Chapter 90 – Coal Mine Accident (4)

Pushing through the rising path of water, he finally arrived at the safety shelter in the upward shaft.

Width about 2.1 meters.

Height about 1.9 meters.

A place whose length could be estimated at about 21 meters.

It was a space where seven to eight people, including Nurse Park In-seon, could sufficiently take refuge.

Water had not completely filled up yet, leaving some time. It was safe because there was a slight difference in height from the bottom of the shaft.

Of course, albeit with the caveat of “for now.”

“Doctor, I have arrived as well.”

After Kim Ji-hyuk arrived, Member Yun Tae-ho was also able to safely reach the safety shelter.

“Nurse! Nurse, where are you?”

Kim Ji-hyuk anxiously searched for Park In-seon first, shining the flashlight.

It was right at that moment.

“Do-doctor? Doctor Kim Ji-hyuk??”

Recognizing Kim Ji-hyuk’s voice, Nurse Park In-seon’s voice echoed in the shaft.

“Yes! That is right! Are you safe?”

It seemed it was indeed Nurse Park In-seon.

“Yes. I am fine! But how did you get here, Doctor?”

She finally revealed herself. Although she had minor bruises on her face and arms, it was not a major problem. Nurse Park In-seon was safe.

‘Phew, thank goodness.’

Seeing her safe, Kim Ji-hyuk let out a sigh of relief.

“What do you mean how? If there is a patient, a doctor must naturally come.”

“Doctor…”

“I was worried you might have been severely injured, but it is nothing much.”

Inspecting Nurse Park In-seon’s complexion, Kim Ji-hyuk showed a faint smile.

“Are you joking at a time like this?”

“I learned that the more in a hurry you are, the more detour you should take. Anyway, do you have any other injuries?”

“No. I am fine… but please check on those people first.”

Nurse Park In-seon pointed inside the shaft.

The people huddling together. They were utterly terrified.

“Everyone! Do not worry. Have strength!”

Two young men stepped forward to comfort the terrified people.

“They are the twins! Those twins did a great job in helping us get here!”

“Ah!”

“Even though they are young, they were calm and had a strong sense of responsibility!”

“I see. How admirable.”

“Do not worry! If you wait just a little, I will guide each and every one of you safely outside!”

Then, Member Yun Tae-ho also instilled strength in them.

“We are saved! A rescue member has finally come!”

As Member Yun Tae-ho calmed them down, the miners embraced each other and cheered.

*Pant, pant—*

However, the problem was a miner lying in the inner corner.

A man gasping for breath, completely exhausted.

Judging by his purple-tinged lips, his oxygen saturation had dropped, showing signs of cyanosis.

‘That man is the problem!’

Kim Ji-hyuk ran over and checked his condition first.

…

Checking the patient’s condition, Kim Ji-hyuk narrowed his eyes.

‘His teeth are all decayed!’

He attempted intubation, but the throat was so swollen that the laryngoscope would not enter.

Although the patient was suffering from extreme respiratory distress, his airway was severely swollen, making intubation itself impossible.

‘The oxygen saturation has dropped to the point of showing cyanosis. On top of that, the airway is so swollen that intubation cannot be performed, and the patient’s teeth are completely decayed… If so?’

Thus, as Kim Ji-hyuk applied the patient’s symptoms to the diseases in his head.

‘It is a deep neck infection!’

Kim Ji-hyuk finally deduced the name of the patient’s illness.

Bacteria from teeth damaged by cavities had traveled down the airway, causing inflammation in the deep neck (deep inside the throat).

It was a different case from the deep neck infection caused by a rotting fish bone lodged there before.

“Doctor, what should we do? Is there anything I can help with?”

Park In-seon, who was beside Kim Ji-hyuk, asked.

“Since the swelling in the throat is severe and intubation is impossible, we have no choice but to insert a tube directly into the airway and inject external air! The tools should be in that first-aid bag.”

“Yes, yes. I will prepare them.”

Nurse Park In-seon hurried to prepare so that Kim Ji-hyuk could perform the procedure.

‘Palpating from the sternal notch toward the head, the first hard part is felt. Inserting a vertical incision on the midline between the two cartilages held by the thumb and middle finger, and then making a horizontal incision on the cricothyroid membrane will cause no major issues.’

Slowly recalling the surgical technique, Kim Ji-hyuk boldly inserted the needle Nurse Park In-seon had prepared.

And success!

‘It worked!’

Kim Ji-hyuk widened the incision, inserted the tube, connected the Ambu bag, and slowly pumped air.

*Gasp—*

As he squeezed the Ambu bag slowly, the patient’s airway opened.

“Doctor! The patient is breathing!”

Nurse Park In-seon smiled brightly. However, Kim Ji-hyuk’s expression was not bright.

“Doctor, what is wrong?”

“Hmm, I do not think a simple deep neck infection is the only problem.”

Kim Ji-hyuk shook his head, wearing a serious expression.

“Pardon? Isn’t the patient doing better now?”

Nurse Park In-seon looked worried.

*Pant! Pant!*

The patient’s breath was restored, but he was still clutching his chest in pain.

“Look. The patient is complaining of chest pain!”

“Chest pain?”

“Moreover, the swelling all over his body is severe.”

Kim Ji-hyuk rolled up the trousers to show the patient’s legs. Just as he said, the patient’s legs were swollen thick.

“Wh-what is this?”

Nurse Park In-seon immediately inspected the patient’s arms. Not only the legs but the patient’s arms were also severely swollen.

Not only that, but edema was found all over the patient’s body.

“Sigh, how does your chest hurt, patient?”

Kim Ji-hyuk unbuttoned the patient’s shirt and asked.

*Pant, pant—*

“M-my chest feels like it is splitting open. I cannot breathe! It hurts too much!”

The patient suffered, clutching his chest.

“Doctor, the patient also seems to have a high fever.”

Meanwhile, Park In-seon, who had checked the patient’s temperature, raised her voice.

“How high?”

“It is 40.2 degrees. It is too high, what should we do?”

Having barely solved the respiratory failure with cricothyroidotomy, a problem arose from an unexpected place.

This was exactly what Kim Ji-hyuk had feared.

‘Damn it, the inflammation from the deep neck infection must have spread down to the mediastinum. If this inflammation goes down to the mediastinum and solidifies, it will naturally compress the superior vena cava. That is why severe chest pain and systemic edema occurred. In other words, mediastinitis!’

Acute mediastinitis.

The mediastinum, the place where all circulatory organs, including the heart, are gathered. Inflammation had occurred in that mediastinum.

It was a dreadful disease with a mortality rate exceeding 70% if not treated properly.

“Doctor! What should we do? Why is Uncle Min-su behaving like that?”

Park In-seon asked urgently.

“I think it is mediastinitis.”

“Pardon? Mediastinitis?”

“Yes. Judging by his condition, I suspect descending necrotizing mediastinitis. It might develop into sepsis if we are not careful.”

“Ne-necrotizing?”

“Yes.”

“Then what must we do?”

Due to anatomical characteristics, if inflammation occurred in the mediastinum, it was highly likely to spread easily to the lungs or heart, and in that case, the patient could die from acute sepsis.

Moreover, if it was necrotizing, it was an extreme emergency beyond doubt.

A moment later.

…

Kim Ji-hyuk fell into deep thought.

After contemplating for a long while, finally.

“Member Yun Tae-ho!”

Kim Ji-hyuk motioned toward Member Yun Tae-ho.

“Yes! Doctor! What is the matter?”

Member Yun Tae-ho ran to him in a single breath.

“Listen to me carefully from now on.”

“Yes.”

*Gulp—*

Member Yun Tae-ho’s adam’s apple bobbed.

“For now, Member Yun, you must escape with Nurse Park and the miners.”

“Pardon? What about you, Doctor?”

“*Hehehe*, I should go out too. Just after performing emergency treatment on the patient.”

Kim Ji-hyuk nodded his head as if it were no big deal.

“Pardon? That makes no sense! Are you saying that seriously right now?”

“This is the best we can do right now. If left like this, this patient could lose his life. I will perform emergency treatment and follow behind, so do not worry!”

“How? How are you going to follow us out? Doctor! This is not a hospital. It is a mine shaft! I absolutely cannot leave you behind!”

Member Yun Tae-ho shook his head vigorously, as if it were out of the question.

“Then, may I entrust the patient’s treatment to you, Member Yun?”

“Ah, no. That is…”

Member Yun Tae-ho was lost for words.

“Doctor! I will stay with you.”

At that, Nurse Park In-seon stepped forward quickly.

“Oh, if you stay by my side, Nurse, you will only be a distraction. It is already tough enough to take that patient out, and looking after you too is beyond my capacity.”

Kim Ji-hyuk did not lose his composure.

“Are you really saying that right now? Can you joke at this moment?”

She teared up.

“Should I cry instead?”

“Sigh, seriously!”

“Do not worry. Member Yun will return to rescue me. Right, Member?”

“…”

Member Yun Tae-ho tightly shut his mouth, saying nothing.

“I said there is no time. Is it true or not? If you keep lingering, none of us stand a chance.”

Kim Ji-hyuk pressed him.

“Of course! I promise you on my life. I will definitely return to rescue you, Doctor.”

It seemed Member Yun Tae-ho had finally decided to accept Kim Ji-hyuk’s suggestion.

“See? He says he will return. So do not worry too much.”

Kim Ji-hyuk smiled, looking at Nurse Park In-seon.

“Doctor!”

Nurse Park In-seon was almost on the verge of crying.

“Doctor, I will definitely come to rescue you!”

Member Yun Tae-ho clenched both fists.

“Yes. I will wait. You must absolutely come.”

“Yes. Please trust me!”

“Do-doctor, will you really be okay?”

Still worried about Kim Ji-hyuk, Nurse Park In-seon asked in a tearful voice.

“My life is extremely long. They say even if I want to die, I cannot die until I am one hundred years old. So do not worry. I will follow shortly!”

Kim Ji-hyuk patted Nurse Park In-seon’s back, reassuring her.

“Member Yun, take the people out quickly. Hurry!”

And then he shouted toward Member Yun.

“Yes. Understood. Let us go, Nurse!”

Member Yun Tae-ho tugged the sleeve of Nurse Park In-seon, who still lingered.

“Yes.”

Left with no choice but to follow Kim Ji-hyuk’s wishes, Nurse Park In-seon. She began to step away with heavy feet.

“Now! The entrance is narrow. Everyone must go down slowly in a single file! Especially, watch out because the floor is bumpy!”

“Yes. Understood.”

“Base, come in. Base, come in. Over!”

Member Yun Tae-ho pulled out the transceiver.

[Speak. Over.]

“Situation check complete here. Out of eight people total, one is injured, and the rest are fine. We will take the people to the entrance now, so please prepare.”

[Understood. Come out safely. Over.]

“Doctor, please wait just a little! I will definitely come back to get you!”

“Go!”

Kim Ji-hyuk had already begun treating the patient.

‘Doctor, I will definitely return!’

“Let us go!”

At last, Member Yun and the miners carefully descended from the upward shaft.