Chapter 224: Ti Is Running Out (Part 1 of 3)
Research Graduate Liang drove the group back to the hospital.
Once they arrived, Zheng Ren, Su Yun and Departnt Chief Kong headed straight for the ophthalmology departnt.
Zheng Ren felt confident with a Master-rank skill book still in his reserves.
However, as a general surgeon with no expertise in ophthalmology, he knew that a Master-rank skill book would not set him apart from the doctors in Imperial Capital.
After so thought, he decided it was unlikely that he could solve such a rare case.
They arrived at the ophthalmology departnt and Departnt Chief Kong imdiately went to visit Lin Jiaojiao.
Outwardly, Lin Jiaojiao looked to be in her thirties, but Zheng Ren presud that she was most likely in her mid-forties, as was expected of the founder of the nation’s largest costic surgery hospital.
There was a young adult standing by her bed, eyes clouded over with tears; she was most likely Lin Jiaojiao’s daughter.
When they entered the room, Lin Jiaojiao’s good eye flickered open. With a sob catching in her throat, she croaked, “Chief...”
Departnt Chief Kong got down to business. “Calm down. What happened?”
“Chief... I had an injection scheduled. So once all my clients were gone, I took a dose of hyaluronic acid. An hour later, my vision started to blur and the next thing I knew, I couldn’t see through my right eye. I had my daughter quickly send to the hospital to see Chief Ma,” Lin Jiaojiao explained clearly, her experience in the dical field evident.
“Hyaluronic acid?” Departnt Chief Kong repeated.
Hyaluronic acid was a type of mucopolysaccharide. In 1934, an ophthalmology professor in Columbia University extracted the substance from the eye of a cow. The chemical composition of the colorless substance was analyzed and further studies revealed its involvent in joint lubrication, blood vessel perability control, protein-binding, electrolyte balance, wound healing and more.
In the world of costic surgery, hyaluronic acid was mainly used for hydration and the removal of wrinkles.
It had been touted as the best natural substance for water retention under the skin.
How had this substance caused blindness?
Departnt Chief Kong had a hand on his temple as he pondered the situation.
“Old Kong, you’re finally here.” A woman in her fifties, clad in a doctor’s coat, walked over. “My ophthalmoscopy found a lack of blood in her retina. I suspect an obstruction in the ophthalmic artery.”
It was the ophthalmology departnt chief, Dr. Ma. As she concluded her statent, the scent of alcohol reached her nose and she frowned. “Were you drinking?”
“Yes, I was having dinner with Chief Chu.”
“What was the point of calling you here, then? I’ll get Old Pan from Union dical to assist with the surgery,” Departnt Chief Ma said.
“No, Chief Pan’s not around. We have Little Zheng here who’s willing to assist,” Departnt Chief Kong objected.
Dr. Pan was the interventional surgery departnt chief in Union dical College Hospital and a mber of the National Central Health Agency. He was out of the city, being recently involved in the Tibetan Aid Project.
Departnt Chief Ma was unaware of the circumstances, hence Departnt Chief Kong’s explanation.
“Little Zheng? Is he your new research graduate?” Departnt Chief Ma eyed them suspiciously.
Departnt Chief Kong started introductions. “This here is Boss Zheng from Sea City, L Province. He’s skilled in interventional surgery and is here for the new research project we’re working on.”
Departnt Chief Ma was surprised but retained the aloofness of a departnt chief from a top Class Three Grade A hospital. She did not try to shake Zheng Ren’s hand.
“I’ve contacted Chief ng and he agreed with my assessnt. Imaging is needed to make a full diagnosis. We didn’t know you would be out drinking, though.”
The departnt chiefs often spoke freely among themselves, hence Departnt Chief Ma’s clear displeasure.
“Sure. Let’s get started, then. Boss Zheng will handle it.” Departnt Chief Kong dialed for his chief resident.
During the whole exchange, Zheng Ren had said nothing. He only stared at the System display in the right corner of his vision.
Lin Jiaojiao’s diagnosis was simple. There was an obstruction in the vascular system due to the aforentioned biomacromolecule injection. The plug had led to decreased blood supply to the eye and resulted in temporary blindness.
There were a few peripheral arteries but the majority of the eye’s blood supply was delivered by the main branch.
They had to clear the obstruction within four hours to salvage the retina. Otherwise, it would suffer permanent damage and result in permanent blindness in Lin Jiaojiao’s right eye.
The surgery... The arterial network in the eye was delicate and Zheng Ren could not guarantee success in removing the biomacromolecule obstruction in the artery.
He was an expert in embolization surgery. This was the complete opposite of that.
However, he was willing to try. After all, it was just another procedure.
Su Yun noticed Zheng Ren’s silence and shuffled over. “What are you thinking?”
“A buildup of biomacromolecules in the ophthalmic artery is causing temporary blindness,” Zheng Ren whispered. “Departnt Chief Ma’s preliminary diagnosis is correct. We’ll have to confirm with imaging but I’m hesitant about the subsequent thrombolysis.”
“Thrombolysis? Based on your diagnosis, it’s a biomacromolecular obstruction in either the capillaries or arterioles, not a blood clot,” Su Yun retorted.
Zheng Ren laid his cards on the table. “Two hours have passed since the obstruction. I suspect a blood clot would have ford by now. The surgery should start with lysis, followed by suction removal. It’ll be up to fate whether or not her vision can be restored.”
Su Yun shook his head; he had low expectations that the surgery would restore Lin Jiaojiao’s vision.
“Biomacromolecules?” Departnt Chief Ma had overheard Zheng Ren’s words.
“Yes. I’m guessing there was an error in judgnt when she injected hyaluronic acid. The substance must have entered the blood capillaries or arterioles, restricting blood supply to her eye,” Zheng Ren said.
His explanation turned Lin Jiaojiao’s face green.
A blood clot detected early could be easily resolved. Obstruction by foreign material was much more complicated.
Was she going to be permanently blind in one eye?
Darkness filled her vision as if her sight was disappearing completely.
“Is the diagnosis solid?” Departnt Chief Kong asked.
“We’ll need to confirm it with an angiogram.” Zheng Ren asked, “Does the operating room have urokinase?”
“Yes.”
“We should start now. It’s been two hours since the obstruction. Ti is running out,” Zheng Ren said firmly.
Departnt Chief Ma was taken aback by the resolution in his voice, especially from a Sea City junior doctor here on a research visit.
Despite her reservations, she allowed the junior doctor to go about pre-surgery preparations. The patient was transferred to the interventional radiology suite.
The chief resident on call tonight was Dr. Shen. After digesting the patient’s condition, Dr. Shen laid down the sterile drapes and prepared for the procedure.
Zheng Ren held back from accessing the System to pick up the related training modules. He wanted to have a look at the angiogram first.
The procedure started ten minutes later.
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