Chapter 38: Crisis in the Emergency Room

Deputy Director Han ran a hand through his strands of grey hair, his brow deeply furrowed.

Based on the current test results and the patient’s symptoms, her heart, liver, lungs, and other vital organs appear fine. The liver and cardiovascular checks largely rule out congenital malformations. However, the head CT near the brainstem seems to reveal an aneurysm. Additionally, her intracranial pressure is significantly elevated. I believe the cause of her fainting lies in her head.

After providing his diagnosis, he seemed a bit unsure, as if afraid he might be proven wrong.

His gaze shifted to Dr. Ai, the brunette in charge. “Dr. Ai, given this patient’s unique case—a pregnant woman—you often handle obstetric emergencies. What’s your opinion?”

The Emergency Department is a high-intensity environment.

Most female doctors simply can’t handle it.

The relentless two-day night shifts overwhelm many doctors over 35.

Dr. Ai, with her extensive general practice experience, is a rare gem in this department.

“The expectant mother shows no signs of fibroids, bleeding, or placenta previa. I lean toward a cranial cause for her fainting. Her blood pressure is dangerously high—a ticking time bomb that must be defused quickly. Plus, the fetal heart rate dropped from 116 to 105 in just minutes. This is extremely dangerous.”

Her two emphatic statements underscored that the fetus’s plight was even more critical than the mother’s.

Several senior doctors felt their hearts sink as their expressions turned even graver.

Every specialty has its own strengths.

While Deputy Director Han had roughly identified the lesion in the mother, Dr. Ai revealed that the fetus was in severe danger.

This case clearly shows the need for interdisciplinary consultations. Each doctor excels in a different field, and by working together, they can cover all bases and prevent major oversights.

Just then, Director Lou’s phone rang.

Disturbed by the interruption, he pulled out his phone, frowned at the alert, and then his expression shifted as dramatically as a changing mask.

Instantly, his face became filled with deference.

He quickly swiped the screen and answered.

He stood upright and attentive.

Judging by his reaction, it was undoubtedly a high-ranking official calling.

“Director Zhu, this is Lou Jing-shan from the Emergency Department. Awaiting your instructions,” he said.

“Understood. We’ll do everything possible to save her,” came the reply.

“So far the cause remains unclear; our preliminary assessment points to an intracranial vascular problem. The fetal heart rate has already fallen below 110, which is very dangerous.”

Director Lou briefed Director Zhu on the patient’s condition.

Normal fetal heart rates range between 120 and 160. A rate under 110 is extremely concerning.

“Roger that!”

After a brief conversation, Director Lou tucked his phone away.

“This pregnant patient is no ordinary case. Director Zhu has ordered us to spare no expense or manpower in her rescue. Departments of Neurology, General Surgery, and Obstetrics are en route with support. Everyone, let’s pull together and pinpoint the cause before the other departments arrive—or we risk further derision.”

Who exactly is this patient?

She has enough clout to prompt Director Zhu to mobilize three top-tier departments for her rescue.

Director Lou re-read her chart intently.

“Follow up with the lab immediately; the blood test results are a crucial piece of the diagnostic puzzle.”

“Understood,” came the response.

Ye Tingting dashed off to check on the blood test results.

A patient who draws Director Zhu’s personal attention is either extremely wealthy or highly influential.

Her wealth isn’t just significant—it’s colossal. Usually, even billionaires visiting Tuyu Hospital would hardly ruffle Director Zhu’s feathers, let alone provoke a department head.

Typically, individuals worth billions wield considerable influence in both political and business circles.

It’s not uncommon for them to have ties with powerful officials.

Yet, this expectant mother’s background is even more extraordinary than that of a billionaire.

Who could possibly afford to be careless with her case?

All the senior doctors shifted into high gear, eager to treat her and achieve a major breakthrough.

This was a perfect opportunity for both prestige and reward.

Zhou Can, however, wasn’t interested in accolades or currying favor.

His sole focus was earning a single point of diagnostic experience.

Over the past couple of days, shadowing Dr. Xu in the Emergency Department and Operating Room had earned him plenty of surgical experience.

Yet opportunities to gain diagnostic experience were few and far between.

Dr. Xu rarely participated in consultations, always heading straight to the rescue room or operating theater.

Zhou Can’s gaze fell on the expectant mother’s prominently rounded belly—a clear sign that the fetus was receiving ample nourishment.

He had mentally reviewed her examination data several times.

Deputy Director Han and Dr. Ai’s diagnostic conclusions were, in effect, inconclusive.

The true cause of her condition still eluded them.

Zhou Can moved to the bedside and lifted the patient’s top to examine her abdomen.

Multiple stretch marks had already appeared across her skin.

They were relatively light in color.

This suggests they had emerged only recently.

In theory, this elderly first-time mother was still in her initial pregnancy.

At 36, most women who married young are already on the verge of becoming grandmothers.

For her to be expecting her first child at this age, there are only two possibilities. Either she is a public figure who delayed childbearing to focus on her career—perhaps a film star or a high-ranking corporate executive—

or she has underlying health issues that prevented her from conceiving earlier, or caused repeated infertility.

Zhou Can felt it was crucial to determine which scenario applied.

Now that the patient was unconscious, she couldn’t answer any questions.

The elderly woman outside—could she be a relative?

Zhou Can studied the woman’s face and noted a slight resemblance to the patient.

“Dr. Xu, I’m going out to speak with her family and gather her medical history,” he announced.

“Go ahead!”

Dr. Xu agreed without hesitation.

“Any new findings, Zhou?”

Director Lou recalled that just yesterday, Zhou Can had uncovered the reason behind the child’s multiple shock episodes through family inquiries.

At that moment, with no major diagnostic progress, Director Lou pinned extra hopes on this once-acclaimed resident.

“No, nothing major. I just believe it’s essential to supplement her medical history to provide the senior doctors with a more thorough basis for diagnosis,” Zhou Can quickly denied any boast.

If none of the senior doctors could pinpoint the cause, then a resident like him should easily spot it with just a glance.

If that were the case, he wouldn’t be human—he’d be a miracle worker.

At best, his diagnostic approach simply differed from the others, picking up on clues they deemed insignificant.

When a pregnant woman faints, no doctor would waste precious time scrutinizing the stretch marks on her belly.

Zhou Can’s thought process had always been uniquely his own.

Outside the rescue room, the elderly woman anxiously awaited an update.

“Excuse me, are you a relative of Ms. Cao Qin?”

Zhou Can noticed that the old lady’s wristwatch was a vintage mechanical piece from old Shanghai.

This detail suggested she was someone who cherished the past.

“Yes, I am her mother. Please, tell me—how is my daughter?”

The elderly woman gave Zhou Can a scrutinizing glance, her demeanor cold and her presence overwhelmingly imposing.

There was no mistaking it—this old woman was no ordinary person.

“She’s still under emergency care,” he replied in his standard tone.

Zhou Can used this set phrase as his answer.

“I saw you out there watching as a group of doctors huddled around your daughter, running various tests and holding discussions, yet no real treatment was administered. Tell me the truth—no official rhetoric.”

The old woman was not one to be deceived.

Sharper and more perceptive than most relatives, she was truly astute and uncompromising.