While people were still marveling at Liu Banxia's speed, Liang Xiaolin didn't hesitate. She directly clamped the vessels in the mesoappendix with a hemostat, then began ligating them.
As for Liu Banxia? He had already picked up a needle and thread and was beginning the purse-string suture.
Chen Zhenxing nodded in satisfaction. The collaboration between Liu Banxia and Liang Xiaolin was seamless, not wasting a single second.
This wasn't just due to Zhou Shuwen's time limit; it was also a manifestation of their rhythm and rapport. If it weren't for this rapport, no matter how fast Liu Banxia worked, Liang Xiaolin would have slowed him down.
Cutting the appendix, cauterizing with an electrosurgical knife, cleaning and disinfecting, burying the stump, and tying the suture—this series of actions flowed as smoothly as running water.
Even though they hadn't closed the abdomen yet, applause erupted from the observation room.
Witnessing their performance, if one hadn't seen it with their own eyes, they would never believe it was the work of a resident who had just completed his residency.
There were doctors in the Second Hospital renowned for their appendectomies. In their experience, achieving such a level of skill was difficult without performing at least two hundred such operations.
But today, they had witnessed Liu Banxia complete the procedure so efficiently and swiftly with their own eyes.
"No bleeding in the surgical field. Count the instruments and gauze," Liu Banxia stated after a careful inspection.
"Instruments and gauze count correct," Liu Mei confirmed after checking.
"Dr. Liang, prepare to close the abdomen," Liu Banxia said, then stepped aside.
Sweat suddenly beaded on Liang Xiaolin's forehead. She froze, unsure whether to proceed.
"You can do it," Liu Banxia nodded encouragingly at her.
He hadn't paid much mind to Zhou Shuwen's twenty-minute challenge. However, this high-pressure task of closing the abdomen was a rare and invaluable opportunity for Liang Xiaolin.
While the pressure wasn't as intense as, say, stopping a patient's major bleed, it was still substantial for Liang Xiaolin—quite comparable, in fact.
Pressure was precisely what Liang Xiaolin lacked, and today offered a golden opportunity to experience it.
To further increase the pressure on Liang Xiaolin, Liu Banxia not only stepped aside but also removed his surgical gloves. His stance was clear: he wouldn't intervene. If she didn't proceed, they would be at an impasse.
It was a brief moment, perhaps only thirty-odd seconds. Yet, to Liang Xiaolin, those seconds stretched into an eternity of agony.
Gritting her teeth, Liang Xiaolin forced herself to step up. Liu Banxia's move had truly caught her by surprise. Without Zhou Shuwen and so many others watching from above, the pressure wouldn't have felt nearly so immense.
Initially, Liang Xiaolin's hands trembled slightly. However, once she began to insert the needle, they steadied. The incision wasn't very large, and she sutured the abdomen layer by layer quite smoothly.
"Abdominal closure complete! I've earned a chicken drumstick!" After tying off and cutting the suture, Liang Xiaolin raised her hands, ecstatic.
She was so thrilled, she practically shouted the words. Not only did Liu Banxia chuckle, but the others in the operating room laughed as well.
Only then did Liang Xiaolin realize she had gotten overly excited; there were still many people watching.
"Alright, let's send the patient out. You'll be responsible for communicating with the family," Liu Banxia said with a smile.
He was also happy for Liang Xiaolin. Her psychological hurdles are harder to overcome than my own, something that can only be tackled step by step. She has already improved significantly since I first met her. I estimate that after a few more hands-on experiences, she will be completely fine.
DING! Appendectomy completed. Received 200 Experience Points, 300 Appendectomy Skill Proficiency Points, 50 Diagnostics Skill Proficiency Points.
Operation Rating: Flawless. Received 500 Experience Points, 500 Appendectomy Skill Proficiency Points, 100 Diagnostics Skill Proficiency Points, 1 Glory Point.
Liu Banxia didn't pay much attention to these rewards. After all, he was no longer a rookie performing his first solo surgery. This was as routine to him as changing dressings in the proctology department back then.
Only after Liu Banxia and his team left did people remember to check the operating room timer. It was frozen at 18 minutes and 57 seconds.
A smile touched Zhou Shuwen's lips. That kid... he must have decided from the very beginning to let Liang Xiaolin close the abdomen. Such confidence is truly rare.
Those familiar with Liu Banxia knew his hands were even faster; he could have completed this surgery much earlier. Even those unfamiliar with him were somewhat stunned by the speed of today's operation.
"What did you all think of this surgery?" Chen Zhenxing asked, picking up the microphone again in the auditorium.
These students could only respond with applause.
"He's not just a general surgeon in the emergency department; when diagnosing patients, he's also capable of approaching from an internal medicine perspective," Chen Zhenxing continued.
"You should have heard before coming here that Second Hospital's residency program will undergo reforms this year. Before the official residency begins, you have one last chance: choose to stay or leave the Emergency Department. Because the future Emergency Department will be even more exhausting than you imagine."
"Alright, that's all for today. I must remind you to act according to your capabilities. Don't make a decision crucial to your medical career on impulse. Consider it carefully."
Meanwhile, Liu Banxia and Liang Xiaolin returned, so to speak, crowned with laurels. Even if the staff in the Emergency Department couldn't go to the observation room, modern communication methods were plentiful.
"Haha, Dr. Liang's performance today was truly brilliant," Liu Banxia said with a grin.
"Dr. Liu, you can't just give Dr. Liang an extra chicken drumstick. We were all cheering for you in the Emergency Department too," Xu Dan interjected.
"Alright, alright, chicken drumsticks for everyone for lunch tomorrow, how about that? The cafeteria must have sold so many extra chicken drumsticks lately because of me," Liu Banxia grumbled good-naturedly.
"Actually, if you want to switch to pig's trotters, we don't mind," Zhou Li said, grinning.
"You really don't pull any punches, do you? But I'm not one to skimp. Pig's trotters it is then. Hopefully, it will grant everyone nimble hands and clever minds," Liu Banxia said with mock seriousness.
The Emergency Department nurses were delighted at first, but then they realized Liu Banxia was teasing them. However, for the sake of the pig's trotters, they decided to let him off the hook for the time being.
However, while some rejoiced, others despaired. Liu Banxia once again taking the spotlight, and in such a hospital-wide manner, truly soured the moods of Qi Wentao and Qin Hai.
Qin Hai simply couldn't stand to see Liu Banxia do well; otherwise, he wouldn't have agreed to transfer to the Medical Affairs Department. But things didn't go as he wished. Even after coming to Medical Affairs and scrutinizing the Emergency Department's recent work records, he couldn't find a single fault.
As for Qi Wentao? His mood wasn't much better than Qin Hai's, if at all. He was unconvinced. He didn't feel Liu Banxia was superior in any way; he just thought he himself hadn't put enough effort into minor surgeries like appendectomies in the past.
This was the main reason he hadn't left the Emergency Department. He didn't want to leave in such a dejected manner. Even if he were to leave, he wanted people to know he was very capable.
While everyone else crowded around Liu Banxia offering congratulations, Qi Wentao sat some distance away, watching coolly. He secretly made a resolution: So, Liu Banxia, you've researched appendectomies? Fine, I'll research gallbladder-related surgeries!