Chapter 265: 【265】 Suddenly called to the front by the Chief Surgeon Chapter 265: 【265】 Suddenly called to the front by the Chief Surgeon Xie Wanying was a bit surprised. It was her first time observing laparoscopic surgery up close, and her teacher should be aware that she was an absolute novice in this area.
Regardless, follow the teacher’s arrangement.
After washing her hands again before the surgery, she re-entered the operating room, ready to stand beside the teachers and observe.
Similar to traditional surgery, the procedures included disinfection and draping, but differently, laparoscopic surgery begins with establishing pneumoperitoneum. A small incision is made above the navel to insert the trocar, injecting a suitable amount of CO2 gas into the abdominal cavity. Once enough gas has been injected to maintain pressure, the trocar’s core is removed and the laparoscope is inserted. Meanwhile, the patient’s internal abdominal condition appears on the monitor.
Then, ports are inserted into the lower mid-abdomen on the left and right sides and above the pubic symphysis for instruments like the Ultrasonic Scalpel to be inserted through. Generally, three doctors are involved in laparoscopic surgery. In addition to the Chief Surgeon and the First Assistant, there is a specialized Mirror Assistant.
The Mirror Assistant, as the name suggests, holds the laparoscope to provide a view for the Chief Surgeon. The Chief Surgeon typically uses the Ultrasonic Scalpel, while the First Assistant handles other instruments such as bent pliers and suction devices to assist the Chief Surgeon.
It seems that the team roles in laparoscopic surgery shares similarities and differences with those of traditional surgery.
The surgery today was especially challenging due to a low-lying rectal tumor, which is difficult to operate on using laparoscopic methods. The students standing in the corner awaited a display of skillful miracles from the expert surgeons.
Liu Chengran, continuing as the First Assistant, helped establish pneumoperitoneum for the Chief Surgeon and inserted the laparoscope into the patient’s abdominal cavity.
Immediately, the patient’s colorful internal images appeared on the monitor, showing the outside of the intestines—unlike an endoscope that travels within the intestinal tract. Visible were the patient’s intestines, faintly undulating.
The laparascope then passed to the hands of the Chief Surgeon, ready to begin the exploration of the abdomen. Like in traditional surgery, exploration is to determine the feasibility of resecting the tumor and the extent required for resection.
Handling the laparascope, Tan Kelin looked at the monitor screen and said to someone behind him, “Step up a little.”
Every move of the Chief Surgeon captured the attention of everyone present.
All the students in the operating room heard the Chief Surgeon call someone forward and then saw Xie Wanying step up to view the monitor together with the Chief Surgeon.
There was immediate commotion among the students:
“She must be a doctor from this hospital.”
“Can’t be a fellow or an intern, for sure.”
“Why did Dr. Tan call a female doctor up there?”
They were whispering to each other, forgetting the command for silence, clearly stimulated by the scene.
Luo Yanfen, Li Wenhao, and the other three were even more stunned: What did the teacher want this novice to do? They didn’t believe that someone as young as Xie Wanying could possess the clinical expertise or operational skills needed for Tan Kelin to call her up to do anything.
“Speak again, and out you go!” Sun Yubo turned around and barked impatiently at those who were talking.
When did the operating room, which should be solemn and quiet, turn into a marketplace?!
All the chatter ceased in a second.
Silence returned to the operating room.
The students’ focus shifted back to the progress of the surgery.
The monitor showed scenes of the laparoscope moving within the patient’s abdominal cavity, sometimes moving rapidly, sometimes sluggishly.
This was not a teaching demonstration; without an instructive teacher to explain, the students found it difficult to fully understand everything displayed on the screen.
Luo Yanfen and Zhang Zhongqiang gave Li Wenhao, who used to be in charge of bed 7, inquiring looks: “Did you figure anything out?”
Li Wenhao shook his head.