My Medical Skills Give Me Experience Points Chapter 1212: 479: Strange Pregnant Woman—Fetal Heartbeat, No Imaging
Previously on My Medical Skills Give Me Experience Points...
“Dr. Zhou, is open-heart surgery necessary for my brother?”
The sister of the patient, who stood close by, only grasped part of what was said and felt deeply anxious about her brother’s care.
Her family’s financial situation was poor, and she had recently finished school, now serving as an intern at a firm.
She hadn’t completed her trial period yet, earning a meager monthly wage. In these times, many shady employers stretch internships beyond three months, sometimes dragging on for over a year.
Interns receive no bonuses; they’re stuck with just the bare minimum salary, which has become the norm.
Since labor costs for interns are far cheaper than for full-timers, numerous hospitals and institutions prefer extended probation phases.
Hospitals top the list of the worst, often requiring a full year of interning, which basically means free labor.
They might even have to pay the hospital out of pocket.
The subsequent three years of residency offer only the lowest base pay.
Countless bachelor’s and master’s graduates end up as low-cost workers for more than four years.
“Based on the patient’s recovery signs after the operation, things look somewhat promising. However, no one can foresee the ultimate result.” Zhou Can delivered a standard doctor’s response.
He first offered hope to the patient and relatives, then noted the uncertainty of the end result.
…
Upon returning from the Cardiothoracic Surgery department and entering the Emergency Department’s entrance hall, a call came from Dr. Xie at the triage station.
“Dr. Zhou, Dr. Zhou! This expectant mother was in a terrible car crash with serious wounds. Kindly advise on the next steps!”
Zhou Can glanced around and noticed that while he was away in Cardiothoracic Surgery, multiple accident victims had arrived. Healthcare workers dashed back and forth through the emergency area; those in critical condition were undoubtedly getting immediate attention.
The expectant mother’s condition proved quite challenging.
She appeared gravely hurt, covered in blood with a prominently swollen abdomen. The baby inside was probably at eight or nine months of development.
Zhou Can lacked expertise in gynecology.
Deciding on a C-section for the infant required evaluation from obstetric experts.
“Were the initial vital signs assessed?”
“We checked her temperature, blood pressure, pulse, and breathing. Her pressure is a bit elevated, pulse rapid, breaths shallow, but other aspects appear fine. From initial inspection, her right leg seems broken, there’s lower body bleeding, and she has scrapes of different severity on her back, right shoulder, and right arm. A clear bruise and swelling mark her forehead.”
Dr. Xie had performed just the fundamental examinations.
This represents a frequent issue with inexperienced physicians who stick rigidly to protocol.
Seasoned practitioners pose precise inquiries and carry out focused assessments.
“Did you monitor the baby’s heart rate?”
“Not yet! Though I used a stethoscope to listen, and it sounded okay.”
Dr. Xie paused briefly before replying.
“Start with an abdominal ultrasound right away! Run a blood panel immediately! Her right leg requires an X-ray for sure; if she reports dizziness, head pain, or any mental changes, a brain CT would be ideal.”
Zhou Can provided some advice to Dr. Xie.
“There’s bleeding down there; shouldn’t we handle that priority?”
Dr. Xie worried mainly about the child in the woman’s womb.
“Ultrasound comes first to understand the belly’s status clearly, then we move to other treatments. Push the blood work urgently; whenever these cases arrive, blood tests are the top priority. If it turns out to be syphilis or something like it, early detection is key. Plus, with the bleeding, we need her blood type fast for any needed transfusions.”
When Zhou Can referenced “Syphilis,” he referred to the disease syphilis.
Clinicians on the front lines dread infections from syphilis and HIV the most.
Around patients, doctors and nurses commonly use euphemisms for delicate matters.
The primary goal is to sidestep patient complaints and prevent conflicts in healthcare.
“Yes, summon an obstetrics expert for a consult without delay.”
With that, Zhou Can proceeded straight to the surgery suite.
Thanks to his advanced Director-level Hemostasis expertise, he could tell from his earlier glance that the hemorrhage wasn’t as bad as it seemed. No imminent risk to her life appeared present.
Additionally, something else troubled him.
Observing the woman’s features, she lacked the usual signs of pregnancy. Normally, hormonal shifts during gestation alter a woman’s look.
Yet this patient showed no such alterations.
He guided Dr. Xie to test the woman’s blood levels because, with his Director-level Hemostasis ability and Level 5 Pathology Diagnosis skill, a peculiar vibe surrounded her.
In medical practice, unique cases pop up frequently.
Cases involving syphilis and HIV rank high in commonality.
For these people, even skilled healthcare pros sometimes fail to spot the contagious illnesses just by looks.
…
Inside the operating theater, after completing three procedures, Zhou Can received word from Dr. Xie via Ma Xiaolan, who passed on that the pregnant lady had come back positive for both syphilis and HIV.
Among the casualties arriving with her, three more screened positive for those viruses.
The emergency team broke out in a cold sweat from fear.
Since one of the people they were treating was among that trio.
Bloodborne spread ranks as one of the riskiest infection routes.
In the heat of saving lives, the staff hadn’t considered it much; urgent interventions naturally meant exposure to the patient’s blood. No one had on protective equipment, not even basic gloves.