Doctor Hu's face was expressionless, his gaze fixed on the patient with furrowed brows. It was clear that he had exhausted all efforts to save the patient, but to little avail.
The nurse was already administering respiratory nebulization to the patient.
The effect was equally poor.
Pulmonary fibrosis is an irreversible lesion, which makes breathing increasingly difficult for the patient.
A normal person's lungs are composed of many alveoli.
An adult's total alveolar surface area is about as big as a house, spread out at about one hundred square meters.
When pulmonary fibrosis occurs, the contraction and movement of the alveoli are severely affected.
It is like a rubber balloon that can easily be inflated.
But when the balloon's walls harden and lose elasticity, inflating it or letting the air out becomes difficult.
"Looking at this, the patient is unlikely to make it through. Paraquat is too harmful. Patients who ingest this type of pesticide are rarely saved. Those who ingest it are like opening Pandora's box—the consequences are inevitable and hard to reverse."
Doctor Hu watched the patient's vital signs decline and sighed deeply.
Doctors struggle tirelessly, caring for patients day and night, administering various emergency treatments, medications, and providing meticulous care, all to help patients get through the toughest times and survive from ICU to a general ward.
But doctors are only human, not gods, all they can do is apply their knowledge and use various professional medical equipment and drugs to treat patients.
Paraquat is only seen as a herbicide by the general public.
But to doctors, this pesticide is different from ordinary ones; it signifies the devil, the grim reaper.
Many patients impulsively drink it in a moment of despair. Once in the hospital, surrounded by crying family members and children, they regret their rash act.
Persuaded by family members and children, they find the strength to want to survive.
In the first two days after consuming paraquat, after treatments like stomach pumping and hydration therapy, patients hardly feel any physical harm. They can eat and drink and are in fairly good spirits.
Just when they think they can recover and be discharged from the hospital soon.
The condition will continue to deteriorate.
And it is of the irreversible kind.
Kidney failure, pulmonary fibrosis, then multiple organ failure and difficulty in breathing as the body is gradually destroyed.
Stomach pumping, blood dialysis, doctors have tried everything they could think of.
But this pesticide is too terrifying.
None of the treatments have any effect. They can only watch helplessly as the patient's condition worsens day by day, ultimately leading to death.
Fortunately, the country has already taken notice of pesticide safety and has banned the production of paraquat.
"Go notify the family! Let them see the patient for the last time, he's probably not going to make it much longer."
Doctor Hu spoke these words to the nurse in a low tone.
"Right! I'll notify the family immediately!"
The hospital, considering humanitarianism during the patient's final moments, allows families to see the patient one last time.
Making a final farewell before death.
"Xiao Zhou, have you ever encountered a patient's death?"
Doctor Hu looked at him.
Zhou Can encountered it during his internship in a general ward. He only stood at the doorway, watching from afar as the family cried around the bedside, continuously calling the patient's name.
That scene, he would never forget.
"That's good! Working in the ICU in the future, you will often encounter situations where we doctors are powerless. Although human medicine has advanced greatly, there are still far too many untreatable diseases. I've heard some things about you; you've performed very well in all aspects."
Doctor Hu's topic shifted, bringing up Zhou Can himself.
"Rumors may not be entirely reliable; at best, I'm just a little better than other trainee doctors in some aspects." Zhou Can wasn't entirely modest.
Currently, his highest medical skill level is at the Associate Director level. Most of his other skills are at the Chief level, with some at the Resident Doctor level.
And, obtaining new medical skills in the future might start from internship levels.
So, he's still far from being very outstanding.
He positioned himself very realistically.
"You are quite modest. During these three months of ICU training, I should be primarily guiding you. If you perform exceptionally well later, there might also be a Director willing to personally guide you. Regardless, the hospital prioritizing your development is a good thing, and I hope you maintain a humble and eager-to-learn attitude."
Doctor Hu spoke, looking into his eyes.
"I will," Zhou Can nodded firmly.
"I really hope our Tuya Hospital can train more and more excellent doctors, ideally never having a patient enter the ICU. Prevention is better than cure for all diseases."
Doctor Hu shared his feelings and visions.
Having so many patients admitted into the ICU only shows how behind modern medicine still is, with many diseases unable to be treated effectively in a timely manner.