Surgery Godfather
Chapter 896 - 788: Burning the Last of Life

Chapter 896: Chapter 788: Burning the Last of Life

All the experts were already very familiar with the case, except for Yang Ping, who still wanted to delve deeper into the case files. During the discussion, he discreetly gestured for the doctor controlling the computer to display the imaging data, especially the Coronary CTA, and replay the projection slowly.

Currently, actually no one was paying attention to the things on the projection, so Yang Ping did not really disturb anyone.

"Professor Yang, what do you think of Professor Xu’s suggestion?"

Commissioner Qiao specifically asked Yang Ping.

Logically, Yang Ping was a newcomer, and it was only because of Professor Xin’s recommendation that he joined this medical team; Commissioner Qiao should not be singling him out for special attention. But considering Yang Ping was a talent they were eagerly trying to recruit, Commissioner Qiao took this opportunity to give him special consideration.

Yang Ping was concentrating on the case data when Commissioner Qiao asked him this. He immediately replied very comfortably,

"It’s fine, anything works, I have no problem here."

Actually, this was a genuine response in his natural state, without any hint of carelessness or showing off, but it caused Professor Xu to feel offended.

What does "anything works" mean?

This attitude clearly seemed careless. For a young person, such an answer sounded a bit too arrogant.

"Experts, does anyone else have any comments?" Commissioner Qiao asked the others.

In this type of cardiac surgery case discussion, it was basically up to Anzhen Fuwai to decide. The others were just a backdrop. Since the chief surgeon decided this way, unless it was something extremely inappropriate, the other experts would definitely have no objections, so everyone expressed their agreement.

Actually, they all felt that this was the best choice.

If Director Xu directly arranged for Chu Shilin to be the backup chief surgeon, Director Zhong from Fuwai would definitely be discontent. Why would I, Zhong Zuochen, be inferior to your student? After all, Anzhen Fuwai was on an equal footing.

If it was arranged for Zhong Zuochen, Director Xu would not feel at ease. I trust my student, know him through and through; we perform surgery together every day, and even if the chief surgeon changed mid-surgery, he would still be familiar with my methods.

But this was a special case involving a national hero, someone who was a hero to the entire nation. It was not just Director Xu’s case alone; even he would find it hard to take charge.

As for Yang Ping, recommended by Director Xin, and seemingly still strongly supported by 301—whatever the reason, he was already sitting at this table.

Therefore, Director Xu’s method was the best and most reliable. There’s no proof in words alone; if time allowed, it would be best for everyone to truly compete with real skills, and the capable one would take the lead.

This backup team was not superfluous or just for show. In case something really happened, it would mean having to step up as the chief surgeon on the operating table, the seriousness of which goes without saying—everyone knew that.

"I think this is the best method, no time like the present, let’s decide on this, how about that?" Director Dai from the Cardiac Surgery Department of 301 finally spoke up.

"Then this afternoon we’ll meet again with the various departments for a pre-surgery discussion. If all the indicators are qualified, we’ll proceed with the surgery the day after tomorrow," Dean Liu established the matter right then and there.

If they delayed any further, and the illness continued to deteriorate, they might lose the opportunity for surgery altogether.

"Yes, these experts have been very busy and took time out of their schedules to come for the consultation, especially Professor Xu, with several surgeries each day, almost operating until after eleven o’clock at night," Commissioner Qiao expressed his gratitude to the experts.

This was true indeed. Director Xu’s surgical operations typically lasted until after eleven o’clock; he was genuinely overwhelmed with work, and thankfully, a group of students under him had grown up; otherwise, he really might die of exhaustion on the operating table.

In the medical industry, the Matthew effect is actually very pronounced.

Whether it’s the doctors or the hospitals, the more skilled you become in a certain specialty, the more patients you will have, and the more patients you have, the more formidable you’ll become.

For example, heart surgery would be infeasible in lower-level hospitals, including the vast majority of provincial hospitals, as there were hardly any patients.

In today’s information society, when patients need to undergo heart surgery, they would not choose any hospital as casually as they might for a circumcision, quickly picking some private hospital on the street to spend thirty to fifty thousand for a Korean-style or Caesar supremium surgery; nor would they just go to any regular hospital’s outpatient clinic to spend a couple of thousand for a basic circumcision.

If it was heart surgery, patients would surely think it over carefully and would not just choose any hospital. In the end, they would select only the most capable hospital.

"Professor Xu, please arrange it on your side, see how to allocate it. Let the three experts demonstrate the surgeries tomorrow, and I’ll also go and observe and learn. Director Dai from our Cardiothoracic Department will join the learning as well," Commissioner Qiao summarized the meeting.

Dai Yuansheng, the Director of Cardiac Surgery at 301, although also a first-class expert, was still somewhat less distinguished than the professors from Anzhen Fuwai. Hence in several meetings, although he was the host, he still did not speak much and appeared reticent.

Surgical operation is a battle of true skill, where one survives based on ability. With Professor Xu Yongzhong there, Dai had hardly any opportunity to speak.

The concept of Professor Xu’s twenty thousand surgeries—over twenty years, that’s a thousand surgeries a year, averaging nearly three a day, and we’re talking about heart surgeries here.

When it comes to coronary bypass, it’s not just Dai Yuansheng alone but everyone present who are but juniors to Professor Xu. The tendency was simply overwhelming. If it weren’t for situations like a finger fracture, there would be no need for any backup team.

"I will certainly go and learn!" Director Dai answered rather passively.

The patient was in 301, but it was Professor from Anzhen doing the surgery. Speaking of which, it was somewhat an issue of his own insufficient strength; otherwise, it would not have come to this.

Had it just been an ordinary person, it wouldn’t matter as much; but this was Elder Academician Meng, a national-level figure who attracted nationwide attention. The highest official inquired personally about his condition and, despite being incredibly busy, still made a visit to the hospital.

"I’ll arrange it then; the operations will start exactly at eight o’clock tomorrow morning. How about two surgeries per person? It’s also no problem to arrange a bit more," Professor Xu said. In his field of expertise, he was the strongest, so he spoke with great confidence.

Commissioner Qiao said, "Two each is good; too many can lead to fatigue, and they still have to participate in the surgery the day after tomorrow."

Once the matter was determined, it had to be carried out without fail.

"Let’s go see Elder Meng together. Let’s not stay too long, a maximum of fifteen minutes," Commissioner Qiao said with a heavy heart.

Elder Academician Meng was very weak now, and other than doctors and nurses, he did not want anyone else to disturb him. Even relatives visiting were only allowed one minute—just a quick look and that was it.

He said his time was running out and he couldn’t afford to waste any more time.

The meeting was adjourned, and Dean Liu and Commissioner Qiao led everyone to the ward to visit Elder Academician Meng. Although visiting him daily was a medical necessity, Dean Liu and Commissioner Qiao still didn’t want to occupy too much of the old academician’s time in case it caused him to become anxious or upset.

---

In a ward of the 301 Hospital’s South Building.

Elder Academician Meng lay in bed, his body connected to various tubes and wires, looking emaciated. His myocardium was only relying on a stent urgently implanted to prop open his blood vessels, maintaining a limited blood supply.

If coronary bypass surgery wasn’t performed, the blockage in his last blood-supplying vessel would lead to a massive myocardial infarction, ultimately resulting in cardiac arrest.

By the bedside, assorted monitoring equipment beeped away, with data flickering on the guard screens. Doctors and nurses took shifts around the clock, vigilant and ready, with ECMO also prepared at hand, to make the final efforts when necessary.

Professor Nan Yingshu from the heart critical care center led his team, sitting in the ward. He checked various test results from time to time, hoping that the indicators could stabilize. Surgery was imminent and nothing could go wrong.

By Elder Meng’s side were also his spouse and his student, Dr. Liu Zhida.

To help him rest better, the doctors suggested sedating Academician Meng. This would help him avoid pain and wait for the surgery peacefully.

But the old academician consistently refused sedation, insisting on keeping his mind clear.

At this moment, Elder Academician Meng attempted to lift his hand but failed after several tries. Knowing that he needed something, a nurse promptly leaned in and asked softly, "Elder Meng, what do you need? Tell us."

Elder Academician Meng preferred to be addressed as ’teacher’ rather than any other title. As a professor in the field of national defense science and technology, he had made tremendous contributions to several key projects for the country, many of which were pioneering and foundational. He had also nurtured many top talents who were now contributing to the field of defense science and technology.

"My—computer—data—copied out—have they been?" the old academician struggled to say with his hand flailing weakly, his words coming out in fits and starts.

His student, who had been by his side all along, Dr. Liu Zhida, held his teacher’s hand firmly: "They have been copied, everything has been copied."

This was the third time the old academician asked about the data in his computer. Those files contained precious experimental data, and he knew his days were numbered and was afraid the data might be lost or damaged, causing losses to the nation.

"Remember—confidentiality," Elder Academician Meng said, holding his student’s hand, instructing him.

Dr. Liu’s eyes filled with tears: "Don’t worry, Teacher Meng."

After speaking, Elder Meng took a few labored breaths and lay back to rest, too weak to speak further.

Barely ten minutes into the silence, the old academician’s fingers began to move again. Dr. Liu Zhida and the nurse immediately leaned in closer. His lips moved a few times without making a sound, as he was struggling to breathe and speaking was very strenuous.

"Zhida—Zhida—!"

"I’m here, Teacher Meng," said Liu Zhida, holding his teacher’s hand.

After catching his breath, Teacher Meng continued, "Bring the notebook—write it down—"

Liu Zhida quickly pulled out the notebook he always carried and squatted beside Academician Meng’s bed to start taking notes.

"The experiment—change—the material—ratio—remember—"

It took great effort for Academician Meng to finish speaking, while Liu Zhida recorded it with a heavy heart, unable to stop his tears. Since his teacher fell ill, every word he spoke was about his research, never about himself.

He lived a life not for fame or wealth, silently dedicating himself where the country needed him most. Even now, bedridden, his thoughts were still centered on his research topics.

The recent experiment had failed, and Elder Academician Meng had been contemplating the reason for the failure, now thoroughly summarizing his thoughts.

Each word he uttered cost him great effort, but Dr. Liu Zhida couldn’t stop him; he knew his teacher had to speak, even if he had to pause to take several breaths between words, he had to get his message across.

The waveforms on the electrocardiogram monitoring screen began to get denser, and the heart rate started to increase. The attending doctor immediately went to comfort Elder Meng.

"Teacher Meng, rest for a while, it’s not urgent!"

Elder Academician Meng wasn’t listening at all, he kept speaking word by word, while Dr. Liu began using a voice recorder and taking notes in the notebook so that the information could complement each other, reducing any inaccuracy.

In this laborious manner, Elder Meng articulated his analysis of the experimental errors one word at a time, pausing to catch his breath when he could no longer speak.

After the most recent failed experiment, Elder Meng had been pondering the reasons. He’d begun to form some ideas but hadn’t managed to write them down before he was hospitalized. After the stent insertion eased his condition, he knew he didn’t have much time left and was determined to communicate his thoughts.

With each word Dr. Liu wrote, his heart bled. It was clear his teacher was burning the last of his life.

In this way, speaking for a few minutes, resting for a while, then speaking for a few more, with intermittent pauses, Dr. Liu Zhida filled several pages of notes.

For others, speaking is an effortless act, but for Elder Meng, it was exceedingly difficult.

When Yang Ping and the others arrived at the ward, Elder Meng was lying in bed with an oxygen mask on his face. Even so, the heart rate on the electrocardiogram monitor remained high.

The attending doctor and nurse wanted to report, but Dean Liu made a shushing gesture, indicating to keep their voices down.

"He’s just rested, his blood sugar is much better today, and his electrolytes have also stabilized. Surgery should be possible the day after tomorrow," said Professor Nan Yingshu from the cardiac critical care center in a low voice.

Dean Liu also spoke softly, "If everything is stable, we are planning to schedule the surgery for the day after tomorrow."