The abdomen bore the scars left by the puncture, but the bleeding had stopped.
The puncture itself was a tiny wound.
"Dr. Luo, do you think you can puncture her again now? The patient has been crying out in agony."
The nurse spoke to Mr. Luo.
Two family members stood anxiously beside the hospital bed.
"Okay! Don’t worry, the location of her abdominal effusion is very special, squeezing the organs out of place, making the puncture extremely difficult. I can only say I will do my best, any other doctor would face the same result."
Luo Shengsheng agreed and began to put on sterile gloves while gently pressing on the patient’s abdomen again.
Zhou Can was examining the film.
The effusion was not only severe but also adjacent to the chest cavity. As Luo Shengsheng had said, some organs had been displaced due to the pressure from the effusion.
No wonder Luo Shengsheng had said the puncture was difficult.
While wearing sterile gloves, Luo Shengsheng kept looking for a suitable puncture site; after Zhou Can reviewed the film and checked out the patient’s actual situation, he had a plan in mind.
However, it wouldn’t be good to outshine Luo Shengsheng directly at this point.
A tree needs bark, a person needs a face.
One must be particularly careful to protect others’ dignity and face at all times.
Making others embarrassed or unable to step down, even if it helps them, will only harvest animosity.
Zhou Can was waiting for the right opportunity.
Finally, under the anxious gaze of the family, Luo Shengsheng started the puncture again. With one needle down, he successfully drew out the abdominal effusion and an elated smile spread across his face.
Fully expecting success.
However, just like before, only a small amount of effusion was drawn before it stopped.
The patient’s abdomen was so swollen, resembling a woman about to give birth. Drawing just a few milliliters of effusion did nothing to alleviate the condition.
"Mr. Luo, may I try? If you could guide me."
Zhou Can felt it was the right moment.
Looking at Luo Shengsheng, his face was utterly defeated, leaving him only one choice—to ask for a higher-ranked doctor’s help.
If it were so easy, he would have asked Dr. Chi from his office a long time ago.
For an intern like Zhou Can, failing a puncture can confidently ask for help from a superior doctor. But for a senior resident like him, already aiming for a chief position and failing to perform an abdominal puncture, it would be laughable.
The impression of him among senior doctors would surely worsen.
They would think his operational ability was poor.
This situation was unfavorable.
"You... be careful, and don’t rush."
Luo Shengsheng hesitated for two to three seconds but ultimately agreed.
He had heard about Zhou Can’s prestige in other departments. Knowing Zhou Can was highly respected by chief physicians and was even the hospital’s key training target.
Indeed, Zhou Can had been designated as a key candidate for training when he first rotated to the Intensive Care Medicine Department.
After his last rotation in General Surgery ended, it was even more impressive.
He was placed in a program not just for key training but for crafting a leading doctor.
Previously during a rotation in surgery, Director Xie could still cause some trouble and push him down. Now, as long as Director Xie wasn’t out of his mind, he would never do such a thing.
It wasn’t that he didn’t want to, but that he couldn’t.
Further suppression of Zhou Can would mean affronting the hospital’s senior management. A mere director of surgery had a position lower than even an associate dean.
Truly unaware and insensible actions could be dismissed by just one meeting.
Hence, Director Xie has been very compliant recently.
"Can’t you get a more experienced and elder doctor to do this? My mother has already suffered two unsuccessful punctures. Allowing an intern to attempt this disregards the patient entirely."
A family member angrily protested.
With Luo Shengsheng’s two ineffective attempts, the family was already significantly dissatisfied.
Now, agreeing to let a younger doctor with a lower position than Luo Shengsheng operate was clearly treating their patient like a guinea pig.
The family was immediately infuriated.
"This is Dr. Zhou Can, rotating to our department, not an intern but a legally certified medical practitioner. Moreover, he is well-known in the surgical field, stronger than me, which is why I asked him to perform the puncture. His mentioning my guidance is to give me face."
Luo Shengsheng dealt with the family adeptly.
With just a few words, he managed to quell their anger.
"Dr. Zhou, please proceed!"
At this point, Luo Shengsheng had no way out but hoped Zhou Can wouldn’t mess up.
Otherwise, it would be tough to explain to the family.
Zhou Can nodded, didn’t hesitate, and calmly, with the needle aimed at the already chosen puncture site, pierced sharply.
Which almost caused Luo Shengsheng’s heart to leap out of his throat.
This wasn’t just a simple puncture; it was like injecting a cow or pig with such force.
This was a human being!
Moreover, the puncture site was adjacent to the chest cavity, surrounded by vital organs.
If it caused liver or gastric bleeding, what could they do?
Although the family’s mood had already eased, their faces became terrifyingly angry again as the fury resurged.
But before they could curse, the nurse joyously exclaimed from the side, "It’s out, it’s out, the effusion is being released."
Following a successful puncture, a stream of pale yellow fluid flowed from the catheter.