Endotoxins can cause pathological damage. If the immune function of the body is normal, the bacteria can be eliminated through cellular and humoral immunity, and recovery is usually possible.
But if the immune function is not sound, or if the bacterial load is large and virulent, some bacteria can escape immunity and be phagocytized into various tissues and organs, forming new foci of infection.
After a certain period, the bacteria in the foci grow and reproduce, re-entering the bloodstream, causing a relapse of the disease. The pathological damage is widespread, and the clinical manifestations are therefore diverse. Such repeated occurrences become chronic infections; once they flare up, it’s not a small issue."
Everyone is an expert in their own field, just with different areas of expertise. They didn’t know much about Brucella bacteria, but after the explanation by these two, they were suddenly enlightened.
If the patient hadn’t contracted the flu, there wouldn’t be immediate danger. If treated promptly, the body might have some sequelae, but it wouldn’t be so grave as to leave no chance for treatment.
But the issue worsened because the patient ignored bodily changes, leading to a Brucella flare-up, triggering a series of clinical symptoms.
Among these symptoms, any few could be fatal, let alone all in one person. Yet to walk down from the operating table and prepare for the end at home indicates that City First Hospital’s expert consultation truly tried their best.
After all, Wu Liguo had to admit, if this person had come directly to the Ninth Hospital’s emergency department, he couldn’t guarantee they would have left the operating table.
The probability is quite low.
It’s not that he lacks confidence in his skills, but compared to City First Hospital, the Ninth Hospital has certain disparities in every aspect, with some departments having quite significant differences.
A critical emergency patient coming to the Ninth Hospital has a high likelihood of passing away in the emergency room.
Even if they went to the provincial level or even Beijing, there’s no certainty they would be saved.
Ultimately, they might still face death.
Their technology may not be as advanced as those of the renowned hospitals’ doctors, nor resources as rich, but they possess this level of judgment.
Wu Liguo looked regretful: "What a pity, if this condition could be cured, City First Hospital’s reputation would soar, and their ranking among provincial hospitals would rise significantly."
Zhou Qihua gave a wry smile: "It’s not that easy. To manage to let the patient walk out of the rescue room alive is already quite an accomplishment. To put it bluntly, it’s not just us; even if they went to Beijing, even if saved, they probably wouldn’t live long—the heart, liver, and kidney damages are too severe."
"It’s about not paying enough attention usually; otherwise, they wouldn’t have come to this point. If they went to the hospital once they had some symptoms, it wouldn’t have reached..." Xiao Boheng swallowed the words at the tip of his tongue.
Is it true they weren’t paying attention?
Not quite.
If there are symptoms and discomfort, they certainly want to see a doctor, but with hospitals charging hundreds to thousands for examinations, it deters many families without substantial economic sources.
Most people think of dragging it as long as possible, even fantasizing it might naturally get better after a few days.
But often, a small illness left untreated directly turns into a severe condition, eventually becoming incurable.
It’s cruel, but this is the helpless reality.
Xiao Boheng had seen too much of this.
Many patients, due to a lack of money, directly choose to forgo treatment, thinking that it’s better to save some money for the family rather than treating until it’s futile.
At least they’d avoid having neither the person nor the money, and maybe even a mountain of debt.
The rope picks the weakest spot to snap, and misfortune only finds the unfortunate.
Though not an absolute truth, this phrase applies to about ninety-nine percent of cases.
Life is often this helpless.
The group had an intermittent conversation while Wang Youqing sat there sipping his small drink, looking uneasy.
When Zhou Qihua first mentioned Brucella, it sounded familiar to him.
But there are so many people raising pigs, cattle, and sheep, and cases of heart failure caused by Brucella aren’t rare—there are quite a few each year.
Yet the more he listened, the more familiar it seemed to Wang Youqing.
"How come this sounds so much like that Zhang Song whom Dr. Lu saved before?"
Wang Youqing mumbled.
He was there the day Zhang Song’s family brought him to the Health Center for treatment. He heard Zhang Song’s situation, which was almost identical to what Zhou Qihua described.
Moreover, Zhang Song had also undergone several days of rescue at City First Hospital before being sent home to prepare for the end.
If it were just Brucella causing heart failure, Wang Youqing wouldn’t doubt it, but he remembered Zhang Song was rescued at City First Hospital and then brought to their Health Center as a last resort when all hope was lost.
"Could it be such a coincidence?"
Wang Youqing mumbled, by this point, there were no more surprises. The patient Zhou Qihua talked about should indeed be Zhang Song.
"What’s the matter?"
Wu Liguo was sitting next to Wang Youqing, catching bits of his muttering, though not quite clearly.
"I’ve been hearing you mumble to yourself this whole time; who knows what you’re talking about."
Finishing, Wu Liguo patted Wang Youqing’s shoulder: "Old Wang, come on, tell us, what’s all the muttering about?"
Hearing this, everyone subconsciously looked toward Wang Youqing.
Wang Youqing thought for a while and turned to Zhou Qihua: "Old Zhou, let me ask you, is the patient you mentioned with heart failure caused by Brucella, someone named Zhang Song?"