The Enhanced Doctor

Recruiting reserve doctors for pediatric surgery is definitely tough.

After worrying about this for a while, Liu Banxia shrugged it off and happily went to the cafeteria for lunch, where he enjoyed the pig’s trotters that Wang Chao treated him to.

No matter if you’re rich or poor, there’s a unique flavor when someone else is treating you.

"Look at you, acting all triumphant like that. It’s just pig’s trotters, why make such a fuss?" Wang Chao said helplessly.

"Oh my, it’s so tasty, exceptionally tasty." Liu Banxia said.

"Ha, trying to tease me? You’re not quite there yet." Wang Chao replied with a smile.

"I was planning to treat you to something better. Didn’t expect just pig’s trotters would do. Don’t be polite, just enjoy it, it’s great."

"Why the change? I was wondering why everything felt a bit off today." Liu Banxia asked.

"Did you say something to Ma last time? Anyway, she feels that since we’re so close, we should start considering marriage and having kids." Wang Chao said cheerfully.

"Last night both sets of parents got together, had some snacks and tea, and decided the date. We’re getting married during the National Day celebration, but it’ll be a private family gathering without guests."

Liu Banxia gave a thumbs up, "Officer Ma doesn’t mess around, I admire that. If I’d known, I’d have made sure you’d treat me at Jingbao at least once."

"Why should I pay at your family’s restaurant?" Wang Chao asked, amused.

"It’s called keeping the profits in the family." Liu Banxia said with a grin.

"No worries, we’ll just reserve two tables at Jingbao. Given our relationship, no one will mind. It’s tricky at other venues for sure."

Wang Chao nodded, "Actually, I wanted to talk to you about this. We’re counting guests now, probably three tables. Give us a discount instead of a gift, alright?"

"Of course, just finalize the date soon. Lots of people are booking wedding banquets now, yours is slightly late." Liu Banxia reminded him.

"Ha, that’s because we’re relying on you, otherwise it’d have to be next year." Wang Chao said with a smile.

𝙛𝓻𝒆𝒆𝒘𝙚𝓫𝙣𝙤𝒗𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢

It’s true, booking a wedding banquet six months in advance at a decent place is no joke.

But with the relationship between Liu Banxia and Qiaoqiao, they’ll definitely squeeze them in. Everything must go perfectly.

After finishing lunch and returning to the emergency center, they saw Miao Rui and Liu Yiqing by the patient’s bedside, examining something.

"What’s up?"

Upon walking over, Liu Banxia asked.

"Teacher Liu, the patient just showed signs of rhabdomyolysis. We’re adjusting electrolytes and restoring acid-base balance." Miao Rui said.

"Another case of rhabdomyolysis, huh? What’s triggering it today? Any other symptoms?" Liu Banxia asked.

"No other symptoms for now. Just low blood pressure and low blood oxygen, but not too severe. We’ve given some hypertension meds and oxygen." Miao Rui replied.

"We’ve checked the wrists and ankles, didn’t find any pigmentation, which pretty much rules out adrenal insufficiency."

"Indeed, that condition could explain his movement and blood pressure issues. Did this idea come from the young patient we treated last time?" Liu Banxia asked.

Miao Rui nodded, "Patient also has headaches, nausea, and vomiting. Liu Yiqing and I suspect botulism food poisoning."

"But upon examining his mouth, we didn’t find redness, and his throat muscles are normal. Plus, he has low blood pressure and good pupil response."

"We’re currently discussing whether insect bites could have triggered these reactions. We’ve contacted his family, and he hasn’t traveled abroad."

"Oh, right. His parents will arrive soon. We plan to ask them and see if we can find anything out."

"Okay then, let’s compile the patient’s symptoms and wait for his parents to arrive. With normal pupil response, it’s unlikely there’s a current intracranial hemorrhage, but he might have suffered a brain contusion." Liu Banxia said.

This is what he worries about and finds somewhat frustrating.

Brain contusion shares similarities with pulmonary contusion but is more dangerous.

Pure brain parenchyma damage with intact pia mater is a brain contusion. Often, it coexists with brain lacerations and is sometimes called brain contuse-laceration.

Falls, impacts, explosions, among others, could lead to brain contuse-laceration.

Based on current symptoms, brain contusion is quite likely; initial symptoms align well.

Fortunately, it was diagnosed early; after electrolyte adjustments, no acute kidney injury occurred, and blood pressure and oxygen levels improved.

However, this condition might only be temporary unless the underlying cause is found, current treatments are merely symptomatic.

"Teacher Liu, these are the patient’s parents."

Liu Banxia was reading pediatric surgery materials when Miao Rui brought over a couple.

"Has he shown any unusual behavior lately? Like frequently stumbling at home; and how is his alcohol tolerance typically?" Liu Banxia asked.

"He’s always been fine, and Dahua likes to keep clean," said the patient’s mother.

"Doctor, this doctor just mentioned, could the fall have caused some issue with his head? If so, should we do that brain enhancement thing as well?"

"Let’s wait and see for now," Liu Banxia said.

"We’re considering it because we’re worried he might have a blood clot inside his skull. But his pupil response is good now, there’s no problem yet."

"Think carefully, he should have gone home for the New Year, right? Was there any abnormal behavior during that period? Because his current condition shows he had some unsteadiness in walking before he fell."

The couple glanced at each other and shook their heads, "Dahua returned home on the second day of the new year and didn’t stay long, saying work was busy here."

Liu Banxia scratched his head, hoping to get some information from the patient’s family, but it seems there’s nothing.

"No choice, let’s check the immune system. Then examine the patient’s body surface to see if it’s an immune system disease," Liu Banxia suggested after thinking.

Given the patient’s unsteady gait appeared earlier, his condition certainly predates the head trauma.

It differs from the case this morning, which seemed a suspected inherited mitochondrial disease; that patient was in a traffic accident and suffered lung contusion from it.

"Teacher Liu, we’ve just received the news; that patient indeed has hereditary mitochondrial disease."

Miao Rui had just led the patient’s parents out when Liu Yiqing came running over.

Ding! Task for serious injury manifestations completed.

Gained 200 experience points, Glory Points +15.

Rating for this task is perfect, earning 400 experience points, 1 stabilized stone, 5 Glory Points +20.

The system’s rewards are quite miserly.

The experience points are abundant, but the Glory Points have significantly shrunk.

But now, there’s a sense of relief. Although this illness is incurable and a genetic disorder, it can be controlled.

Before Liu Yiqing could leave, Miao Rui rushed back in.

"What’s wrong? Did you find something?" Liu Banxia asked.

"Teacher Liu, the patient has several scar tissues on his leg and left arm. Isn’t this unusual?" Miao Rui asked.

Liu Banxia frowned; this situation is indeed peculiar.

Unless the person frequently fights, it’s unlikely they’d have so many scars, generating such scar tissue.

Putting down the book, Liu Banxia followed Miao Rui to the patient’s bedside.

Just as Miao Rui described, the patient has an unusual amount of scar tissue, yet they aren’t like scars following stitched injuries.

"How did he get these scars?" Liu Banxia asked the patient’s parents.

"We don’t know either; when he returns home, he stays for a short time, doesn’t bathe at home, and keeps clean, using his own tableware," the patient’s mother said.

"By ’clean’, do you mean he uses only his own utensils?" Liu Banxia suddenly became tense.

The patient’s mother nodded, "Yes, he said we should start using communal chopsticks and developed the habit."

Liu Banxia’s heart skipped a beat; this could be bad. Sweat started appearing on his forehead.

He glanced at Miao Rui; fortunately, everyone was wearing gloves.

Signaling everyone with his eyes, he walked outside the curtain, "This patient needs isolation; ensure protective measures are taken, and send him to an isolation ward, then test for syphilis-related conditions."

"Alright."

Hearing his words, the nearby nurse quickly responded and called others to assist.

"You two, disinfect yourselves thoroughly," Liu Banxia advised Miao Rui and Liu Yiqing.

"Teacher Liu, we’re wearing gloves and masks, and we use hand sanitizer," Liu Yiqing replied.

"Good, go ahead; safety first," Liu Banxia nodded.

"Doctor, what did you say? Are you suggesting Dahua has syphilis?" The patient’s mother became unsettled.

Even those who aren’t doctors know syphilis is severe; how can one face others afterward?

"The evidence is clear; don’t worry, wait for the laboratory tests; we’ll expedite them," Liu Banxia tried to reassure.

His heart was chaotic as well, because the patient’s current indications and what their mother said were glaringly evident.