Chapter 66

Chapter 4: One Step Further (1)

Thanks to the resident's intervention, it seemed that Ahn Tae-hwan's treatment was proceeding smoothly.

First, epinephrine was administered via intramuscular injection, a drug I was very familiar with.

As a cardiac stimulant, it helps activate the heart of a patient in cardiac arrest.

While epinephrine is a drug frequently used during surgery, it is also one that I would rather not use often.

The need to use epinephrine means the patient is in a critical condition.

Additionally, epinephrine is often used to reduce allergic reactions in patients like Ahn Tae-hwan, who are experiencing anaphylaxis.

However, the obstacle arose when trying to secure an IV line for the 0.9% saline solution.

The inexperienced intern failed to find a suitable vein, and this happened three times in a row.

"Ah... It hurts so much."

Ahn Tae-hwan, who had been enduring the pain of anaphylaxis, finally voiced his discomfort.

The faces of his family members, who had been watching from behind, darkened.

"I'm sorry. I'll finish quickly and make sure it doesn't hurt."

"Doctor, please do your best."

"Yes, I'll succeed this time."

The intern confidently held the catheter, but the result was another failure.

As the IV line was connected, Ahn Tae-hwan's arm began to swell.

It was a disaster caused by the medical needle piercing the vein.

"Ah... Why is this happening?"

The intern muttered under his breath and stomped his feet.

Not only Ahn Tae-hwan and his family, but the intern's heart was also burning with anxiety.

I didn't particularly want to blame the intern.

This intern had been working at the hospital for less than a month after obtaining his medical license.

It would have been strange if he had performed well from the start.

I, too, had made many mistakes during my internship, so I felt sorry for him.

He had to endure criticism from seniors and even the disapproving glances of nurses.

Interns are at the bottom of the hospital hierarchy.

"......"

After failing to secure the IV line four times, the intern hesitated about the next step.

His confidence must have dropped significantly.

He probably felt he had no face to show Ahn Tae-hwan and his family.

It was time for me to step in to make everyone happy.

"Doctor, can I have a word with you?"

I lured the intern to a spot a little away from the bed.

"I'm a fourth-year medical student, and while I may not be good at other things, I'm excellent at securing IV lines. I received a lot of praise during my clinical rotations."

"......"

"Doctor, if you don't mind, can I try to secure the IV line? The patient is in pain, and you seem to be struggling too..."

I lied, saying I was a fourth-year student.

If I were close to someone, I would use the word "genius" and boldly take action, but I couldn't do that with someone I just met.

"No, even if you're a fourth-year student, you can't just perform procedures in the hospital."

The intern flatly rejected my offer.

His pride hadn't completely died yet.

"What's the difference between me, a clinical student, practicing in the hospital and securing an IV line in the emergency room?"

"That's......"

"Doctor, if you fail to secure the IV line one more time, the patient's family won't stay quiet."

"......"

"And if you pass the responsibility to the resident, you'll be harassed all day."

"......"

"If you ask the nurse, they might ignore you."

I spoke rapidly.

I could do this because I had experienced the same situation during my internship.

Being sandwiched between the patient's family and seniors is truly a terrifying and fearful experience.

"Even if I hand over the IV line to someone else, the family won't stay quiet..."

The intern was starting to fall for my persuasion.

He seemed to realize the severity of his situation.

"Take the family to the examination table for a moment. Tell them you have something to say. I'll check the surroundings and secure the IV line while you're gone."

"......"

"The patient is in pain and has his eyes closed, so there won't be any problems."

"Ah... I'm going to go crazy."

The intern sighed deeply.

He was lost in thought, his hand on his forehead.

Handing over the IV line to a medical student he had just met was not an easy decision.

If I failed to secure the IV line, the intern would bear a greater responsibility.

Of course, that wouldn't happen.

"Well, since I'm already in a dead end, I might as well take a gamble."

The intern's voice sounded resigned.

"Can you really do it? I'm counting on you."

"Of course. This will be the best decision you make today."

We returned to Ahn Tae-hwan's bed as planned.

The intern led Ahn Tae-hwan's three family members to the examination table, saying he had something to discuss.

Ahn Tae-hwan had his eyes covered with his arm, and the emergency room staff were busy with a new patient.

The opportunity was now.

Ahn Tae-hwan, his family, and the intern, who was in a difficult position, all depended on me to be happy.

Swish, swish, swish.

I wiped my hands with an alcohol swab and disinfected Ahn Tae-hwan's vein for the IV line.

I tightly tied his left upper arm with a tourniquet.

With no hesitation, I held the catheter, which I had used for over 40 years.

I stretched the vein taut with my left index finger.

I inserted the catheter at a 15-degree angle with one smooth motion.

Pop!

The feeling of the vein being punctured was vividly transmitted to my fingertips.

'This is nothing.'

5-0 suture thread.

I had performed microvascular anastomosis with sutures as thin as a hair.

CABG (coronary artery bypass graft)

I had sutured coronary arteries while the heart was still beating.

Securing an IV line was nothing.

After confirming the blood droplet at the end of the catheter, I removed the tourniquet and needle and connected the IV line.

The fluid dripped steadily.

I secured the IV line with a skin-colored bandage, and the procedure was complete.

Without exaggeration, I secured the IV line in 10 seconds.

No one saw me do it because I moved like lightning.

With the IV line successfully secured, no one needed to suffer anymore.

Ahn Tae-hwan didn't need to be in pain.

His family didn't need to worry.

The intern didn't need to fear being scolded by Ahn Tae-hwan's family and seniors.

A small but happy ending for everyone was achieved.

"Doctor, the nurse has already set up the IV line."

I moved to the examination table and said a word.

The intern let out a sigh of relief at my success.

The tense faces of Ahn Tae-hwan's family gradually relaxed.

I understood the pain of a patient and their guardian when medical staff fail to secure an IV line.

And the anxiety and frustration of the medical staff because of it.

In this life, with a broader heart, I felt I could be a better doctor than in my previous life.

* * *

"Thank you, and I'm also sorry. Thanks to you, I survived."

After the procedure, the intern called me aside to express his gratitude.

His relieved face was a pleasure to see.

"If it weren't for you, I would have been scolded by the patient's family or the resident."

"......"

"I almost died and came back to life."

"I'm not good at anything else, but I'm good at securing IV lines. Anyway, I'm glad I could help you."

"But you really are good at securing IV lines. The veins were so thin and fragile."

The intern was right.

Ahn Tae-hwan was the type of patient that interns and nurses often avoided when trying to secure an IV line.

His veins were not only hard to see but also prone to bursting.

It was a challenging task for a new intern.

If I hadn't stepped in, the intern would have likely failed again on his fourth attempt.

"That's because of experience......"

I realized my slip of the tongue and closed my mouth.

In the current situation, I was a clinical student.

I couldn't have more experience in securing IV lines.

"......if you gain more experience, your skills will improve. I guess I have a natural talent for it. It just came naturally to me."

"I'm envious of that talent. Anyway, thank you so much. Let's have a drink."

"I'll enjoy it."

After taking the coffee the intern offered, I returned to Ahn Tae-hwan's bed.

After receiving epinephrine and saline solution, Ahn Tae-hwan's symptoms were improving.

The intermittent groans that had escaped through his parted lips had stopped.

His eyes, which had been closed since entering the emergency room, were now open.

"Senior, are you feeling better?"

"I'm feeling much better now. It's all thanks to you. If I had gone home thinking it was nothing, it could have been a disaster."

Ahn Tae-hwan's voice was more relaxed.

"......"

"You're not just called a genius for nothing. You even know about unusual anaphylaxis."

"Where there's smoke, there's fire. Everything happens for a reason."

"Damn, you're making jokes. Anyway, thank you and I'm sorry. Not only So-hye, but I owe you too."

"Believe it, you saved our family."

"Thank you, Believe."

"Thank you, brother."

The praise and gratitude from Ahn Tae-hwan's family continued.

I scratched the back of my head, feeling a bit embarrassed.

While whales might not dance when praised, I felt shy when praised.

After all, I had only done what was necessary.

My gaze briefly lingered on Ahn So-hye.

While Ahn Tae-hwan was receiving all the attention from his family due to his anaphylaxis, Ahn So-hye had been pushed to the background.

'Maybe this is for the best.'

I thought.

Ahn So-hye seemed to have temporarily forgotten her own pain while worrying about her brother.

"I'll keep an eye on Senior Tae-hwan. Why don't the three of you go to a nearby café and talk? You must have a lot to discuss."

"That would be too much trouble......"

"Don't worry. Think of it as a free service with your tutoring."

I jokingly urged the family to leave the emergency room.

While Ahn Tae-hwan needed physical treatment, Ahn So-hye needed emotional healing.

And the ones who could provide that were her family, not me.

"Senior, close your eyes and get some rest."

"I feel much better, but can't I just go home?"

"Just in case, we need to monitor you. You should stay in the hospital for 3-4 hours."

"If Dr. Believe orders it, I'll comply. But won't you be bored?"

"I like zoning out."

"Your taste is unique. Then, I'll sleep soundly."

"Sure, get some rest."

Ahn Tae-hwan soon fell asleep, and I casually surveyed the emergency room.

The staff moved briskly between the beds.

The sound of the dressing cart clattered, and the shouts of a difficult patient echoed.

The emergency room was inherently a chaotic place.

Come to think of it, the first place I worked after becoming an intern was the emergency room.

Lost in various thoughts, I did some neck, back, shoulder, and wrist stretches in sequence.

I needed to get used to stretching from now on.

In my previous life, I had suffered greatly from cervical and lumbar disc problems and carpal tunnel syndrome.

Looking down at the soundly sleeping Ahn Tae-hwan, I was lost in other thoughts.