Surgeons Episode 39 Recap
> Surgeons Recap
Lu Chenxi and Zhuang Shu chatted by the basketball court, both still concerned about Lu Chenxi's mother's condition. Professor Chen of Neurology had explained that her mother had only transitioned from a deep to a light coma, and her recovery timeline and prognosis remained uncertain; all they could do was wait. Zhuang Shu acknowledged the cruelty of this reality, mentioning that Dr. Donner had similar cases with varied outcomes, highlighting the unpredictability.
Zhuang Shu reflected that he used to tell patients medicine couldn't solve every problem, and now he had to tell himself the same. Lu Chenxi, however, maintained her belief that her mother would eventually wake up. She suggested that once her mother did, they should find an opportune time for Fu Bowen to reveal the truth about the past incident to her. Their conversation then turned to the incident itself.
Zhuang Shu expressed regret for previously concealing facts, but Lu Chenxi reassured him that he didn't owe an apology, suggesting it might have been for the best. He expressed his enduring inability to comprehend why Xiu Min Qi and Fu Bowen had covered up the lidocaine allergy, framing someone else and leading to an unnecessary tragedy. He felt it was a cruel irony that such an event occurred in the Renhe he held in high regard.
While acknowledging that the medical community's ignorance of lidocaine hypersensitivity was a natural step in medical progress, he lamented that human weakness and selfishness had turned a potential medical discovery into a cover-up. He stated that medicine and science are inherently pure, but it is the complexity of human nature that taints them.
Zhuang Shu admitted that throughout his career, he had constantly tried to convince himself not to dwell on past grievances or harbor hatred, but it was incredibly difficult. After his mother's death, he not only resented the Thoracic Surgery Department but also the entire medical profession. However, when he later fell severely ill, it was Yang Fan and his wife, Teacher Qin, who tirelessly helped him, even leading him to his adoptive father.
His adoptive father cured his illness, gave him a home, loved and educated him, and guided him into the operating room to become a surgeon. This complex history made Zhuang Shu’s return to Renhe deeply conflicted; he arrived with disdain and hatred for the hospital. His disappointment deepened when he found that Yang Fan, who had once reshaped his view of doctors, had also changed drastically from his former self. Lu Chenxi questioned if his return was solely for revenge.
Zhuang Shu conceded that he had indeed contemplated revenge but ultimately abandoned the idea after meeting her. He explained that she embodied his ideal vision of a doctor, someone who genuinely and wholeheartedly embraced the profession as a faith. She had transformed his animosity towards Renhe, cultivating affection for the hospital and its Thoracic Surgery Department, and love for her.
In his heart, Renhe Thoracic Surgery was now like Lu Chenxi herself—a place built on emotion and trust, which he would protect from slander. Yet, it was also at Renhe that he experienced his two greatest professional setbacks: Lin Hao and Lu Chenxi's mother. Lu Chenxi tried to comfort him, acknowledging his lack of choice and her agreement with his methods both as a family member and a doctor.
However, Zhuang Shu countered that a lack of alternatives didn't automatically make a choice right. He explained that induced hypothermia was a prohibited treatment. While pushing boundaries might create miracles, challenging established medical norms carried hidden dangers that could far outweigh the lives saved in extreme circumstances. Lu Chenxi, finding his lecture exhausting, playfully suggested he become a university professor if he were ever fired.
Zhuang Shu agreed, then, as she turned to leave, he asked if she would consider returning to the States with him if he was decommissioned early. Lu Chenxi paused, then asked if he was proposing. Zhuang Shu said nothing more, simply pulled her into a hug, and she smiled, overcome with happiness. Back at the hospital, Lu Chenxi was in the emergency room attending to two patients suffering from carbon monoxide poisoning.
Meanwhile, Jiang Shou Ren, the father of a pharmaceutical executive, experienced a sudden medical emergency in the Thoracic Surgery Department. Lu Chenxi, tied up in the ER, directed that Zhuang Shu be called to assist Jiang Shou Ren. Jiang, the son, expressed dissatisfaction that Lu Chenxi, as the primary attending, was not personally overseeing his father's urgent care.
Zhuang Shu calmly reassured him, explaining that Lu Chenxi was an expert in esophageal cancer, chosen for Jiang Shou Ren’s difficult surgery, and that his own skills were comparable for acute interventions like pericardial tamponade. Zhuang Shu, after performing a successful pericardiocentesis on Jiang Shou Ren, confirmed the presence of pericardial effusion and discussed potential causes, including the tumor, coronary artery issues, or chemotherapeutic drugs.
In the ER, Lu Chenxi, upon discovering beer, barbecue, and a large indoor grill, swiftly diagnosed carbon monoxide poisoning, ordering carboxyhemoglobin tests and preparing a hyperbaric oxygen chamber for the patients. After stabilizing the carbon monoxide poisoning patients and arranging for one, Chang Da Lin, to be transferred to General Surgery for a bleeding peptic ulcer, Lu Chenxi went to check on Jiang Shou Ren.
While reviewing his condition with Zhuang Shu, she expressed apprehension about the planned surgery due to its difficulty and Jiang Shou Ren's status. Before they could reach a decision, a nurse rushed in, informing Lu Chenxi that her mother was experiencing arrhythmia. Both doctors immediately went to her mother’s room. Lu Chenxi's mother was mumbling incoherently, which Lu Chenxi initially believed to be mere blind reflexes.
Dr. Chen, observing the brain electrical activities, confirmed a response but couldn't definitively state if it signaled full awakening or deterioration, noting the unprecedented nature of the case. During this time, Chang Da Lin, the carbon monoxide poisoning patient transferred to General Surgery, suddenly developed severe hemoptysis and a rapid drop in blood pressure.
Despite her deep concern for her mother, Lu Chenxi prioritized her patient and rushed back to General Surgery to manage Chang Da Lin's deteriorating condition, which included pulmonary edema. She made the critical decision to intubate him and place him on a ventilator immediately, overriding a colleague's caution about waiting for lab results and the patient's difficult family. Lu Chenxi insisted that timely intervention was paramount to prevent irreversible damage.
Back in Thoracic Surgery, Lu Chenxi and Zhuang Shu resumed their discussion about Jiang Shou Ren. He was now experiencing chest pains and difficulty breathing, showing abnormal movement in the cardiac apex. Zhuang Shu diagnosed stress-induced cardiomyopathy, a rare complication, suggesting ACE inhibitors and beta-blockers. The core problem remained: Jiang Shou Ren couldn't tolerate more chemotherapy due to an adverse reaction to the "Pioneer Medical Treatment Corporation" drug, but his heart couldn't withstand surgery without tumor reduction.
Zhuang Shu again emphasized that if they didn't operate soon, his life would be in danger, but Lu Chenxi remained hesitant given the risks. Jiang, the son, acknowledged his father was among the rare individuals experiencing adverse reactions to their company's drug. Meanwhile, Chang Da Lin's daughter, feeling her father was receiving inadequate care, called her brother to the hospital.
They confronted Lu Chenxi in the Thoracic Surgery Department, angrily accusing her of prioritizing the "executive's father" over their "mildly poisoned" father who was now in the ICU. Lu Chenxi tried to explain her responsibilities and the medical severity of each case, clarifying that the "important patient" she referred to earlier was her own mother, not Jiang Shou Ren. Unwilling to listen, the brother grew increasingly agitated and pushed Lu Chenxi, causing her to fall and hit her forehead.
Yang Zixuan, witnessing the assault, swiftly intervened, subduing the brother and dislocating his arm, declaring that doctors deserved protection in the hospital. The family immediately called the police. Dean Yang, informed of the incident, instructed everyone involved to remain on site until the police arrived. Zhuang Shu immediately took Lu Chenxi to get her head wound dressed, leaving Yang Zixuan to await the authorities. As Zhuang Shu tended to her wound, he remained silent, visibly upset.
Lu Chenxi, however, showed empathy for Chang Da Lin's family, reflecting that her own words about leaving "the most important person" (her mother) for their father had caused a misunderstanding. She mused that a few more explanations might have diffused the situation, understanding that family members unfamiliar with medicine often struggled to grasp hospital procedures.
To lighten Zhuang Shu's mood, she joked about her bandaged forehead impacting her hairstyle for his upcoming basketball game and teasingly held him responsible for any potential scar. Zhuang Shu, finally speaking, assured her that ophthalmic sutures wouldn't leave a mark, and admitted he understood her feelings. Lu Chenxi, still trying to cheer him up, asked if he had locked the treatment room door, which he confirmed he did upon entering.
