Chapter 256

Episode 256. Neurosurgery Dispatch (2)

“Uh?”

In a moment of sudden fluster, my mouth opened involuntarily.

Hearing that, Yoon Hee-soo, a 2nd-Year Neurosurgery resident, hurriedly covered his mouth.

“For now, pull up another CT with increased contrast, and make sure the left sulci that aren't showing are clearly visible…”

Hwang Seong-hun turned his head while looking at the monitor.

“Hey, you punk, Yoon Hee-soo, you’re not focusing, are you?”

At those words, Yoon Hee-soo hurriedly shifted his gaze back to the monitor and apologized.

“S-Sorry.”

“As long as you know.”

Tak—

Ta-da-da-dak—

Yoon Hee-soo began tapping the keyboard, modifying the presentation contents to be used for the conference.

Watching that scene from behind his back, a sudden curiosity arose in me regarding the state of the other conference materials.

‘Could there be blunders in the other sections too?’

It was a natural suspicion.

A resident who was utterly exhausted from consecutive shifts and worn down by fatigue wouldn't be able to cross-verify multiple documents and catch every single error in every detailed case by themselves.

That was why, if I hadn't stepped in, they would have been absolutely chewed out by the professors during the conference for this case.

“Excuse me…”

When I lightly tapped Hwang Seong-hun's shoulder, he turned his head to look at me.

“Yes?”

“If it’s alright, could I look over the conference materials for a bit? I think understanding the patients presenting today will be a big help for my neurosurgery dispatch.”

At my words, Hwang Seong-hun wore a somewhat puzzled expression, but then nodded with a bright look on his face.

“Yes, yes, feel free to look. They're in the shared folder.”

“Yeah, thanks.”

I returned to my spot and sat down in the seat designated for the dispatched resident.

When I turned on the computer, a familiar desktop background appeared.

Hmm.

“What’s the password for this by any chance? Can you let me know?”

At my question, Hwang Seong-hun rolled his eyes with an "oh-shoot" look, then answered in a loud voice.

“Ah! It’s NS2030!”

“Okay, thank you~”

I clicked the mouse, using the sound of Hwang Seong-hun savarily grilling Yoon Hee-soo as my background music.

Ta-dak—

Ta-da-da-dak—

‘N…S…2030….’

Tak!

The computer opened as I hit the enter key.

‘He said the materials were in the shared folder, right?’

When I entered the conference materials folder, I could see the records and image data of that patient from earlier still remaining there.

‘I should look at the PPT file first.’

Opening the presentation file revealed a clean, common hospital PPT template design.

[NS weekly conference]

[R2 Yoon Hee-soo, R3 Hwang Seong-hun]

‘Is this all for these two's data?’

Click—

Just like that, I scanned through all the presentation files from the first page to the last.

And the conclusion I reached was:

‘I have no idea what’s what.’

I had plenty of experience screening patients in the emergency room, judging acute phase diseases, and hospitalizing them into neurosurgery.

But I didn't know a single thing about surgical management plans, post-operative plans, the choice of surgical methods, or angiography.

Because it wasn't my specialty.

“By the way, are you guys the only ones presenting this?”

At that, Hwang Seong-hun stopped rubbing his eyes, turned his head, and answered.

“No, there are others besides us… but we had a reason to come a bit early.”

“A reason to come early?”

When I looked puzzled, Hwang Seong-hun let out a deep sigh.

“We have to look after the NCU work, and our conference prep wasn't fully finished. We are the brain part, so the spine part kids will prepare for their conference separately.”

Right.

‘They have their parts divided too.’

Since modern medicine is a history of the division of labor, these days, even within a medical department, it is divided into various subspecialties or clinical scopes.

For example, Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery is split into cardiac surgery dealing with the heart, and general thoracic surgery dealing with lung or esophageal diseases.

And Neurosurgery is divided into the brain part and the spine part.

‘And these guys are the brain part.’

That worked out well.

Generally, the severity of diseases sent from the emergency room is higher for the brain part.

To think the residents I met first during my dispatch were the ones currently in charge of the brain part, it felt like a good start.

“Anyway, the correction is complete thanks to you. Really, thank you.”

At Hwang Seong-hun’s words, I waved my hand.

“Oh, no, no. It’s fine, really. Even without me, the professors would have noticed it anyway.”

Professors at university hospitals are more sensitive creatures than one might think.

Since their profession involves touching the human brain, before entering the operating room, they pathologically check every single detail—the left and right directions, the exact position of the vessel to be punctured—by looking at X-rays and CTs.

This meant that a blunder that wouldn't have occurred if they had just adjusted the contrast stage a bit and properly looked at the CT image could be caught not just by a ghost, but even by a rookie neurosurgery professor who had just earned their title.

“Even so. Just not getting chewed out during the conference is a huge relief. Thank you.”

In response to Hwang Seong-hun’s gratitude, I flashed a smile to show it was fine.

“It's really okay. Can I look at this a little more?”

“Yes, yes. Go ahead.”

Before sending the PPT materials to the ghosts, a sudden curiosity made me decide to ask a question.

I felt like I could ask the guys right in front of me instead of asking the ghosts.

“About the burr hole.”

“Yes,” Hwang Seong-hun answered.

Now I knew that they weren't just drilling the right side but both sides, but…

“How exactly does the plan change? In this case?”

“Hmm…”

While Yoon Hee-soo hesitated, Hwang Seong-hun began to answer while tapping the keyboard.

“First, the right side seems to have a larger volume of bleeding. The left hemiplegia the patient complained of when arriving at the ER was also caused by that right-side bleeding.”

The fact that the symptoms on the right were more severe was a medical fact.

Then, how would this involve the surgery?

“So?”

“We open the right side first. But to prevent brain shift from occurring, we have to drain the left side simultaneously. We have no choice but to monitor the drainage volume while slowly decompressing.”

I nodded at his words.

A fascinating world, this one too.

During my thoracic surgery dispatch, it was fascinating that they operated after halting blood circulation throughout the entire body and creating a state of medically controlled death.

But neurosurgery was proving to be just as interesting.

Ta-da-da-dak—

[Comments]

Korean Slave 1: It's a brain-tapping.

Tap the Head: ?????????

Korean Slave 1: (Picture) (Picture) (Picture) (Picture)

Tap the Head: You crazy bastard, stop sending them.

I was glad the ghost seemed to really like the PPT I sent.

It didn't look like they liked it?

It must just be a feeling.

Ghosts inherently have a tsundere-like quality to them, so they only snap on the outside.

Probably.

[Comments]

Mes of the God: ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ

Latte is Mine: Thumbs up if you're an excited internal medicine ghost.

ㅇㅇ (121.188): Thumbs up

Cardiology Ghost: Thumbs up

Hippocrates' Descendant: Living doctor, the patient's well-being is good, but consideration for the ghosts' eyesight is also necessary!

I lightly ignored the last comment from old man Hippo.

[Comments]

Korean Slave 1: (Picture)(Picture)(Picture)(Picture)

Tap the Head: I got it, so calm down.

Korean Slave 1: Quickly give me the answer.

Tap the Head: I'll look at it slowly; you're not pressed for time right now, are you?

At Tap the Head’s question, I lifted my left wrist to check the time.

‘Hm….’

The problem was that I didn't know the detailed schedule of neurosurgery very well.

“Teachers? Neurosurgery? I have a question…”

At those words, two heads turned to look at me.

“Yes, what is it…?”

“I was wondering what the schedule or time looks like for today.”

At my question, they looked at the clock for a moment and then kindly gave me a detailed briefing on the today's schedule for the neurosurgery residents.

“First, when it hits 20 minutes, we'll go to the NCU to check on the patients there. For the general ward, we'll briefly do a pre-rounding once.”

“And then?”

“The conference is from 7 o'clock.”

I nodded at his words.

Blue window in the void.

Come out.

Pat—

[Comments]

Korean Slave 1: They say the conference is at 7. It's 6:16 now.

Tap the Head: Do we just need to prepare before the conference?

Korean Slave 1: Yeah.

Tap the Head: Okay, okay. Go ahead.

Tap the Head seemed grateful that they didn't have to review every single patient case in that massive PPT right this second.

‘Though it'll still be a lot… at least some time has been given.’

It was then.

Beep—

“Oh, it’s time.”

“It’s time.”

At their words, I checked the time as well.

Ah.

It was 20 minutes.

The exact time when the residents had to sweep through the neurosurgical intensive care unit.

“Doctor Han Hyeonjae, shall we move?”

“Yes, yes, let's move.”

They hurriedly finished organizing their presentation and stood up from their seats.

Teobok—

Teobok—

“Neurosurgery is really busy too.”

At my words, Hwang Seong-hun smiled and tagged his ID card on the hallway automatic door.

Beep—

[The door is opening.]

“The ER folks are busy too. Isn't the schedule over there really tough as well?”

I gave a bitter smile at his words.

“Actually, it's a different kind of busy. Because of the drunks…”

“Ah.”

They lost their words.

[5F | ICU (Surgical, Medical, Neurological, Cardiovascular)]

Riding the elevator down to the 5th floor and taking the connecting passage all the way to the main building.

It was quite an arduous journey.

I smiled as I looked at the sign attached to the wall.

‘What a damn maze of a hospital.’

When Hwang Seong-hun tagged his ID card, the door to the Neuro-ICU opened.

“Come on in.”

“Ah, okay.”

Ziiing—

Following behind Hwang Seong-hun and Yoon Hee-soo, the scenery of the Neuro-ICU greeted me.

There were about… 8 beds.

In the center was the nurse station, structured to allow real-time monitoring.

“Hello. I'm Han Hyeonjae from Emergency Medicine. I'm on dispatch.”

When I bowed my head to greet them, the nurse bowed her head back in the same manner.

“Hello.”

After finishing the greetings and lifting my head, the two residents were already rounding the beds and checking the patients' conditions.

I should quickly go too.

Ta-bak—

As I stepped closer, I could see the nurse giving a report.

“They complained of a mild headache overnight, so we gave Tylenol 1T PO as a PRN at 2:20. Mental status is well-maintained at GCS 14. Total EVD drainage volume came out to 40cc, and the color is yellowish as well.”

Hwang Seong-hun nodded at those words.

“A TCD exam is scheduled for the morning, so keep a good look out for any vasospasm signs.”

“Yes, yes.”

As I stood blankly looking at the patient, Yoon Hee-soo began whispering an explanation to me in a small voice.

“This person came in for a ruptured cerebral aneurysm. They even had an SAH. They received a TFCA on the day of admission and underwent coil embolization.”

“Are we checking for vasospasms because of the risk of cerebral infarction as a complication?”

When I asked, Yoon Hee-soo nodded.

“Right. Since they came in with a ruptured cerebral aneurysm and subarachnoid hemorrhage after all… Anyway, Doctor Hwang is moving on, so let’s follow him.”

Turning my head at his words, Hwang Seong-hun had already checked the second patient and moved on to the third bed.

‘How is he so fast?’

“They didn't complain of any pain overnight, mental status is alert, and right motor grade is 4, showing the same pattern as yesterday.”

Hwang Seong-hun scribbled something down on paper.

“The condition is quite stable, so I think we might discharge them to the general ward sometime today. Please prepare for the transfer.”

“Yes, yes.”

Watching Hwang Seong-hun like that, I found him a bit cool.

East Building 13th Floor, Neurosurgery Conference Room.

Including the residents in charge of the spine presentations the two had mentioned earlier, a total of about five people were preparing for the presentations.

“By any chance, the person over there is…?”

“Ah, I'm Han Hyeonjae, dispatched from Emergency Medicine…”

At my words, one of the residents in charge of the spine part brightened up and welcomed me warmly.

“Ah, Doctor Han! Glad to meet you.”

It was then.

Beok-kak—

The door opened, and faculty members, including the professors, began entering the conference room.

Before we knew it, it had become 7 o'clock.

Among them was Professor Park Seung-woo of Neurosurgery, who had tested me in the Director's office during my previous 3rd year.

“Hello.”

I was the first to bow my head, but the other professors, except for Park Seung-woo, passed by me as if they didn't even see me.

‘…? What, why are they acting like that?’

Concealing my fluster at the blatant disregard, I quietly straightened my back.

“The dispatch?”

“Yes, Professor.”

Oh Man-seok, the Section Chief of Neurosurgery, pointed toward the back seats.

“Since you're not the one presenting anyway, why are you standing in the front? Go sit in the back. Let's listen to the presentation quietly and then talk.”

“Ah, ah, yes.”

What was this?

Was he being considerate by telling me to sit?

If so, his tone was way too unpleasant.

I sat down with those thoughts.

“Did you say the Director sent him?”

“Doing useless things again, really…”

“Uh-huh, watch your mouth.”

A few faculty members whispered among themselves.

‘This kind of person is… a university hospital professor?’

I wanted to grab the back of my neck at the childishness, but I held back.

Was this why the vibe felt different from Thoracic Surgery?

In the Thoracic Surgery conference, it was true that Section Chief Jo Kyung-woon wasn't pleased with me, but it wasn't because he disliked me from the start.

But here, the atmosphere felt ominous right from the get-go.

‘Well, I just need to spectate and leave anyway….’

I sat quietly in my seat.

In the middle of the presentations.

“Hm? This content is a bit different from the materials I received beforehand.”

When a neurosurgery professor cut off the presentation while pushing up his glasses, Hwang Seong-hun replied.

“As a result of re-evaluating after adjusting the CT contrast density values, findings related to the offset of midline shift were confirmed, so it was modified. Doctor Han Hyeonjae helped us.”

“Hm… I see.”

Appearing displeased, the neurosurgery professor slurred his words.

Right then, Oh Man-seok, the Section Chief of Neurosurgery, lifted his head and stared at me.

“The dispatch?”

“Yes.”

“By any chance, does the dispatch also need an opportunity to ask questions?”

I was momentarily flustered by those words.

What did he say?

“Pardon?”

“No, because there are many contents that might be too difficult for you. Though I'm sure it won't happen, I'm just concerned you might ask a question that's far too basic from a neurosurgical perspective.”

I lost my wits at his words.

Ah.

Was the rumor true that this person failed to secure the Planning Director position because he lined up with the wrong crowd?

And that's why he's openly rejecting me now since I'm the one the Director pushed in?

‘This gentleman, seriously.’

How dare he interfere with our Director trying to keep his promise with the Mes of the God?

I quietly turned my head and turned on the window in the void.

[Comments]

Korean Slave 1: Are you ready by any chance?

And.

[Comments]

Tap the Head: Yeah.

The reply came back.

I put on the most benevolent and underdog-like expression possible.

“If you give me the opportunity to ask a question, I will try my best to make it a neurosurgical question that is as far from basic as possible.”

Looking at Oh Man-seok, I gave a short nod.

“I will ask a question.”