Surgeons Episode 5 Recap
> Surgeons Recap
Lu Chenxi and Chief Zhong were concerned about Ge Shu Xin, a liver cancer patient who steadfastly refused surgery. Chen Shaocong arrived with Ge Shu Xin's latest test results, revealing that Ge Shu Xin had been diagnosed with early-stage liver cancer five months prior but had foregone timely treatment after facing a series of blows, including a deferred death sentence for negligent homicide in his youth.
The immediate challenge was not the surgery itself but how to inform Ge Shu Xin's family. After careful consideration, Lu Chenxi decided to convey the news herself, considering it her responsibility as the patient's admitting physician. Outside the patient's room, Lu Chenxi paused, composing herself before entering. She was comforting Ge Shu Xin's tearful daughter, Lin Lin, when Ge Shu Xin, in a weak voice, suddenly asked to see his wife, Xu Fang Yin.
He became emotional, tears streaming down his face, indicating he understood his condition and simply wished to see her. Moved by his plea, Lu Chenxi arranged for Ge Shu Xin to be wheeled into Xu Fang Yin's room. Xu Fang Yin lay unconscious, in a critical condition that required a lung transplant. Lying side-by-side, Ge Shu Xin reflected on his past, feeling immense guilt for the pain and tears he had caused his wife and daughter.
Lin Lin assured him that Xu Fang Yin had never blamed him and had even taught Lin Lin not to hate him. Hearing this, Ge Shu Xin grew even more sorrowful. He explained that he knew his body and, even if his heart condition was treated, he would not survive the liver cancer.
He planned to forgo further treatment and revealed that he had signed an organ donation consent form in prison, hoping his lungs could give Xu Fang Yin a few more years of life. He expressed a desire for her to live long enough to see Lin Lin marry and have children, adding, "Looks like I'll have to ask you to bear this burden for a few more years."
After settling his affairs, he asked Lin Lin about the grapevines at home, smiling contentedly when she said they had yielded many grapes this year. He then grasped Xu Fang Yin's hand and passed away due to respiratory failure. Outside the room, Lu Chenxi leaned against the door, her eyes reddened. Zhuang Shu approached, offering her a tissue. He gently suggested that doctors should grow accustomed to life and death situations.
Lu Chenxi, however, asked him whether love or guilt held the separated family together. Zhuang Shu calmly countered, "If this man didn't have stage 2 liver cancer, and only needed heart surgery to recover, would he still choose that?" Lu Chenxi was taken aback, finding Zhuang Shu's perspective unexpectedly gloomy, especially from someone who claimed to appreciate her frankness.
In a hospital office, Lu Chenxi argued with Yang Fan about performing the challenging lung transplant surgery using Ge Shu Xin's lungs, despite his history of cancer. Yang Fan insisted that a cancer patient couldn't be an organ donor due to principle and potential legal repercussions if the surgery failed, especially given the donor's history of cancer. Lu Chenxi countered that Lin Lin, the patient's daughter, had signed an informed consent, accepting all possible consequences.
At that moment, Dean Fu arrived, conveying instructions from higher authorities to treat this as a special case, prioritizing saving a life and respecting the patient's family's informed decision, rather than strictly adhering to regulations. Lu Chenxi was elated and suggested that Dean Fu should personally lead the surgery. Yang Fan, knowing Dean Fu's declining health and reduced surgical activity, subtly pressured him, suggesting the surgery be filmed for teaching purposes, forcing Dean Fu's hand.
Under this pressure and the hospital's high expectations, Dean Fu agreed to operate and requested Lu Chenxi as his assistant. He outlined the complex plan for a bilateral sequential lung transplantation, involving extracorporeal circulation and Lu Chenxi being responsible for harvesting the donor's lungs.
Yang Fan then approached Zhuang Shu, falsely expressing concern that this should have been Zhuang Shu's first transplant surgery at RenHe Hospital, while hinting at Dean Fu's deteriorating health in recent years and Lu Chenxi's limited experience in lung transplants.
Zhuang Shu, sensing something amiss, later visited Chen Shaocong in the ER, who confirmed that Dean Fu had rarely performed major surgeries in recent years, with his last lung transplant being three years ago, and that lung transplantation was not Lu Chenxi's specialty. Zhuang Shu, now believing Dean Fu was prioritizing personal relationships and reputation over patient safety, immediately confronted Dean Fu and Lu Chenxi.
In front of Lu Chenxi, he requested to replace her as Dean Fu's assistant, arguing that Lu Chenxi, having been transferred out of the Thoracic Surgery Department to the ER, was not suitable for such a specialized procedure. Lu Chenxi, angered, stormed off. Zhuang Shu then pointedly criticized Dean Fu, implicitly accusing him of hypocrisy and putting a patient's life at stake for personal gain, and aggressively took Lu Chenxi's place on the surgical team.
Lu Chenxi later sought out Zhuang Shu, attempting to explain that her desire to join the surgery was genuinely to help the patients, not for any other motive. However, Zhuang Shu coldly dismissed her, stating that his reason for replacing her was his confidence and ability, and advised her to learn to bear the consequences of her impulsive actions and uncontrolled emotions.
As the surgery was about to begin, Dean Fu momentarily felt dizzy, almost losing his balance, but quickly composed himself and proceeded. Meanwhile, Lu Chenxi, appearing lost, emerged from the operating room. Lin Lin, seeing her, urgently asked if the highly skilled Dr. Lu could perform her mother's surgery. Lu Chenxi, however, offered a calm smile and openly admitted that she was convinced and willing to acknowledge Zhuang Shu's superior surgical expertise and capabilities.
