Chapter 12 – Grandmother Mi-seon (3)

Intra-abdominal hemorrhage.

Although she looked fine on the outside, there was a high probability that a large amount of blood had accumulated inside her abdomen due to a ruptured organ.

‘Moreover, the dorsalis pedis artery cannot even be felt!’

To make matters worse, the pulse of the dorsalis pedis artery around the ankle was also not detected.

The dorsalis pedis artery was an important blood vessel that acted as a highway tollgate so that blood could flow to the top of the foot, ankle, and toes.

“……!”

When he placed his finger between the big toe and the second toe, no pulse was felt.

“You look really like a professor!”

Kim Yun-seok, who was watching Kim Ji-hyuk’s diagnosis, asked with a quite surprised expression.

“I am just doing it as I learned in class.”

“Still……”

Kim Yun-seok watched Kim Ji-hyuk’s hands closely, as if finding it fascinating.

‘If the dorsalis pedis artery is like this, there is no way the popliteal artery is intact.’

Kim Ji-hyuk immediately moved his fingers toward the back of the knee to check the popliteal artery.

‘The popliteal artery located about 3mm away from the posterior cruciate ligament! It has to be felt here…’

As expected, no pulse was detected.

It meant that the popliteal artery was severed.

“Wow, you are checking the popliteal artery now, right?”

Kim Yun-seok, who was closely observing Kim Ji-hyuk, asked.

“Yeah.”

“Is the popliteal artery also severed by any chance?”

“Right. It seems so.”

“Sigh, what should we do about this?”

Kim Yun-seok’s facial expression darkened rapidly.

‘If the dorsalis pedis artery is not felt and the popliteal artery is also severed? Damn it, we might have to amputate the leg!’

Her ribs were broken, damaging her lungs, her internal organs were ruptured, causing continuous bleeding, and the popliteal artery was severed, preventing blood from flowing toward the leg.

To make matters worse, the patient was an elderly person whose immunity and physical strength were at their worst.

‘Can I really save Grandmother Mi-seon?’

Although his confidence dropped momentarily, there was no choice.

‘I will save Grandmother Mi-seon at all costs. Since my future is also riding on this!’

Kim Ji-hyuk clenched his teeth.

“Yun-seok, listen to me carefully from now on. I think the patient needs to go into surgery immediately!”

Kim Ji-hyuk had made up his mind to perform the surgery himself.

“Huh? What, you are doing what?”

Kim Yun-seok looked bewildered.

“I said we are doing surgery!”

“Do you think that is possible right now?”

“Then what? Are you going to let the patient die? Or we could somehow mobilize a military helicopter and bring over the professors who are in Geoje.”

“How does that even make sense…”

‘Grandfather! I can do it. Totally! I am the chief resident of general surgery, Kim Ji-hyuk! So, please trust me and follow my lead!’

“Right? It doesn’t make sense, does it? So let’s do it ourselves! There is no other way right now.”

“………”

Kim Yun-seok hesitated.

“We don’t have time, Yun-seok! Let’s save the grandmother!”

“Well, it’s true there’s no other way, right? If it’s not us, Grandmother Mi-seon is going to pass away, right?”

“Yes!”

“Can you really save the grandmother?”

“If it’s with you!”

“Fine! It’s do or die, let’s do this!”

As if finally making up his mind, Kim Yun-seok clenched his teeth.

“Great! Is there a doctor in the anesthesiology department?”

“I will do it!”

At that moment, a woman entered the emergency room.

“Senior Shin Jeong-eun! What about the blood?”

“For now, I tried to secure as much as possible, but I could only get eight packs.”

Her entire body was drenched in sweat from running around so much.

“Thank you for your hard work!”

“Don’t mention it! Now Grandmother Mi-seon’s life depends on you, Dr. Kim Ji-hyuk!”

“Phew, yes! What about the anesthesia?”

“I must do it! Professor Edmilson also went down to Geoje with the surgery professors. Right now, I am the only one left in the anesthesiology department, but if you are willing to use me, I will gladly do it.”

‘As expected, she is bold! Of course! A female doctor who would become the best anesthesiologist in our country should have this much grit!’

“Thank you, senior! I feel like I’ve gained a million soldiers!”

Kim Ji-hyuk said, a bright look returning to his face.

“Would you give me the honor of performing surgery with the two juniors who will become the greatest pillars of our country’s medical field?”

“Of course! Let’s make sure to save this patient.”

“We must save her, of course!”

“Not only is it a difficult surgery… but looking at the grandmother’s health condition, it is a very dangerous surgery.”

“Yes. I am prepared. But we must save Grandmother Mi-seon no matter what! The operating room is available, so please come up there, and I will be preparing the anesthesia!”

“Thank you! Thank you so much, senior!”

“Shouldn’t we leave such pleasantries until after we save the grandmother?”

“Yes, yes.”

“Then I will go prepare!”

Senior Shin Jeong-eun smiled brightly and began to move.

“Yun-seok, it’s such a relief! We can perform the surgery now!”

“Yeah! But it’s too early to relax. From now on is what’s important.”

It seemed Kim Yun-seok had also composed himself.

It was right then.

“What are you two doing right now!”

It was Major Han Jeong-guk, who was in charge of the hospital’s security.

“She is an emergency patient, so we are going to perform surgery!”

“This patient cannot enter! Transfer her to another hospital!”

The pot-bellied Major Han Jeong-guk blocked the two men’s path with a thunderous voice.

“To which other hospital? Is there a hospital here in Busan that can operate on this patient?”

At that, Kim Yun-seok stepped forward and shouted.

“I don’t know about that, but anyway, it can’t be done at our hospital, so accept it. What are you doing? Aren’t you going to kick that woman out right now?”

A Korean patient who had met with an accident by being hit by a US military armored vehicle.

If something went wrong with the patient, the hospital would have to bear all the responsibility.

Moreover, the perpetrator was the US military.

She was undoubtedly a troublesome patient in many ways.

From his perspective of not wanting to take any risk at all, refusing to accept this patient was the best course of action.

“Yes! Understood!”

As Han Jeong-guk yelled, the soldiers blocked the stretcher cart.

“Are you guys crazy? If you do this, you are becoming murderers. Take your hands off her!”

Kim Ji-hyuk ran over and pushed the soldiers away.

“You still haven’t come to your senses. Do you think you guys can save this patient? When there are no surgery professors here right now?”

“Why don’t you argue about that after the surgery is done?”

“Brats! They say a newborn pup knows no fear of a tiger, do you think you’ll be safe after doing this? Wake up!”

“Aren’t you the one who needs to wake up, Major? This person is Korean! How can you do this to your own compatriot?”

Kim Yun-seok, who had been hesitating until now, fumed with rage.

“If I say no, it’s a no! Absolutely not!”

Major Han Jeong-guk showed absolutely no sign of backing down.

“Major, you will regret this.”

Then, Kim Ji-hyuk said in a low voice.

“I’m already regretting it. I shouldn’t have let her into the hospital in the first place!”

“This is my last warning. Get out of the way! If you don’t want to live with guilt for the rest of your life!”

Kim Ji-hyuk snapped in a firm tone.

“Go ahead. I’ll live with regret, so stop acting up and back off right now!”

“Because of you, Major, the probability of saving this patient has decreased. It is still decreasing even now.”

“Why do you talk so much? Withdraw immediately!”

Major Han Jeong-guk shrieked.

“You will definitely regret this. Please wait just a moment. Yun-seok, don’t move a single step until I get back! Got it?”

Nodding, Kim Ji-hyuk headed toward the desk where the telephone was.

“Understood! I will guard this place!”

Kim Ji-hyuk made a phone call somewhere through the operator.

“Major, this is Kim Ji-hyuk.”

The person Kim Ji-hyuk called was Major John Eisenhower, the son of US President Eisenhower.

“—Oh! Dr. Kim Ji-hyuk!”

John Eisenhower answered the phone gladly.

“Major, you said you would grant me whatever I wanted, right?”

“—Of course. I will grant whatever it is, as long as it is within my power.”

“Then I will use that favor right now!”

A moment later.

“Major Han Jeong-guk! What are you doing right now?”

A white man entered the emergency room with a solemn expression.

He was Director Gustafsson of the UN Field Hospital.

“Director! Just as you said, I am blocking the patient’s entry…”

“Blocking what? Are you in your right mind? Blocking a patient?”

Director Gustafsson snapped with a thunderous voice.

Having spoken to the top brass of the Eighth US Army through John Eisenhower’s arrangement, Director Gustafsson was now in a position where he had to accept the patient even if she were a corpse.

“Pardon? W-what do you mean by that? Didn’t you tell me to transfer her to another hospital?”

“Who did? I have never issued such an order.”

“Pardon? The Deputy Director directly instructed me…”

“So are you saying you will ignore my words and follow the Deputy Director’s instructions now?”

Director Gustafsson glared fiercely at Major Han Jeong-guk.

“No! How could that be? It’s just that it was an instruction received directly from the Deputy Director.”

Major Han Jeong-guk was flustered.

“I believe I said I have never said such a thing, Major Han Jeong-guk!”

“I-I understand.”

With that, Major Han Jeong-guk and the soldiers cleared the path they were blocking.

“Dr. Kim Ji-hyuk, Dr. Kim Yun-seok! Wouldn’t it be better to perform the surgery when the surgery professors return?”

“No. She is such an urgent patient that we cannot afford to delay even for a moment.”

“Hmm, will this surgery be possible?”

Director Gustafsson asked with a worried expression.

“We will do everything we can!”

“Very well. The hospital will also support whatever we can support.”

“Thank you. We don’t need anything else, but since those people are blocking the way and making it difficult to enter, please have them all leave.”

Having cleared up the situation, Kim Ji-hyuk walked up to Major Han Jeong-guk, who stood awkwardly to the side.

“Major, do you by any chance have a religion?”

“What? Religion?”

“Yes. I think you’ll need the power of prayer today. Because of you, we wasted 20 minutes of golden time. If anything goes wrong with the patient, you will definitely have to take responsibility for it!”

“………!”

Major Han Jeong-guk bowed his head, his face flushed.

“Yun-seok, let’s go!”

“Got it!”

*Rattle.*

Following the path cleared by Major Han Jeong-guk and the soldiers, Kim Ji-hyuk and Kim Yun-seok began to move, pushing the stretcher cart.

* * *

Operating Room.

Anesthesiologist Senior Shin Jeong-eun, along with Nurse Erika and Nurse Ena, were waiting inside.

Nurse Erika and Nurse Ena were veterans and the best nurses in the field hospital with rich surgical experience.

“Dr. Shin Jeong-eun!”

When he saw Senior Shin Jeong-eun, Kim Ji-hyuk smiled brightly.

“You two! Welcome!”

Shin Jeong-eun welcomed Kim Ji-hyuk and Kim Yun-seok warmly.

“Senior, today Ji-hyuk did a great job—”

“That’s enough. The surgery is urgent, so let’s talk about it later, okay?”

Ji-hyuk cut Yun-seok off, covering his mouth.

“Did something happen?”

“Ah, it’s nothing. You may begin!”

“Yes, yes. Nurse Erika and Nurse Ena have also come to help!”

As Shin Jeong-eun introduced them, the two women gave a light bow to Kim Ji-hyuk.

“Great! With this lineup, we are like the Avenger—”

“Pardon? Avenger? What’s that?”

“Ah, it’s nothing. I meant it’s the best combination! Then shall we begin now? Senior! What about the blood?”

“Of course. I have set everything up!”

“Really?”

“Sure.”

“Great! By the way, who are those people?”

A few people huddled in the corner of the operating room stood there, rolling their eyes like puppies caught stealing food.

“They are students studying in the medical class! I brought them along because I thought we would be short-handed. They don’t know much, but they are quite strong in their own way. You will be able to make good use of them!”

‘She is a truly amazing person. Just like what I read in books!’

“Great! Then let’s begin now! Professor! What is the patient’s oxygen saturation?”

“I am not a professor, though?”

“Ah! Well, you will become a professor in the future anyway! I just tried calling you that once. Because you look so cool!”

“Don’t be silly! The oxygen saturation is currently 88.”

“That’s serious! Yun-seok! I think we need to start two-lung ventilation!”

It was a slightly better situation because foreign doctors resided in this hospital.

Although the medical devices were so outdated that they could not even be compared with those from before his regression, it was a relief that there were devices they could manage to use.

“Yeah!”

“Students! Please come over here!”

Kim Ji-hyuk gestured toward the medical students.

“Yes.”

“Yes.”

At that, the medical students rushed over immediately.

“From now on, you all need to hang the blood on the stands, and when I give the signal, squeeze it with all your might. Can you do it?”

“Yes! Understood!”

The voices of the medical students resounded loudly.