Chapter 196: Surgical Mastery

Next, Dr. Jia explained and demonstrated how to isolate and resect the diseased intestinal segment.

Watching Dr. Jia effortlessly perform each step with flawless precision—each separation and resection completed with meticulous, steady, almost robotic skill—was nothing short of masterful.

This was what true surgical mastery looked like.

Zhou Can stood by, silently absorbing every surgical nuance and technique.

“When resecting the diseased segment, you can’t just aim for a clean cut. You must try to preserve as much intestine as possible; otherwise, the patient may suffer severe nutritional deficiencies post-op.”

Both the large and small intestines are vital for nutrient absorption.

Every segment of the intestine serves a purpose.

They together make up the whole digestive and excretory system.

Removing too much intestine can lead to impaired nutrient absorption, frequent bowel movements, diarrhea, and other complications.

Some doctors, full of bookish knowledge but lacking in postoperative foresight, focus solely on the surgical outcome.

This often leads to patients quickly dying from malabsorption and tragic lawsuits from grieving families.

“Who will perform the anastomosis next?”

After finishing the riskiest part, Dr. Jia left the remaining procedures to his junior colleagues.

That’s what makes a truly good doctor.

They pay close attention to mentoring their successors.

Just like Dr. Hu Kan of Cardiothoracic Surgery, who is equally dedicated to training his replacements—venerated by everyone in his department.

“I’ll do it!”

Zhou Can, the so-called ‘invasive species’, didn’t hesitate to snatch a chance to hone his skills, much to the dismay of the other doctors.

They, refined and courteous as they were, stood no chance against his bold, swift maneuvers.

“Anastomosis is far trickier than opening up the abdomen. Without at least a decade of experience, no one dares to tackle it. You might be enthusiastic, but can you really do it?” The Associate Chief Physician retorted in a frown.

The other doctors shared his discontent toward the new Dr. Zhou.

“Let me give it a try first. If I can’t manage it, I’ll have you step in. Of course, per Dr. Jia’s rules, if I mess up, I won’t get another chance at surgical training for three months.”

Zhou Can replied with a smile.

That answer silenced everyone else.

From start to finish, Zhou never boasted about his abilities. Instead, he told them to watch him work.

Just one misstep and he’d forfeit his surgical training opportunities for three whole months.

With things said to that extent, who could possibly stop him?

So Zhou Can once again boldly assumed the chief surgeon’s position.

He didn’t rush into the anastomosis; he carefully inspected the edges of the intestine first.

The incisions were perfectly even.

Dr. Jia had even separated the intestine so the two ends could be neatly aligned.

Zhou only needed to perform the anastomosis directly.

“Dr. Jia, may I opt for an end-to-end anastomosis?”

After reviewing the incisions, Zhou Can proactively sought Dr. Jia’s opinion.

This approach was extremely astute.

It would greatly boost the trust his superiors had in him.

If he jumped straight into the anastomosis right after seizing the opportunity, his hasty approach might be perceived as reckless and overly ambitious, leaving a bad impression on his superiors for future procedures.

“End-to-end anastomosis is the most common and physiologically appropriate method. Your choice is excellent—now hurry and get it done!”

Dr. Jia’s words were like a reassuring tonic.

Depending on the nature of the intestinal ends, different anastomosis techniques are used.

Apart from end-to-end, side-to-end anastomosis is also common.

Zhou Can selected absorbable sutures to bring the two intestinal ends together and performed a continuous, full-thickness suture along the bowel wall.

The seromuscular layer was closed with interrupted, non-absorbable sutures.

Dr. Jia didn’t just stand by; he attentively guided him throughout.

Every chief physician has his own teaching style, each with distinct characteristics.

Dr. Jia preferred a guiding approach that allowed Zhou to think independently, almost like supportive mentoring.

In contrast, Dr. Hu Kan taught by illustrating principles and experiences, patiently explaining every technique and potential scenario.

Meanwhile, Chief Resident Shen from Orthopedics adopted a straightforward, theory-driven method filled with practical examples.

Dr. Xu, on the other hand, was extremely strict—sharp-tongued but with a soft heart.

During surgery, any mistake would be met with stern criticism, followed by a lesson on how to avoid such errors.

Zhou Can carefully yet swiftly sutured the intestinal ends.

Sweat continually beaded on his forehead.

He was understandably nervous.

At the same time, the procedure was physically demanding, contributing even more to his perspiration.

The attending nurse kindly wiped his sweat to ensure the surgery ran smoothly.

No drop of sweat was allowed to fall on the patient’s wound.

After nearly an hour of suturing, Zhou Can successfully completed the intestinal anastomosis.

【Anastomosis Experience +1】.

【Congratulations on successfully completing your first colon anastomosis. Experience +100】.

He had once again racked up 101 experience points in surgery. How exhilarating!

The human body contains many organs, and for first-time attempts at complex procedures, a successful completion earns a bonus of 100 experience points.

Although his anastomosis skill was at a level-4, mid-tier standard for an attending,

he needed just a bit more experience to be promoted to level-5.

With a few challenging high-risk anastomoses, it wouldn’t take three months before his skill advanced to an Associate Chief level.

A 100-point bonus per achievement was quite lucrative.

Normally, it would take a hundred standard anastomosis surgeries to earn that many points.

“Dr. Jia, colleagues, nurses, please check my work—point out any mistakes, and I’ll strive to improve next time.”

He chose his words very carefully.

Instead of promising perfection, he said he would try his best next time.

It wasn’t that he wasn’t humble; some shortcomings in surgery aren’t fixed overnight.

Just like practicing calligraphy—even if you know one stroke wasn’t perfect, you’d strive to improve next time, though perfection is elusive.

That’s the essence of having the will but not the capability.

Almost every technical skill takes countless repetitions to improve.

You can’t identify and instantly correct every error.

Genius that flawless is nearly impossible.

At best, you only get better with time.

“Overall, the anastomosis was pretty good. There’s still plenty of room to improve—for example, a continuous suture isn’t necessarily better if it’s too dense, and the initial positioning of the bowel ends is critical. In this patient’s case, I believe starting the suture from here could reduce leakage risk and ease the anastomosis…”

Dr. Jia’s expertise was exceptional.

He pointed out flaw after flaw that Zhou either couldn’t overcome or was simply due to inexperience.

Some mistakes even occurred during the anastomosis.

Achieving this level was nearly his limit.

He internalized each piece of criticism, vowing to perform better in his next intestinal anastomosis.

In fact, fixing these flaws would not only improve his anastomosis but his overall suturing skills.

“Who will perform the closing of the abdomen?”

Dr. Jia asked.

This time, Zhou Can didn’t compete but quietly stepped aside.

Know your limits—both in work and in life.

Hoarding all the opportunities is a grave mistake.

On his very first day in Gastrointestinal Surgery, he risked becoming an enemy to several Associate and Attending Physicians.

Sometimes, making enemies isn’t about conflict—it’s about encroaching on someone else’s interests.

In the adult world, interests reign supreme.

By monopolizing every surgical opportunity, Zhou Can risked earning the disdain of others—especially since he was just a newcomer.

“I’ll do it, I’ll do it!”

A resident eagerly volunteered, seemingly desperate not to have his chance snatched by Zhou again, drawing amused smiles from the others.

“Heh, it seems Zhou Can’s arrival has stirred things up! At least you’re no longer acting like delicate debutantes when it comes to seizing surgical opportunities.”

Dr. Jia was particularly pleased.

Previously, when asked who wanted a surgical chance, everyone hesitated for far too long before speaking up.

It’s undeniable that his disciplinary measures were harsh—but they were for everyone’s benefit.

When things go wrong, everyone suffers.

This surgery concluded a little over forty minutes later.

If Zhou Can were in charge of closing the abdomen, the operation would finish at least twenty minutes earlier.

The resident’s suturing skills weren’t bad; he was just overly cautious.

Every suture was like a mouse peeking out—he wouldn’t proceed without surveying every detail.

“If you need to use the restroom, hurry now. If you’re thirsty, grab some water. In twenty minutes, we start the next surgery—a bowel resection with even greater challenges.”

After speaking, Dr. Jia left first.

Elderly individuals have much lower stamina and bodily functions than the young.

With another tough battle ahead, he surely rushed off to freshen up and rehydrate.

“Junior Brother Zhou, I never thought you were that capable!”

Qiu Hong smiled as she approached Zhou Can.

During the surgery, Zhou’s skills had truly impressed her.

“Please don’t laugh—I’m just average, riddled with flaws. I owe much to Dr. Jia for pointing them out. I’ve learned a lot.”

If Zhou were to admit he was brilliant, his emotional quotient would plummet.

The key to winning hearts is humility.

“Heh, you only have minor flaws compared to me—I can’t even get started. How do you manage to master such a challenging technique? Teach me sometime!”

Qiu Hong’s smile widened, her eyes curving like a crescent moon.

She was utterly charming.

Her intent was clear—to learn the secret behind Zhou Can’s anastomosis practice.

The two residents nearby naturally slowed down, straining to listen.

Truth be told, they were eager to absorb Zhou Can’s methods, as his suturing skills were formidable.

In private, everyone admitted they were diligently honing their surgical techniques.

Spending a significant portion of their salary on white mice for vascular anastomosis practice wasn’t uncommon.

The cost for high-quality laboratory white mice could easily exceed two hundred yuan each—far different from the cheap pet mice sold on the street.

Those used in medical research were bred under strict laboratory standards.

In contrast, street mice costing mere yuan posed a significant risk of carrying dangerous bacteria and viruses.

“My practice methods aren’t much different from the usual. I typically use white mice to practice suturing the tail vessels—plus, there’s extra intestine involved. As for other techniques, I really don’t have any.”

Zhou Can now purchased far fewer white mice.

Using them for practice no longer yielded sufficient experience—it wasn’t profitable in terms of time or money.

At his current level, performing on patients was the fastest way to earn experience.

In the past, he would buy them in batches of ten.

That would set him back two thousand yuan at a time.

The cages were charged separately.

“That’s stingy!”

Qiu Hong couldn’t believe he thought practicing only on white mice would boost his skills so quickly.

“I’m not lying.”

Zhou Can was at a loss for words.

He would never divulge the secrets of his surgical experience system.

That was his core secret.

“I don’t care—I’ll come to you for guidance whenever I need it. After all, you’re my junior brother!”

She used all her charm, acting coquettishly.

Even if Zhou weren’t willing, he had to agree.

Seeing the usually reserved Dr. Qiu, now playfully chiding the new trainee, Zhou Can couldn’t help but smile.

The other male doctors looked on enviously.

This was the kind of attention many men dream of.

Yet Zhou felt little about it,

for his girlfriend was younger, prettier, and they shared a deep bond.

A man’s upper body reflects his cultivation; his lower half, his instincts.

Only a man who can master his desires truly qualifies as a real man.

Pink sheets, heroic tombs—

Countless heroes have fallen for beauties.

Especially in our long feudal history, many literary giants were known for their romantic exploits.

This has had a lasting impact on later generations.

Even today, men fantasize about a life with countless concubines.

……

Twenty minutes later, Zhou Can and the other doctors gradually returned to the operating room.

The patient was prepped onto the operating table.

She was a colon cancer patient diagnosed after a colonoscopy and biopsy.

After reviewing the scans, Dr. Jia believed surgery was still an option.

The patient was only thirty-eight, with two children—the eldest nine and the youngest six. She was desperate to stay in this world.

She longed to grow up with her children.

She didn’t want her kids to lose their mother at such a young age.

“Dr. Jia, all doctors, nurses—please, I’m counting on you!”

The woman’s eyes were filled with a deep will to live.

Her demeanor and calmness in the face of illness revealed her remarkable composure and education.

Unlike other female patients who might feel embarrassed with only a sheet covering them,

she overcame her shyness and confidently asked the medical staff for help—a truly admirable trait.

In the operating room, however, gender didn’t matter to the doctors.

Everyone’s focus was solely on executing a flawless surgery; with the inherent risks, there was no time to worry about whether the patient was male or female.

The anesthesiologist, Dr. Guan, continued his role seamlessly,

as Zhou Can didn’t even need instructions—he stepped forward to assist on his own.

The other doctors chose merely to observe.

They could handle tubing and such,

but when it came to managing the intricate operations of the instruments, connections, and ventilator settings, none were as adept as Zhou Can.

Even some attending physicians only knew how to operate the ventilator,

without the know-how to adjust parameters flexibly.

This was because their rotation in the Critical Care Department was brief, leaving them little to learn.

But it didn’t matter—as long as they performed well later, they could earn the chance to further train in Critical Care and make up for lost knowledge.

They would properly install the oxygen mask, place the life monitor probes, secure all necessary tubes, and administer general anesthesia.

While the patient was being put under, Zhou Can began thoroughly reviewing her test reports.

Having encountered many cancer patients over the years, he was familiar with various types.

Colon cancer was among the more common ones,

especially in those with unhealthy lifestyles—poor diet, lack of exercise.

Prevention, aside from healthy eating and regular physical activity, required routine colonoscopies.

It was especially crucial if close relatives had been diagnosed with cancer.

I recall during my Cardiothoracic rotation, I saw a family where three out of five siblings had liver cancer.

Cancer, much like mice, had a tendency to cluster.

For instance, families that consumed a lot of cured meats and fried foods would have higher risks—the illness quickly spreading among them.

And then there’s genetics—an unsolved mystery to this day.

“Who will make the incision?”

Dr. Jia asked.

“I will!”

“Me, me!”

This time, the competition was fierce. While the Associate Chief and several attending physicians scrambled to volunteer,

Zhou Can didn’t even get a chance to compete for the incision.

For him, opening the abdomen was simply a way to gain a few extra incision experience points.

To become a great surgeon, one must know when to forgo minor benefits.

He had his eyes set on the more challenging tasks—intestinal separation, resection, anastomosis, or other high-difficulty procedures.

Opening the abdomen and closing it were for the others to fight over.

Since his main goal of showcasing his talent and earning Dr. Jia’s trust had been achieved,

he deliberately stepped back this time.