Ding! Debridement and suturing completed. Earned 30 experience points, 40 wound-dressing skill proficiency points, 35 suturing skill proficiency points, and 20 diagnostics skill proficiency points.
"I personally suggest getting a CT scan. After all, it's an injury from a car accident; we need to rule out any head trauma," Liu Banxia said after applying the adhesive tape.
"I don't think it's anything serious. Do I really need a scan? My head isn't hurting now," the patient said, hesitating slightly.
"It's better to get one, just to be safe. At your age, safety comes first. A head CT isn't that expensive; we can't risk potential complications just to save a little money," Liu Banxia said with a smile.
"Doctor Liu, come quickly! Someone has an iron skewer stuck in his stomach!" Shen Lin burst into the room.
"You should still get the scan, to be safe," Liu Banxia said, then led Xu Dan out, removing his gloves as he went.
The emergency department was often like that; either there were no patients, or they came in droves.
The sight of the patient startled Liu Banxia. A flat iron skewer, the kind used for roasting large lamb kebabs, was embedded in his abdomen. The patient was being supported by two men, and it was unclear if he was unconscious.
"Is it a through-and-through wound? Is it protruding from his back?" Liu Banxia asked as he approached, detecting a strong smell of alcohol.
"Doctor, we don't know. We were having a barbecue nearby. He'd had a bit too much to drink, tripped, and fell onto the skewer," one of his companions said anxiously.
"Hold him steady. Let me take a look," Liu Banxia said, moving around to the patient's back.
The clothing on the left side of the patient's back was pushed up, and a small patch of blood was seeping out. This was very dangerous; the skewer might have damaged internal organs.
"Take him to Trauma Room Two. Be careful when you move him. Try your best not to touch the skewer when placing him on the bed," Liu Banxia instructed.
"Open an IV line for fluids, cross-match his blood, and prepare three units of plasma. Get the portable ultrasound and rapid X-ray ready. And call Dr. Chen."
"Doctor Liu, Dr. Chen went into surgery with the last patient," Xu Dan said.
Liu Banxia's heart lurched. "Then notify the surgical department upstairs. See which attending surgeon is on duty."
"Where... where am I? Gotta keep drinking... What's this?"
"Don't—!"
Before they could even get the patient onto the bed, he woke up. Muttering confusedly, he reached down and yanked the iron skewer from his abdomen.
Liu Banxia saw it and yelled, but it was too late. The patient had actually pulled the skewer out himself. In an instant, a large patch of his clothing was soaked with blood.
The patient glanced down, his eyes rolled back, and he fainted.
Ding! Task issued: Rescue the patient.
The patient is critically injured. Do your utmost to save him. This is an open-ended task; rewards will be based on the outcome of the rescue.
Liu Banxia had no time to dwell on the system task. He quickly helped get the patient onto the bed and cut open his clothes. Blood was still gushing from the wound on his abdomen.
He's probably hit an artery. Massive hemorrhage! Liu Banxia cursed inwardly.
Only damage to a major vessel could cause blood to gush from the abdomen like that with a penetrating wound. The blood loss was too rapid; the exit wound on his back wasn't nearly large enough to release it all.
"Notify the blood bank to send ten more units of plasma, stat! Start blood and fluid resuscitation! Prep for sterilization! I'm doing a laparotomy—now!" Liu Banxia yelled as he threw on a disposable surgical gown and donned sterile gloves.
Shen Lin and Xu Dan were both shocked. Performing a laparotomy here, in the ER, was incredibly risky.
Liu Banxia had no time for such concerns. The patient's condition was critical; he couldn't wait for another doctor. Even with immediate blood and fluid replacement, at this rate of blood loss, the patient likely wouldn't last more than a few minutes.
There was no time for a thorough abdominal scrub. Liu Banxia poured povidone-iodine directly onto the abdomen and gave it a quick wipe with Sterile Gauze—that would have to do for sterilization. He laid down the sterile drapes, picked up a scalpel, and without a moment's hesitation, made the incision.
As the scalpel sliced open the abdomen, another gush of fresh blood surged out, spilling over the side of the bed and onto the floor.
"Connect him to the monitor! Rapid transfusion!" Liu Banxia ordered, took a deep breath, and then, to everyone's horrified gaze, plunged his hand into the patient's open abdomen.
Ding! Elegant Elixir consumed. Gained 5 Agility points. Stability, Speed, and Touch sensitivity increased by 9.25%. Effect duration: 10 minutes.
This is the only way, Liu Banxia thought. Use my hands to find the bleeder. If I'm lucky, I can still save him. To enhance his manual sensitivity, he had consumed a vial of Elegant Elixir.
Standard procedure would be to use suction to clear the abdominal cavity, but is there time? By the time we clear the fluid, he'll have bled out.
"Liu Banxia, are you insane?!"
Just then, Qin Hai, who had rushed in, bellowed.
He had seen Liu Banxia's actions and knew he was attempting to achieve hemostasis manually. Such a technique was far too unorthodox, too reckless! If the patient died, the hospital would likely face a nasty malpractice suit.
Moreover, Qin Hai was not in a good mood today. The hospital administration had just finished reaming him out, severely criticizing the ER's recent performance. He was on the verge of retirement, looking forward to a peaceful life; he really couldn't afford any screw-ups now.
He already despised Liu Banxia. Not only had the younger doctor repeatedly challenged his authority, but now he was dragging him into this mess. How could Qin Hai not be furious?
Liu Banxia completely ignored Qin Hai's shouting. Instead, he closed his eyes, his hands continuing to explore within the patient's abdomen.
"Blood pressure has dropped to 80/50 and is still falling!" Shen Lin reported from the monitor.
"IV access established! Blood and fluids infusing!" Xu Dan hurriedly added.
"Liu Banxia, stop this instant!" Qin Hai roared again.
"Shut up!" Liu Banxia shot him a glare, unwilling to listen to his prattling. Focusing on the sensations from his fingertips, he did his utmost to construct a mental image of the patient's abdominal cavity.
There was so much blood in the patient's abdomen; he could only discern the faint currents of blood flow with his fingers. He didn't dare move too quickly, lest he disturb his delicate sense of touch.
"Blood pressure 70/40... now 65/38!" Shen Lin called out, her voice strained.
Could it be the splenic artery, not the abdominal aorta? Liu Banxia wondered, feeling the force of the blood pulsing against his fingers. This was a new assessment.
He followed the sensation. Suddenly, the impact of the blood flow against his fingers intensified significantly. Liu Banxia's eyes lit up. Without hesitation, he traced it to its source and pinched it shut with his fingers.
"Blood pressure rising! 80/63... 96/72... Pulse is steady! The bleeding has stopped!" Xu Dan, who was squeezing the blood bag, shouted excitedly.
Everyone else in the room let out a collective sigh of relief. At least the patient was out of immediate danger for now.
Qin Hai, too, felt a wave of relief. At least the patient's condition was stabilized; he wouldn't be dragged down by this incident.
Ding! Patient rescue task completed.
Gained 1,300 experience points, 700 diagnostics skill proficiency points.
Congratulations, Host! Level up to 16! (17,218/17,680 XP). Acquired 1 Attribute Point and 5 Glory Points.
Task assessment: Perfect. Gained 1,000 experience points, 1,000 diagnostics skill proficiency points, 5 Glory Points.
Congratulations, Host! Level up to 17! (18,218/19,440 XP). Acquired 1 Attribute Point and 5 Glory Points.
PHEW...
Liu Banxia let out a long breath. "Notify the OR, prepare for surgery. Ruptured splenic artery—I'm holding it now. Haven't had time to check for other injuries. We need to get definitive hemostasis ASAP!"
Two levels in one go!
Liu Banxia felt as if a heavy chain that had bound him had shattered. He felt incredibly clear-headed and exhilarated.