Out of various surgical methods, an endoscopic sphincterotomy to clean the biliary tract left the fewest injuries to the patient.
Although the procedure was minimally invasive, international journal articles had reported a very high rate of recrudescence—approximately 30%.
The patient was already old; if recrudescence occurred within five to ten years, he would be in his seventies. General surgery came with great risk.
Hence, Zheng Ren ruled out an endoscopic sphincterotomy.
He not only had current symptoms to consider but also the long-term effects of treatment.
He entered the operating room just as Xie Yiren finished scrubbing in. She opened a sterile surgical bag with assistance from the circulating nurse and began preparing the machine.
"Zheng Ren, what surgical method are you using?" she asked.
