Chapter 207: Prejudice
If it hadn’t been for the planned spinal anesthesia, the relation between the spinal column and the anal fistula surgery wouldn’t have been significant. Lau Jingyun thought it over; her junior fellow apprentice was correct. The outpatient minor surgery had not revealed any issues previously, which was normal.
Continuing with the surgery was possible, but spinal anesthesia was no longer an option; they would have to switch to another form of anesthesia. In that case, they would also need to consult with Doctor Zhang. If there was indeed a problem with the spine, the risk associated with anesthesia could suddenly become very high, and it wasn’t something that could simply be resolved with a consent form for spinal anesthesia.
Having made up her mind, Lau Jingyun turned and walked towards the anesthesia department office. Xie Wanying called a nurse to watch the patient and followed her.
When the two arrived at the office of the anesthesiologists, there was no one inside. Right, it was lunch break; those who could take a break had done so. Those who had work were in the operating rooms.
Picking up her mobile phone, Lau Jingyun took a deep breath and dialed Doctor Zhang’s number.
The phone rang, “Doo-doo-doo,” for a long time before the person on the other end picked up reluctantly, “What is it?”
Doctor Zhang’s tone was especially impatient.
Lau Jingyun said, “Teacher Zhang, it’s , the patient who was scheduled for spinal anesthesia says her back pain is severe, and she can’t bend over—”
“Adjust her position. Can’t you do that? Nowadays, eight or nine out of ten people have back pain. Haven’t you encountered this before?”
“Teacher Zhang, she is completely unable to bend over.”
“Impossible, she’s not having surgery for the first time.”
“I checked her previous medical records. The last time she had local anesthesia.”
“So what do you want? Do you want to switch her to general anesthesia because you can’t do the local anesthesia?”
“No, Doctor Zhang, this may require re-communicating with the patient and her family.”
“Of course, you need to communicate again. Because you can’t do the local anesthesia.”
“Teacher Zhang, it’s ,” Lau Jingyun took a deliberate deep breath.
“Like what? You can’t even perform a simple spinal block? I was under the impression you were ready for me to observe you, but now are you saying you need me to do it for you? Do you still want to graduate?”
Lau Jingyun breathed heavily, enduring.
“You’ve been interning in our department for a few years now, others leave after a year, and you’ve been here for over two, prepared to submit such a performance?” Apparently, Doctor Zhang’s frustration had grown, “With you , who could relax if you went out to work?”
Lau Jingyun swallowed her breath, continuously swallowing.
Seeing the senior fellow apprentice , Xie Wanying gently took the mobile phone from her hand and spoke to the person on the other end, “Teacher Zhang, it’s unclear over the phone, but since you are going to come to observe the intern’s procedure anyway, could you come over now and take a look at the patient’s condition first?”
“Which department’s intern?”
“What are you, a neurosurgery intern, doing talking to me about anesthesia?”
“Teacher Zhang, there’s no need for anger. We’ve just identified an issue and need to report it to the teacher.”
“You’ve reported already, right? You can’t perform the procedure yourself, can you?”
“No, Teacher Zhang. This issue is quite serious; we believe it’s necessary to notify the surgical doctor, as well as invite a clinical teacher for a consultation.”
The voice from Doctor Zhang on the other end was a roar, startling Lau Jingyun. She turned to look at her junior fellow apprentice who now held the phone.
Xie Wanying held the phone with an expression that didn’t change at all.
What was there to fear? On her very first day in clinical practice, she had been told to roll out, and this was not the first time she had encountered such a situation.