the baby."
As Shi Lei finished speaking, enthusiastic applause erupted from outside Resuscitation Room Two. It came from hospital staff and even patients who were there for treatment.
Liu Banxia managed a grin. He usually loved praise, but now he felt empty and bitter. Was this really worth celebrating? Without the Wisdom Potion, what would the outcome have been?
The baby he was still cradling kicked its tiny legs. Feeling that small, struggling life in his hands, a wave of sweetness instantly washed away the bitterness, filling his heart.
"Boss, did you see Director Qin? We had a bit of a run-in just now. I'm afraid things are going to be even tougher for me from now on," Liu Banxia said with a wry smile after handing the baby to a nurse.
"I saw him leaving when I got here. You were a bit reckless this time, it's true. But the outcome was good; you saved a life. Try not to worry too much." Shi Lei glanced at him, his two thick eyebrows knitting together.
"Sister Wang told me some of what happened. Your actions were absolutely correct. Even I might not have thought to try and save the baby. The patient must have had a massive intracranial hemorrhage, masked by the adrenaline. Once she knew the baby was safe, her symptoms probably manifested explosively. Go rest. I'll take care of things here."
Shi Lei was also concerned. After so many years in the hospital, he knew Qin Hai's personality all too well. For now, he could only try to reassure Liu Banxia and keep him from overthinking. If it really came to it, he'd have to have a word with Director Zhou.
Liu Banxia shook his head. "Brother Shi, she was my patient. I admitted her. I want to see her off on her final journey."
Shi Lei sighed.
This was an experience every doctor had to face. You never knew which case would become a burden on your conscience for a lifetime. Seeing Liu Banxia now, Shi Lei felt that same worry for him.
If this had been the usual, exuberant Liu Banxia, after receiving such praise from Shi Lei, he might have wiggled his hips and done a little dance.
Now, however, as he gazed at the patient's body on the gurney, his mind was empty. The system, securing a permanent position... none of it mattered.
Even though it was just a body, growing colder by the minute, she was still my patient.