Surgeons Episode 33 Recap
> Surgeons Recap
Lu Chenxi's mother was rushed to the operating room, where Zhuang Shu personally served as the chief surgeon. Her mother was in hemorrhagic shock and desperately needed a blood transfusion. However, she had the rare RH-negative blood type, and it would take one to two hours to gather the necessary plasma. A conventional approach would mean she wouldn't survive long enough for the blood to arrive.
With no other choice, Zhuang Shu decided to employ a highly risky ultra-low temperature therapy. This involved directly injecting cold saline into a central vein to rapidly cool vital organs, reduce their metabolism and oxygen requirements, thereby alleviating ischemia and low blood pressure, and preventing permanent damage. Zhuang Shu hoped this method would buy enough time for the blood to arrive. Although unconventional and extremely risky, it was their only option.
Lu Chenxi insisted on participating in the surgery as an assistant, stating she could only feel at ease standing in the operating room. As time ticked by, the much-needed blood had yet to be delivered. After 38 minutes, then 44 minutes passed, Lu Chenxi grew increasingly anxious. The longer it took, the lower her mother's chances of survival.
Chen Shaocong frantically ran to the operating room, delivering three units of blood—only half of what was required, still not enough to avert the crisis. The remaining blood was still being collected, arriving after 46 minutes. Zhuang Shu instructed them to transfuse the blood and begin rewarming her. Meanwhile, Lu Chenxi's father arrived at the hospital, worried about his wife's prolonged absence. He was met with the devastating news.
Overcome with guilt, he blamed himself for letting his wife come to the hospital alone to deliver food, lamenting that if she hadn't rushed, the accident might not have happened. Lu Chenxi found herself unable to concentrate on assisting with the surgery, consumed by fear and worry that her mother might not make it. Zhuang Shu noticed her distress and, asking Zhang Mo Han to take her place, told Lu Chenxi to go rest.
Though Zhuang Shu reassured her, Lu Chenxi, questioning if there would even be an 'afterwards,' had no inclination to rest. She slumped outside the operating room doors, heartbroken and helpless. The surgery concluded successfully, and Lu Chenxi's mother was transferred to the intensive care unit. Despite the operation's success, she had not yet woken up, an hour after she should have, and Zhuang Shu couldn't guarantee she would regain consciousness.
He admitted to Chen Shaocong that he had never used the ultra-low temperature method before but had no other choice. They discussed the significant uncertainty surrounding patient tolerance for low blood and oxygen under hypothermia without permanent organ damage, and whether she would wake up. Later, Lu Chenxi's father spoke with Zhuang Shu, expressing his and his wife's acceptance of any outcome, reminding him that doctors are not gods and had done their best.
He urged Zhuang Shu not to burden himself too much. Lu Chenxi, having participated in the entire emergency treatment and surgery, was acutely aware of the possible outcomes, including the chance her mother might never wake. Yet, she did not blame Zhuang Shu, understanding he had done his utmost.
Zhuang Shu, however, was filled with self-reproach, remembering how he had done his best for Lin Hao, and now with Lu Chenxi's mother, knowing sometimes the best effort doesn't guarantee a good outcome. Lu Chenxi insisted that she, as a family member, had approved the surgical plan and would accept any result. She warned Zhuang Shu not to take responsibility for the risky treatment plan if the hospital or superiors investigated.
Zhuang Shu cut her off, asserting that he proposed the plan and would bear all responsibility, emphasizing that Lu Chenxi was merely the patient's family in this matter. Driven to protect Zhuang Shu, Lu Chenxi went to the nurses' station, requested her mother's medical records, and began falsifying the surgical notes. She wrote that she was the lead attending physician, had made all the decisions, and would take full responsibility.
Zhuang Shu found her, and upon realizing what she was doing, furiously tore up the records. He declared that he could bear the consequences of his own judgments, right or wrong, and did not need anyone, especially Lu Chenxi, to commit fraud to help him. He added that the one thing he hated most was falsifying medical records, stating that truth and falsehood should never be blurred.
Lu Chenxi defiantly maintained that Zhuang Shu had only helped because she asked him to, and she could now handle everything and no longer needed his help. Zhuang Shu firmly countered that as a doctor of many years, he had performed controversial treatments before and was accountable for his medical actions. In the midst of their heated argument, Zhuang Shu looked at Lu Chenxi and asked, "Do you need me?"
After a moment of painful hesitation, Lu Chenxi hardened her resolve and said, "Don't need." Unable to meet his gaze, she continued, declaring herself the primary doctor whose decisions shaped all management and surgical plans. As a family member, she refused to let him continue as her mother's main attending and stated that the medical records now had nothing to do with him. Zhuang Shu then turned and walked away.
Later, in the rest room, a weary Lu Chenxi drifted to sleep. Chu Jun gently tried to cover her with a blanket, inadvertently startling her awake. Lu Chenxi, her nerves frayed, was on edge. Chu Jun offered comfort, sharing her mother's belief that saving lives accumulated blessings, assuring Lu Chenxi that her mother would recover.
Lu Chenxi, despite her medical knowledge of uncertain outcomes, confessed that as a patient's family member, she needed comfort beyond science and data, even just a blessing. She expressed gratitude to Chu Jun for her kind words. Lu Chenxi's father decided to stay at the hospital for a while, and Zhuang Shu offered to drive Lu Chenxi home to collect his clothes and toiletries. At home, the tension between them was palpable.
Zhuang Shu apologized for past hurts, prompting Lu Chenxi to seize the opportunity to clear the air. She emotionally accused him of deceiving her for so long, making her feel foolish. Yet, even after her anger and breakdown, she realized she still loved him. She didn't want to break up but couldn't envision facing her mother if she woke up, especially with the truth of Zhuang Shu's identity as Zhang Shumei's son.
Zhuang Shu admitted this was his greatest fear—hurting her and her family, which was why he could no longer hide the truth. They both conceded that breaking up was the right decision. Lu Chenxi then asked him not to extend his contract after his one-year term at Renhe and to return to America. The next morning, Lu Chenxi's mother remained unconscious.
At a hospital meeting discussing the risky surgical therapy, Dean Yang began by outlining the case, including the need for RH-negative blood, the dangerous hypothermia protocol, and the patient's current unconscious state. Lu Chenxi then stepped forward to take full responsibility, presenting her mother's medical, ER, and surgical records.
Dean Yang, however, questioned her claim, stating he had heard that the extreme hypothermia treatment method was decided on and carried out by Dr. Zhuang, with Lu Chenxi and Zhang Mo Han merely assisting, and asked if this was the truth. Zhuang Shu intervened, confirming he had already informed Dean Yang that he was the attending physician. In frustration, Lu Chenxi angrily threw the medical records at Zhuang Shu and stormed out. Dean Yang then adjourned the meeting, asking Zhuang Shu to stay behind.
