Chapter 53: Autumn (1)

"Are you saying it's over?"

The thoracic surgery fellow, who had run over in about 10 minutes, gasping for breath, asked with a look of disbelief.

Although he was a bit older, Dr. Lee Hyun-jong, who was more agile than the physically challenged Su-hyuk, nodded.

He had long since taken off his surgical gown and was now just removing his undershirt.

In stark contrast, Su-hyuk was still struggling to move, hobbling along.

"Yeah, it's over. See? The last one I did."

"Huh..."

The thoracic surgery fellow, being an expert in cardiac matters, could immediately understand what was shown on the monitor.

"Unbelievable... You went into another vessel in that state? Even with the vessel twisted like that?"

From the video, it was clear that this was a coronary artery structure the fellow had never seen before.

Starting from one coronary artery, it branched into three?

And the vessel heading to the left was twisted vertically and horizontally?

It was a shape he had never seen in textbooks.

Thus, his voice was filled with reproach.

"Did you just go ahead and do it, knowing it could be fatal?"

"Yeah, well... It's your first time seeing something like this, isn't it? This is from 1994."

Dr. Lee Hyun-jong, however, was shamelessly giving a casual response.

He was so shameless that even Su-hyuk, who had been silently listening from behind, was taken aback.

Of course, Baruda wasn't much different from Su-hyuk.

[1994? No way?]

"Dr. Lee..."

[He's a fraud, isn't he?]

"Yeah..."

Su-hyuk didn't interject, though.

He had enough sense not to.

"1994? What's that...?"

This was a case even Dr. Lee Hyun-jong didn't know about.

A second-year fellow wouldn't have known about it either.

If Su-hyuk hadn't been forced to accumulate data due to Baruda, he wouldn't have bothered to look it up.

"Of course you don't know. You should study more when you have time to operate."

"Huh..."

Dr. Lee Hyun-jong continued, ignoring Su-hyuk's bewildered expression.

"There's a place called the University of Irvine. It's near LA. Know it?"

"No, I don't."

"You should know the hospital names too. Anyway, they published a case in 1994. It's a mortality case."

A mortality case refers to a patient who died despite being treatable.

Naturally, it was highly significant.

The fellow's expression changed slightly from before.

'I thought he just went ahead recklessly...'

Dr. Lee Hyun-jong, who was appointed as a distinguished professor due to his significant standing in the hospital, wasn't well-regarded in the thoracic surgery department.

In fact, he wasn't well-regarded in the cardiology department either, back in the day.

It was because he was considered too reckless.

But to bring up a case...

The fellow was a bit taken aback.

"At that time, I wasn't actively publishing papers, and stents weren't widely used yet."

Dr. Lee Hyun-jong chuckled, looking at the fellow.

His face was full of pride, and he had every right to be.

He was one of the pioneers who popularized stent procedures worldwide.

"So when a heart attack came, we always tried to open it. You know, if there's an anatomical variation, the surgery becomes more difficult."

"Yes."

"Moreover, it takes a lot of time to open and do the procedure."

"Y-Yes."

"The patient in that case died during the procedure. It's not a criticism of thoracic surgery. Do you understand?"

"Yes."

Dr. Lee Hyun-jong, who was eating in front of him, said this.

The fellow was seething inside.

'No... If they mess up, we always have to clean up the mess...'

Even Dr. Lee Hyun-jong, who was right in front of him, had asked for help a few times.

For a cardiologist, it was almost a fate to deal with such situations.

But to see him like this...

It made sense why Dr. Lee Hyun-jong was considered a public enemy in thoracic surgery.

"The anatomy in that case was exactly the same as this patient's. It's not a mutation but a very rare anatomical variation."

"Huh..."

"So I knew what I was getting into. Studying beforehand helps in situations like this."

"Yes..."

"Anyway, thanks for coming. Since the patient is saved, you can take a break. You can sit here if you want."

Dr. Lee Hyun-jong said this and then turned to Su-hyuk.

'Look at this guy...'

Su-hyuk was genuinely surprised.

He himself had known nothing about 1994 until just a moment ago, yet he could act so naturally.

[He's really smart. He can spin a story so well.]

'Yeah. If he weren't a doctor, he'd be a con artist.'

Dr. Lee Hyun-jong, unaware of Su-hyuk's thoughts, chuckled.

The fellow had already returned to his department.

"Let's move the patient to the ICU."

"Yes, Professor. Intern, please help me."

Su-hyuk, following the order, pulled the bed with the intern.

His leg condition made it difficult to pull the bed.

Dr. Lee Hyun-jong, noticing this, helped pull the bed.

While doing so, he continued talking.

"By the way... What's going on with you and Professor Kim Jin-sil?"

"Oh, the research... I mean, the fellowship next year?"

Su-hyuk, about to mention the fellowship, glanced at the intern and quickly changed his words.

The intern wouldn't know the details, but it was better to be cautious.

'He's really thorough.'

To Dr. Lee Hyun-jong, who was already infatuated, Su-hyuk looked overly good.

"Right."

"I've proposed an experimental research project."

"Experiment? What? Oh, let's continue this after we settle the patient."

"Yes, Professor."

Before they knew it, they had reached the internal medicine ICU.

As soon as they entered, the pungent smell of disinfectant hit their noses.

There was a bed ready, thanks to the radiologists who had already made the arrangements.

Dr. Lee Hyun-jong, satisfied, placed the patient in the bed.

"Write the prescription like this. Yeah, that's it. Good job?"

Meanwhile, Su-hyuk, now the attending physician, quickly organized the ventilator and wrote the prescription.

It was so fast that the 'dudu' sound was apt.

Dr. Lee Hyun-jong, watching this, tilted his head.

'Has he worked under me before? How does he only use the medications I like?'

It was thanks to Baruda's analytical skills.

By comparing and analyzing Dr. Lee Hyun-jong's prescriptions over the past month, Baruda could create prescriptions that almost perfectly matched Dr. Lee Hyun-jong's preferences.

It was only natural that Dr. Lee Hyun-jong was pleased.

To what extent?

"Hey, Su-hyuk."

"Yes."

"Does the project with Professor Kim Jin-sil take a lot of time?"

"Huh? Well... The experiment itself doesn't take long, but Professor Kim Jin-sil is busy. We might only be able to start in the winter."

"Is that so?"

Dr. Lee Hyun-jong didn't ask what the experiment was.

'If it's Kim Jin-sil... She's a paper-writing machine.'

Originally, Lee Ha-yeon, the pioneer in radiology, had slowed down due to age and administrative duties, but now there was a replacement.

'She'll do well on her own.'

More papers are always better.

Dr. Lee Hyun-jong, thinking this, spoke.

"Then let's prepare a presentation for the autumn conference."

"Autumn conference?"

"Right. Has anyone asked you to submit an abstract yet? It's been a year."

Dr. Lee Hyun-jong asked, not sure.

It was unlikely that a first-year would be given a presentation at the autumn conference.

But Su-hyuk wasn't just a first-year.

He was a target for both Shin Hyun-tae and Jo Tae-jin.

"No."

"Good. Let's prepare one with this case."

"Ah..."

Neither Su-hyuk nor Baruda had ever written a paper, only read them.

Even after seeing the case just now, they had no idea how to start.

[What kind of paper?]

'It's probably a case report.'

[Does a case report help much in becoming a professor?]

'No... Many places don't even count case reports as papers.'

A conference presentation might be possible, but a paper was out of the question.

Case reports were published in reputable journals decades ago, but times have changed.

[Then it would be a waste of effort with no gain. Let's refuse.]

'How do you refuse the professor?'

[If Su-hyuk refuses, he might accept.]

'That's...'

So, they started discussing how to tactfully refuse.

Of course, Dr. Lee Hyun-jong, who was always oblivious to others' thoughts, didn't notice.

He just kept talking.

"Can you find the 1994 paper? Use it as a reference and show that this is an anatomical variation, not a mutation. It could end up in a textbook."

"A textbook?"

This was a surprising statement to Su-hyuk.

[Is my hearing bad?]

'No?'

[It doesn't seem so.]

'Then a real textbook?'

Dr. Lee Hyun-jong, seeing Su-hyuk's bewildered expression, nodded.

"Right. A textbook. It has the NEJM feel."

"But it only has two citations?"

"It's about an anatomical variation that's never been mentioned. I don't even know about it. Such things are always published."

"Wow... In NEJM... I..."

"Right. You want to be a professor, don't you? This will definitely help. Even if it doesn't count, it will still help. NEJM. NEJM. You know? Shin Hyun-tae hasn't written one yet. Don't tell him. He's petty. More than you think."

"Yes, Professor. Definitely. I'll definitely do it."

"Good, then... Hmm..."

Dr. Lee Hyun-jong took out his wristwatch from his pocket, which he had removed during the procedure, and looked at Su-hyuk again.

Specifically, at Su-hyuk's leg and the cane he was holding.

"10 minutes. See me in my office in 10 minutes. Write the abstract right away for the autumn conference."

"Huh? Right away?"

"Since we're talking about it, let's do it right away."

"The abstract..."

"It's not difficult. You can do it once you see it. See you later."

"Ah, yes. I understand, Dr. Lee."

Su-hyuk, watching the professor's retreating back, muttered to himself.

'NEJM...'

It was still an absurdly distant goal.

But it felt like he was a bit closer to being one of the world's best doctors.