Dr. Ross from the UCLA Medical Center spoke up next.
『This lymphoma poses a fatal threat to the elderly with poor immune systems. But Tom Brand is 35 years old. Considering that the lesion is now in its infancy, induction chemotherapy can guarantee the average life expectancy with just a treatment at the level of taking cold medicine. Please show me the picture of the tumor again.』
At Dr. Ross's request, an MRI image appeared on the screen.
『Look at the size of the tumor that you found by angiography. Surgical removal of tumors that are almost invisible even with a microscope? Aren’t you just trying to show off, Dr. Park?』
『Showing off, you say…』
Click.
Dowook played a video of Lim So Yool's neuro cyst removal surgery, which was diagnosed with 99.99% complete recovery.
『I've become a person who has already realized my dream. This patient's tumor is not as big as Tom Brand’s.』
Dr. Ross could not take his eyes off the ultra-precise extraction surgery for a while, smoothly squeezing numerous nerve tissues and removing cysts with a diameter of 5mm.
At the marvelous sight of suturing immediately after extraction, he exclaimed without realizing it. And he no longer expressed his opinion.
『Next person?』
Everyone was silent.
Only then did the five medical staff participating in the collaboration recognize that the neurosurgery skill of Myeong Sae Hospital was remarkable even when compared with the rest of the world. They were by no means surgeons who believed in the lagging trend of insisting only on surgery, stuck somewhere in Asia.
Chief Ha looked at the doctors from abroad who were lost in thought and turned to Dowook.
"Why don't you look nervous?"
"Because I'm only telling the truth."
"You know that all of those are not ordinary surgeries, right? They’re all trying to figure out whether operating is stable, but we're forcing the issue by counting on you and Choi Hoo’s ability."
"Actually, that's the only thing we have.”
"Hey!"
Dowook agreed to Chief Ha’s argument. The surgical video was only a video, it wasn’t enough to convince those people who had performed hundreds of surgeries.
『I understand that Dr. Park is very skilled. It's very impressive. However, questions arise in terms of reliability.』
As expected, criticism on this issue began.
『Please pull up the chart again.』
The one who made the request was Steven Lyle from Mayo Clinic.
The Mayo Clinic, where Dr. Lyle worked, was considered the world's best general hospital in name and reality, and the reputation of the neurosurgeons who worked there were famous throughout the world.
A few years ago, when a chairman of a conglomerate collapsed from a cerebral hemorrhage, Hansung Hospital called on Mayo Clinic for a collaboration. It was a fairly famous medical anecdote.
『The biggest problem that can occur in patients who attempt tumor extraction with this symptom is the risk of tumor cells spreading into subclinical space. Therefore, it has not been recognized as a standard treatment until now. There were no reports that patients with complete extraction had an extremely higher survival rate than those with chemotherapy and partial extraction.』
The unique danger of having to cut open a patient.
Dowook could not rebut this part with confidence. A few days ago, Professor Choi also performed a mock operation for fear of metastasis of tumor cells.
‘Hmm…'
He was worried, but there was one way to counter Dr. Lyle's criticism.
Just asking them to trust himself and Professor Choi's skills based on the surgery they had performed so far.
However, it was unlikely that they would trust some surgeons located on a land thousands of kilometers away by making a simple argument.
‘In the end, it's up to the agent.’
Chief Ha spoke up when Dowook became silent.
"What do you want to do now? They say they can’t trust your skills. Should I just shout it out?”
"It'll backfire more."
"Hey, I'm one of the best in society, too. At the Macau Forum the year before last, the Cleveland doctor was a big shot. How can you discuss aneurysms in front of a cerebrovascular expert? At least that one won’t be able to talk."
"If you're going to fight, I'll just wrap it up…”
Vrrrr.
His cell phone suddenly rang, so Dowook looked at the screen for a moment.
"Huh? Why is Professor Nam-goong messaging me at this hour?"
Dowook, who read the text from Nam-goong Seok, a senior professor at the Korean Neurosurgery Association, immediately turned his head and looked at Kim Seongtae in a corner.
"Seongtae, open a line quickly and connect it to the email I’m sending you right now."
A face appeared in the corner of the divided screen.
An old professor, who had just woken up, appeared on the screen. Then his gaze stopped at Dr. Lyle, a white man in his early 50s.
『Lyle? Wow, it's been a while.』
『Professor Nam-goong? How long has it been? I heard you retired.』
『I've retired from active duty, and I'm enjoying my life as a scholar. Last night, I heard news that woke me up, and when I woke up, I saw all of your face like this.』
Nam-goong Seok, who greeted Dr. Lyle, turned his eyes toward the screen of Myeong Sae Hospital.
-Chief Ha. I heard you're doing a fun surgery.
"How can you get news from our hospital so quickly?"
-I don't know…
Due to how Nam-goong Seok seemed to avoid answering, Dowook strongly suspected that the doctor who leaked information about the monthly meeting last month blew the whistle once more.
-That's not what's important right now. Hurry up and tell me how far the aggressive collaboration has been talked about. I like sleeping a lot in the morning, but I woke up by force.
Chief Ha briefly explained the situation.
Nam-goong Seok nodded and looked toward Dr. Lyle.
『Lyle.』
『Yes, professor.』
『You're saying that the biggest obstacle is that you find Dr. Park’s skill to be unreliable, right?』
『To be honest, yes.』
『Oh my. You should have witnessed the surgery yourself. Has it been 10 years? What did you say at your forum when the Korean medical community was in the midst of a boom in plastic surgery for handsome men and beautiful women? You said it's so sophisticated and amazing that it's incomparable to America, right? I even joked that it was the power of Koreans.』
『I remember.』
『At that time, you said something like this. One day, I hope that there will be a day when we can put the concept of plastic surgery into the brain and be able to remove factors such as abnormal brain activity, depression, and epileptic seizures. I'll introduce you to him. The world's first surgeon to try and succeed in brain plastic surgery.』
Nam-goong Seok pointed from the screen. Everyone looked at the screen he was pointing at.
There were two people on the screen.
Chief Ha slipped out of the screen. And he nodded, saying, "It's not me, but this guy next to me."
Dr. Lyle asked Dowook.
『Is there a video of the surgery that Professor Nam-goong mentioned?』
『Just a moment.』
The surgical video of Jung Woo-seok was very long, so he played a point in the middle.
Dr. Lyle, who was watching in depth, couldn't hold back and said.
『Oh, God. Is that possible? Removing the risk factors? Oh, shii~t. Awake surgery?』
Dr. Lyle continued to sigh and exclaim throughout the video. Because the ultimate direction he wanted as a neurosurgeon coincided with that surgery's goal.
The same was true of the other doctors who were surprised. Thanks to this, there was no discussion for a while, so Chief Ha, who had been sitting quietly, spoke.
『Cooperation is being delayed. Let's continue. Anyone else?』
The two doctors, who had not yet participated in the diagnosis process, shook their heads and indirectly expressed their intention to decline.
Officially all five had lost. Chief Ha's face was filled with a regretful smile.
"Dowook, I think it's done."
"I know."
Dowook was embarrassed because he didn't know that the interest of the five seniors would turn out to be such a great help, but he bowed his head briefly to Nam-goong Seok.
Nam-goong Seok, who was wiping tears from yawning, smiled and slightly raised his thumb.
Someone with a network and influential authority in the World Neurosurgery Society had laid the groundwork. The most lacking aspect of reliability was directly supplemented.
‘Yes. If you think about it, it's not bad for them to come…’
Dowook hesitated and shook his head while thinking like he was possessed.
No. The good was only for a moment, and he shouldn't forget the chaotic feeling of being the center of their attention, suffering from all kinds of questions. If he agreed, he might have to only talk about opening heads for three nights and four days.
『Doctor Park』
Dr. Lyle, who finished watching the video, looked at Dowook.
『I'll ask you one question. That pianist. What happened?』
『There will be a check up soon for the first time since some part of his eyesight returned. During the Korean holiday called "Seol".』
Dr. Lyle, who confirmed that the results were definitely good, said immediately.
『Mayo Clinic’s diagnosis is that surgical extraction is effective for Tom Brand's treatment. So, can I attend the surgery?』
At the question, Chief Ha looked wide-eyed.
“What did he say? He wants to observe this surgery? Did I interpret that wrong, Dowook?”
“I don’t think so.”
“Mayo Clinic? Damn……! Ok, Doctor Lyle, welcome!”
Things didn’t end there. When Dr. Lyle showed an interest in observing, the other doctors also showed an interest in coming.
『We also agree to the extraction surgery. Do we just have to mention which doctors from Johns Hopkins will visit?』
『UCLA as well…….』
『We agree to observe. I mean, extraction.』
『Dr. Park. How would the surgery proceed exactly?』
Everyone expressed their intention to participate, and Dowook looked back at Chief Ha.
"Is it okay to answer like this? The number of visitors is already considerable."
"Mayo Clinic is coming, so you have to get the level right. It's a pity that you're not qualified, but when will we ever get this honor again? Oh. The chief of Hansung Hospital always brags to me. It will be worth seeing his expression if we put him in the front seat. Hahaha.”
"What about my burden of performing in front of such prominent players?"
"You can share it with me."
Chief Ha looked like he was going to fly in happiness. Where did he look like a person who felt burdened? Dowook sighed deeply.
"Neurosurgery is one body, Dowook."
"Don't even say that anymore."
In the morning.
As the news of the discussion held at dawn spread everywhere, professors who usually didn’t talk to him continued to approach Dowook as he was making rounds.
"Dr. Park. I'm the top medical examiner, but I couldn't even participate in Tom Brand's collaboration. Does this make sense? Can you get me a seat on the day of the surgery?….”
"Hey, Professor Kim. Dr. Park finished the diagnosis by himself, where do you think you can insert yourself? Dr. Park. I've heard that there's really no room, but our thyroid cancer center director really wants to see this surgery.….”
The two professors he encountered in the hallway asserted, but Dowook repeated the answers he had been saying repeatedly throughout the day.
"The surgical observation list is under Chief Ha's jurisdiction. I can't help it either."
He bowed his head and entered the ICU.
‘Do I have to go through this mess every day?’
It was quite noisy even before the start as it was a surgery that received all kinds of attention both externally and internally.
Dowook went around the ICU to check the patient's condition and came back out.
He gave a handwritten order to the head nurse watching the ward.
"Patient 803 lost a little weight. The amount of fluid administration cannot cover the loss of body fluid, so please replace it with a hypotone of saline solution. Patient 805 has recovered from 0.08mg to 0.03 of painkillers. His brain blood flow has almost recovered to normal. Patient 813 is…….”
While giving detailed instructions, the head nurse pointed to one side of the hallway.
"I think the professor came to see you."
When Dowook turned his head, he saw Chief Lee Joseph of the International Medical Department.
He had no reason to ask for a seat because he was in charge of the overall hospitalization schedule of Tom Brand.
Dowook made eye contact, bowed his head, and gestured to wait a moment.
"……Induce high blood pressure in ligation patients until lunch. After that, I will take care of it normally like other patients with aneurysm. I don't think there's anything that burst anymore. I'll send Seongtae, so please help me."
The head nurse looked surprised since Dowook had completed the eight intensive care inspections in three minutes.
"Dr. Dowook, you’re very neat when you go on rounds. It's very detailed. We've checked the weight change of patient No. 803 and haven't even recorded it on the chart yet."
"Since my teachers are like that."
"Professor Choi is not this fast either."
"Not that teacher."
Dowook smiled slightly at the round-eyed nurse, saying, "Is it Ha Sang-joong?" and turned to Prof Lee Joseph.
Rounds were always accompanied by Chief Ji Hwi-gwan’s sense. There was no higher level of ability to grasp the level of a patient's criticality at once.
Approaching Prof. Lee Joseph, Dowook asked.
"Chief Lee, what brings you to the ward?"
"I thought you'd be busy, so I came in advance."
"Because of Tom Brand's surgery schedule?"
"We will follow the opinions of Dr. Park and Professor Choi, so there is no need to coordinate with them separately. If you notify me, I will deliver it to Tom Brand’s Agent. The reason I came here is because of this…”
Lee Joseph presented the information screen to Dowook on the tablet.
Dowook read in detail after seeing the phrase "Announcement of the recruitment of manpower affiliated with NYS International Hospital in Songdo District."
A foreign hospital was built in Incheon's Free Economic Zone, and it was a notice that medical staff from domestic hospitals would be recruited to participate as partners.
"The director of New York Stevia, NYS International Hospital, pointed out Park Dowook and asked if you could be a partner for neurosurgery cooperation."
"What does a partner do?"
"If they ask for advice on an important patient over there, you answer. You can think of it as a kind of part-time job or side job. Compared to the time and intensity of participation, the profits are significant."
Dowook was surprised to see the advisory fee attached under the notice. Each case gave about a third of his salary.
"It's a great opportunity for Dr. Park to experience and research many cases. The director of the NYS hospital also seemed to be looking forward to your participation."
Lee Joseph was smiling softly at the thought that Dowook would naturally accept. But Dowook handed him his tablet and shook his head.
"I'm sorry. I have things to do during my time off work or surgery. It may be possible in a month or two.”
"Oh, is that so? The director of the NYS hospital will be disappointed. If you have any thoughts later, please feel free to let me know."
Saying so, Lee Joseph left.
Dowook wondered if he should have agreed, and felt slightly regretful. But now was not the time to waste time.
Vrrrr.
While getting on the elevator, his cell phone rang.
It was Chief Ha Sang-joong.
"Yes, chief."
-Why is your duty schedule this month like this? Why are you even on call at the emergency room?
"Hmm. Because of the noble wish to help urgent patients?"
-Stop talking nonsense. Do you have a debt somewhere? If you're in a hurry, tell me, even if you're ashamed. Even if the emergency room's pay is high, you shouldn’t do this!
"I'll use my break time on my own. I still have rounds left."
-Park Do Wook!
Dowook hung up and pressed the emergency room floor. Before going around the general ward, he had to clearly re-accept Commander G's sense again.
‘This is going to be rough, huh?’
The reason for rejecting the proposal of the NYS hospital director and claiming to be on call was simple.
When he realized that Choi Hoo’s sense had been fully mastered and he could no longer accept it, Dowook understood what it meant.
He could challenge the realm of surgery that no one had ever reached before.
Therefore, the next sense he wanted to completely emulate after Choi Hoo. Commander G's amazing on-site surgery ability had to be included in this hand.
