Chapter 2402 - 2342: A Sense of Foreboding
Anyone who has experienced orthopedic surgery knows how troublesome dealing with bones can be. In the initial stages, because the muscles attached to the bones are firm, unlike the soft materials immediately exposed when opening the abdominal cavity, retractors cannot be inserted immediately; small tools must be used to slowly separate them.
The semi-curved forceps are currently being used to act like retractors, pulling and prying open the small incision to expose a broad view as much as possible for the doctor to operate. Even adults find it inconvenient to operate here; the limitations are even greater with children due to their small body size and bones.
Student Pan Shihua’s eyes were wide open. Having only ever seen abdominal surgeries before, this was his first experience with non-abdominal surgery, and he could indeed feel that he was undergoing an upgraded version of surgery.
Unlike him, Student Xie had experience with pediatric surgeries and had observed cardiothoracic surgeries, so she was much calmer. She directly extended her hand to the Chief Surgeon, saying, "Doctor Duan, let me help you open it."
Duan Sanbao shot her a glance and handed over the semi-curved forceps to her.
Student Pan could perceive the Chief Surgeon’s skeptical glance at Student Xie: Do you have the strength?
It turned out that during the previous instance when Student Duan Sanbao assisted Student Xie with intubation, he proactively grabbed a vascular clamp to open the incision because he was worried Student Xie lacked the strength. Using the retractors requires strength; don’t underestimate the use of curved forceps for retractors, thinking they are small and require no effort. That’s wrong; the small incision doesn’t mean the surrounding human tissue disappears. Pulling it open is no different from the surrounding human tissue, and accurately speaking, it takes more effort than using a retractor. At least retractors are easier to grasp, allowing the whole hand or even the entire body to exert force, whereas semi-curved forceps are harder to hold, requiring only the fingers to use force.
Duan Sanbao’s skepticism was reasonable, but he didn’t know that Student Xie was one of the sports champions in their class, a girl who could arm wrestle with the boys. Student Pan had a mischievous idea in his mind, quietly watching others, expecting to see them fail just like the boys in their class.
Receiving the curved forceps, Student Xie swiftly and accurately inserted the curved tip into the upper edge of the sternum, shocking everyone with her lightning-fast action.
Initially, everyone was amazed at the fierceness exhibited by her as a female; such an insertion seemed incredibly fierce. In reality, it wasn’t; she wasn’t forceful, not a hardened type, but a gentle one, identifying the precise spot and smoothly guiding down through the gap between bone and flesh. The precision of the insertion, without any obstruction, was undoubtedly faster than forceful insertion.
When everyone realized this, they were all left open-mouthed in astonishment: What?
Duan Sanbao’s round eyes became wider, a sense of unease suddenly arising in his heart.
As expected, Student Xie, while using the semi-curved forceps to keep the surgical field open, did so without any effort.
Pressure rolled off the First Assistant back onto the Chief Surgeon.
Duan Sanbao understood why the teachers preferred soothing music over passionate tunes, as the Chief Surgeon greatly needed mental balance. Sometimes, a good assistant unknowingly nudges the Chief Surgeon forward.
The nurse quickly noted that courage was no longer needed and hurried to play a soothing piano piece instead.
With the change in music, the team adjusted their mindset. What was needed now was caution and more caution. There were too many large blood vessels nearby.
The Chief Surgeon picked up the Electrosurgical Unit, cutting open the periosteum on the sternum in the exposed field and clearing the surrounding ligaments.
The First and Second Assistants, who had not cooperated with the Chief Surgeon before, suddenly heard murmuring from deep within the surgical field.
"Here lies the transverse cervical vein; on the left side at the back, there’s an unnamed vein. There are more small venous clusters here—"