Ding Dong! Task Update: "Make a Stunning Move – Perform a Five-Segment Limb Replantation Surgery for a Hero!"
Successfully completed. Reward: 16,000 points.
The words appeared in the top right of his vision, accompanied by a robotic female voice.
Finally, the surgery was over.
Yang Ping stretched his stiff muscles. Director Han personally untied the straps on the back of his surgical gown, revealing an inner scrub suit soaked as if it had just been pulled out of water.
Su Yixuan tidied up the instruments and was the first to come over to congratulate Yang Ping as she stepped down from the platform.
Anesthesiologist Liang Jing gave Yang Ping a friendly punch on the arm and draped an arm over his shoulders. "That was exhilarating! Next time, take me along for the ride!"
"Flying is fine, but first, you'll have to lose some weight," Zhang Lin quipped unexpectedly.
"You're like a fuel-guzzler even if you can fly," Xiao Wu teased Liang.
Tianyuan, Song Zimo, Fang Yan, Zhang Lin, and Xiao Wu all removed their surgical gowns and walked over, everyone embracing like brothers reunited after a fierce battle.
Director Han chuckled like a child, humming Beijing opera melodies with a whimsical rhythm as his head bobbed.
Yang Ping's phone buzzed, notifications pouring in. Director Han pulled out his own phone.
Messages of congratulations poured in from various departments: General Surgery, Cardiothoracic Surgery, Urology, Neurosurgery.
Hospital Director Sun arrived in the operating room to shake hands and take pictures with the team, offering enthusiastic congratulations.
Over a video link, Secretary Luo and Director Xia not only expressed their congratulations but also gave immediate directives.
A beaming Secretary Luo, the lone wisp of hair on his forehead swaying with his movements, coughed lightly and said, "Use the best medicine, the best equipment, the best technology—and what else...?"
"That about covers it," Director Xia whispered gently.
"Right, stay humble and cautious. Ensure the follow-up treatment is a success."
Director Han patted Yang Ping on the shoulder. "Song Zimo, Zhang Lin, take the patient back to the Trauma ICU. Let's head to the changing room to rest. The cafeteria staff is cooking up some hot dishes. They'll bring them right over."
As the patient woke up from anesthesia, Song Zimo and Fang Yan, along with the anesthesiologist and nurses, transported him to the Trauma ICU, with Tianyuan tagging along.
Su Yixuan, wearing gloves, pushed the instrument cart for cleaning, not forgetting to give Yang Ping an adorable wave goodbye.
In the Changing Room
After changing, Director Han sat on the bench to rest and beckoned Yang Ping to sit beside him.
"Take a seat, rest a bit. We'll eat soon."
Yang Ping didn't hold back and sat close. "For the next few days, I plan to stay in the ICU 24/7 until the replantation gets past the critical stage."
Director Han nodded. "This patient has everyone's attention—not just the medical community, but all of G City. There's no room for error. Five segments were replanted, and we even performed multiple segmental avulsion reattachments. Ensuring survival is paramount, but preventing infection and acute renal failure is also crucial. Functional rehabilitation later will be another challenge."
"If the functional recovery isn't satisfactory, we can always perform secondary reconstructive surgery later," Yang Ping admitted, also concerned about the outcomes.
"Take it step by step," Director Han reassured him.
"You didn't know, did you? This entire surgery was livestreamed at the Trauma Orthopedics Network Conference!"
"What?" Yang Ping was stunned.
Focused entirely on the surgery, he hadn't been aware of the livestream.
"I didn't tell you because I didn't want to pressure you."
"You have no idea—the livestream was a spectacle! The live chat was full of witty comments. I didn't move from my seat all morning," Director Han laughed heartily.
"This year's Trauma Orthopedics Network Conference? Wasn't it hosted by Shanghai Sixth Hospital? Director, weren't you from there?"
"Yes, it's been over ten years since I left…" Director Han's eyes grew distant, seemingly lost in memory.
At that moment, Tianyuan came to call them for dinner, searching everywhere before finding them in the changing room.
"Enough chatting. Let's eat!" Director Han rose abruptly.
In the Doctor's Dining Room
"Here, have a chicken leg. Clean, untouched—gotta keep growing."
Director Han used clean chopsticks to place a massive chicken leg in Yang Ping's bowl, pressing it down firmly.
"I'm in my twenties, you know. Still growing? But I'm starving," Yang Ping quipped as he devoured the chicken leg.
Three bites later, the plates were cleared, mouths wiped, and the duo headed to the Trauma ICU to check on the patient.
Though still groggy, the patient's vitals were stable. The limbs had good blood circulation, and the fingers appeared pink and full.
However, among the firefighters buried during the accident, one had sadly passed away before being found. The rest were successfully rescued and sent to affiliated hospitals for treatment.
The deceased firefighter, just twenty years old, had used his body to create a survival space for a trapped worker, saving a life at the cost of his own.
Hearing these stories filled Yang Ping with even greater admiration for the hero, whom he stood vigil over, waiting for him to regain consciousness.
Director Han answered a call: "The hospital administration is holding a press conference. Director Xia asked me to bring you along."
Yang Ping had no interest in the press conference. "Director Han, could you explain to Director Xia for me? I'd rather stay with the patient. The vascular connections are too numerous, and any vascular complications could spell disaster if not addressed promptly. And the hero's life is still at risk with potential acute renal failure. I feel better staying here."
Director Han understood and patted Yang Ping's shoulder. "Take care of yourself. I'll handle the press conference and explain to Director Xia."
Yang Ping deeply appreciated Director Han's support. He wasn't interested in the spotlight; all he wanted was to quietly heal his patients.
"I'll keep watch with you. If a vascular crisis arises and requires intervention, I'll be your assistant," Song Zimo offered, staying by Yang Ping's side.
"Great." Yang Ping began rechecking the patient's distal circulation.
Song Zimo monitored urine output and color, as these were critical indicators.
Under the pressure of massive fluid infusion, the patient's vitals and central venous pressure were stable. Being young and healthy, his heart tolerated over 6,000 milliliters of fluid without issue. However, vigilance was still necessary.
For older patients, rapid fluid overload could easily lead to heart failure.
In the ICU, Dr. An from Nephrology brought up the patient's latest test results. Renal function was normal, creatinine levels were within range, and urine output and color were normal. The timely surgery had prevented muscle necrosis and acute kidney injury.
When the hero, Strong, regained consciousness, his first question wasn't about his own arm but about his buried comrades.
The doctors and nurses, unable to tell him that one had perished, offered a kind lie: "Everyone's safe. Don't worry."
Strong smiled. "That's good to hear."
"Your arm is reattached too," the nurse reassured him.
Strong tried to look at his arm. The nurse hesitated but allowed it after Yang Ping nodded. The bed was adjusted, and Strong finally saw his arm.
"Thank you all so much. I never thought it could be reattached."
"Now you can focus on healing," the nurse said, laying him back down.
Outside the glass walls of the ICU, a crowd gathered—Director Luo, Director Xia, and others, including journalists taking photos and videos for publicity.
A young female journalist, the last to leave, lingered, snapping photos of the patient through the glass wall.