Surgeons Episode 26 Recap
> Surgeons Recap
Having just finished an operation, Zhuang Shu sought out Lu Chenxi, who was preparing to leave for the disaster zone. She informed him she had only ten minutes left. Zhuang Shu remarked on the quickness of her departure and mentioned she had forgotten her medicine, but Lu Chenxi was focused on their relationship. Frustrated by his lack of words, she decided to take the initiative, stating she wanted to confirm a few things before leaving.
First, her kiss that morning was not impulsive; she genuinely liked him. Zhuang Shu simply replied, "Okay, I understand." Disappointed by his unenthusiastic response, she pressed on. Second, as a professional surgeon, she had observed his heart rate was nearly 120 beats per minute when she kissed him, suggesting he liked her too. Zhuang Shu only commented on her observation of his heart rate.
Third, despite it not being a permanent parting, she felt a strong reluctance to leave him and worried about his health, urging him to take good care of himself and promising to continue "pestering" him upon her return. As Lu Chenxi turned to leave, Zhuang Shu embraced her from behind, softly confessing, "Chen Xi, I like you." He explained that even if they were to face "unusual situations" in the future, it would not affect his feelings for her.
Lu Chenxi, her heart filled with joy, turned to face him, kissed him goodbye, and then departed for the disaster zone. Zhuang Shu remained, watching her leave, his face etched with worry about the unknown challenges ahead. Chen Shaocong, initially listed for the rescue team, was ultimately kept from going, with Director Zhong later explaining to Lu Chenxi that his "mental quality" wasn't robust enough for the front lines.
Yang Yu, not on the initial list, traded places with a colleague to join the disaster relief efforts, unintentionally missing Chen Shaocong at the hospital. While Lu Chenxi and Yang Yu are on the front lines, Zhuang Shu and Chen Shaocong remain at Renhe Hospital, their thoughts with their colleagues in the disaster zone. Yang Yu later jokes with Lu Chenxi about Chen Shaocong being the source of hospital gossip regarding Lu Chenxi and Zhuang Shu's budding relationship.
In the late hours, Dean Yang Fan was seen personally disinfecting an ambulance, explaining he wanted medical staff to rest before their next run to the disaster zone. Former Dean Fu Bowen arrived at the hospital, offering his assistance during the crisis. He explained that his sudden retirement had left him with valuable knowledge of emergency protocols that could benefit the new dean, and he could help smooth cooperation with officials who might not yet know of the leadership change.
Yang Fan expressed relief, admitting he missed Fu Bowen's presence during such a major event. He then informed Fu Bowen that Lu Chenxi had joined the rescue team by her own will. Fu Bowen admitted his past over-indulgence of Lu Chenxi was a problem he needed to reflect on.
The two deans, putting aside past differences, discussed the imminent threat of epidemics and cross-infections, especially with the Health Commission's directive for Renhe Hospital to maintain a "code green" status, accepting all injured unconditionally. Both acknowledged this as their greatest concern. As ambulances continually delivered more injured, Renhe Hospital faced immense pressure. The emergency department was plunged into chaos, with Chen Shaocong running ragged, overwhelmed by the volume of patients.
He shouted in frustration, admitting he only had "one pair of hands." Just as he was nearing his breaking point, Fu Bowen appeared, calmly taking charge of a critical patient, administering immediate orders, and even performing a closed drainage procedure. Chen Shaocong, apologizing for his earlier agitation, was reassured by Fu Bowen, who told him he was "not doing bad," while also lightly chiding him. Fu Bowen then encouraged him to continue working, noting the many patients still needing care.
With the hospital receiving a continuous deluge of patients, all departments, including the ICU, became severely overcrowded, with patients even lining the corridors. Nurses reported rooms exceeding capacity, making basic isolation and disinfection impossible. Zhuang Shu personally observed patients with rising temperatures and infected wounds, strongly suspecting gas gangrene in several cases.
After confirming similar suspected infections in other departments like Orthopaedics and Emergency, and learning that over 20 patients across the hospital were infected, with 8 suspected of having the deadly gas gangrene, Zhuang Shu made a decisive move. Despite the higher-ups' order for Renhe to maintain a 24-hour "code green" for unconditional patient intake, he instructed the Head Nurse to immediately close the green channel and stop admitting new patients to prevent a devastating outbreak.
He argued that orders could not prevent cross-infections when the hospital's density made proper disinfection and quarantine impossible, and admitting more patients would expose them to a potentially fatal infection. At the hospital entrance, a desperate crowd of injured patients was held back, creating a chaotic scene. Dean Yang Fan, upon learning that Zhuang Shu had ordered the temporary halt of patient intake, immediately overrode the decision and ordered the "code green" channel reopened.
Zhuang Shu intervened, explaining that with over 20 infected patients across departments, 8 of whom were strongly suspected of having gas gangrene, the hospital was unable to maintain basic quarantine, making further intake catastrophic.
Meanwhile, Fu Bowen, demonstrating his expertise, instructed staff to swiftly convert non-clinical spaces like the library, records section, and even duty rooms into makeshift isolation units for suspected gas gangrene patients and those in contact with them, also planning for temporary tents and communication with superiors to explain the extreme measures. Yang Fan confronted Zhuang Shu about closing the green channel, insisting it must be resumed to save the severely wounded.
Zhuang Shu, however, reiterated the dire risk of cross-infection, emphasizing that the hospital was too saturated to maintain proper disinfection and quarantine. He argued that halting intake was to protect patients from a potentially deadly internal outbreak, not to abandon them. Yang Fan, torn between the humanitarian need to accept all patients and the growing infection risk, highlighted Renhe's principle of never giving up on the wounded and the authorities' explicit orders.
Zhuang Shu countered that the authorities might not fully grasp the current critical saturation within the hospital. He proposed waiting for clear instructions from the authorities before resuming patient intake. Yang Fan, seeing the gravity of the situation, agreed to report the matter to higher-ups once more. In the disaster zone, a distressed woman approached Lu Chenxi, inquiring about her injured husband, Lin Hao, and daughter, Lin Huan.
Lu Chenxi confirmed Lin Hao's severe injuries, stating he required immediate surgery and had been transferred by ambulance to Renhe Hospital, accompanied by Lin Huan. Overhearing the name "Lin Huan," Director Zhong was struck by the coincidence, recalling Zhuang Shu's lost younger sister, Nan Nan, who was adopted by a couple and renamed Lin Huan.
He immediately called Zhuang Shu to relay this crucial information, informing him that Lin Huan's adoptive father, Lin Hao, was severely injured and likely already at Renhe. The news that his sister's adoptive father had been brought to Renhe stirred up vivid childhood memories for Zhuang Shu. He spotted a distraught Lin Huan among the patients waiting outside, desperately trying to get past security.
She recognized him and pleaded with him, explaining that Lu Chenxi at the disaster zone had said her father, Lin Hao, was severely injured and needed immediate surgery, specifically requesting Zhuang Shu to be the lead surgeon. Zhuang Shu, however, had to uphold the hospital's strict new policy. He explained to Lin Huan that due to extreme overcrowding and the inability to maintain proper disinfection, no more patients could be admitted.
Despite her tearful pleas for her father, who was in critical condition, Zhuang Shu apologetically stated they must wait for official instructions from the authorities regarding patient placement. Simultaneously, Yang Fan, having just reported the dire situation to his superiors, learned that a decision would take "at least one to two hours." Recognizing that the injured could not wait that long, he made a difficult choice and ordered the "code green" channel immediately reopened, allowing patients to be admitted.
Zhuang Shu desperately tried to intervene, warning of a catastrophic gas gangrene epidemic if more patients were brought into the already compromised hospital. However, Yang Fan, acknowledging the risk, asserted that his primary responsibility as a doctor was to save lives, even if it meant implementing extreme precautions to minimize infection risk within the hospital. He firmly reiterated his order to resume patient intake.
