Chapter 75

Chapter 5, Episode 75: Performance (5)

Sarang's illness is most likely meningitis.

Meningitis can be broadly categorized into viral meningitis and bacterial meningitis.

In the case of viral meningitis, many cases can recover naturally with adequate rest, similar to a common cold.

However, if it is suspected to be bacterial meningitis, as in Sarang's case, the situation changes drastically.

Bacterial meningitis can rapidly worsen within 1 to 2 hours, leading to death or severe aftereffects.

The statement that it seemed like a cold had spread among the children was one of the reasons to suspect bacterial meningitis.

This is because bacterial meningitis is an infectious disease.

Other children in the kindergarten are likely suffering similarly to Sarang by now.

That's why I hurriedly contacted the kindergarten.

The second reason to suspect bacterial meningitis was Sarang's stiff neck.

The stiffness in the neck, caused by the bacteria penetrating the meninges, was another key indicator of bacterial meningitis.

"Sarang, it's okay. You'll get better soon."

I tried to reassure Sarang, who was sitting on my lap, but it was in vain.

Sarang was shivering from chills and headaches, unable to respond to my words, only moaning continuously.

Even I, who value composure as a surgeon, was enveloped by tension and anxiety.

Dealing with patients.

And dealing with family.

These are indeed two different domains. There are reasons why surgeons are prohibited from operating on their own family or relatives.

I recalled a medical school classmate from my previous life who had suffered from viral meningitis.

My heart felt even more torn.

If the description from my classmate is accurate, how much must Sarang be suffering now?

"Patient Isarang, please come in."

The nurse's voice, which sounded like an angel's, was a bright relief.

I hurriedly entered the emergency room.

Fortunately, the emergency room was relatively quiet.

There was a middle-aged man who appeared to have collapsed due to alcohol and his guardian, and a patient who seemed to have come in due to a severe cold, coughing continuously.

There were only these two patients.

After being guided by the nurse, I sat on the bed for a while.

"Where does it hurt?"

It took almost 10 minutes for the attending physician to slowly approach me.

- Emergency Medicine Resident, Jae-wook Ma.

From his white coat, he was definitely a resident, and his relaxed attitude suggested he was at least in his second year.

If he has enough experience, he should have some sense, right?

"My sister is sick, so I'll speak for her. Her temperature was 38 degrees when we measured it at home, and she has a severe headache."

"..."

"Before coming here, she vomited, and when I touched her neck while she was lying down, it felt very stiff."

I added that there were several other children in the kindergarten with similar symptoms.

Why?

To make Jae-wook Ma suspect bacterial meningitis.

"Let's lay the patient down first. Nurse Yang, please check the patient's vital signs first."

"Okay."

Following Jae-wook Ma's instructions, the nurse checked the vital signs.

While her pulse, breathing, and blood pressure were normal, Sarang's temperature had risen to 38.3 degrees.

I was worried about Sarang's condition, and my body was also heating up.

The blood tests and chest X-ray followed.

After completing the tests and returning to the emergency room, I anxiously waited for Jae-wook Ma's diagnosis.

Would he recognize bacterial meningitis?

* * *

"The test results are in. From the lack of any significant findings, it seems the patient... has the flu."

Jae-wook Ma's casual flu diagnosis made me feel like the world was collapsing.

Why is my ominous premonition always right?

While distinguishing between the flu and meningitis is not easy, how could the on-duty doctor make a mistake when Sarang is sick?

Regardless, I couldn't stop for Sarang's recovery.

Sarang had a high probability of having bacterial meningitis, and if so, a lumbar puncture to identify the type of bacteria and administer antibiotics was necessary as soon as possible.

"Isn't the symptom too severe to be just the flu?"

"The flu can also cause severe symptoms, especially in children."

Jae-wook Ma's eyes turned cold, thinking I was being arrogant.

"Teacher, please start the 5D/S (5% dextrose in saline) for Isarang and give 1 ampule of piroxicam IM (intramuscular injection)."

"..."

"Also, apply ice packs to her body."

"Okay, doctor."

Following Jae-wook Ma's orders, the nurse began to act busily.

"I understand your concern for your sister, but since I've given the treatment, let's wait and see how she improves."

"Doctor, please perform a lumbar puncture on my sister."

"Lumbar puncture?"

Jae-wook Ma's eyes widened at my sudden request.

He probably didn't expect me to use the term "lumbar puncture."

But I took it a step further.

"Isn't there a high probability that my sister has bacterial meningitis? And I understand that a lumbar puncture is necessary to confirm meningitis."

"Are you a doctor? You look young."

Jae-wook Ma, who was wary of my use of medical terms.

"I'm not a doctor, but a medical student."

"Really, are you trying to show off in front of a second-year resident? Are you talking about bacterial meningitis in front of a second-year resident?"

Jae-wook Ma looked flabbergasted.

From his perspective, it was understandable.

To him, I was a fresh, inexperienced medical student who hadn't even graduated from medical school.

Such a student was daring to discuss diagnoses with a resident who had passed the medical licensing exam, completed internships, and was in the second year of residency.

But I also had my reasons.

Perhaps Jae-wook Ma knew that Sarang's symptoms were not normal.

However, he might have been reluctant to perform a lumbar puncture.

That is, the procedure of making a hole in the spine and extracting cerebrospinal fluid is complex and cumbersome, so he might have intentionally avoided it.

The fact that Jae-wook Ma arrived 10 minutes after the nurse called.

(Emergency medicine residents are supposed to be on duty in the emergency room, but he was likely doing something else elsewhere.)

His casual attitude when entering the treatment room was evidence of this.

"Even if the guardian requests it, you can still perform the test, right?"

"That's because unnecessary tests are not needed."

Jae-wook Ma looked down on me and spoke informally.

I was already annoyed by his casual attitude towards treating Sarang, and his informal tone made me even angrier.

"Isn't a test necessary to distinguish between the flu and meningitis?"

"..."

"Why is a necessary test considered unnecessary?"

"You're being too sensitive. Nowadays, very few people get meningitis, especially bacterial meningitis."

"Excluding something because it's impossible is different from ignoring something that is possible, right?"

"Ha... You must have watched a lot of dramas. Why is a medical student so bold?"

Now Jae-wook Ma was openly insulting me, speaking loudly enough for the nurses around to hear.

"Please perform a lumbar puncture. My sister needs the test."

I insisted on the test.

If the test is delayed, the diagnosis will be delayed.

If the diagnosis is delayed, the treatment will be delayed.

I couldn't bear to see Sarang suffer from severe aftereffects.

"No, it's not necessary. Why is a young guy making such a fuss? Which medical school are you from? Do they teach you to argue with your seniors like this?"

"Am I making an unreasonable request? Did I ask you to cure my sister in a second?"

"..."

"All I want is for you to perform a test to more accurately assess my sister's condition."

"Ha... What a nuisance, to get such a case."

Bang!

Unable to control his temper, Jae-wook Ma punched the examination table.

The atmosphere in the emergency room rapidly cooled.

"..."

"..."

For a long time, Jae-wook Ma and I glared at each other in silence. It was almost like a war, except for the lack of weapons.

"Fine, I'll do the lumbar puncture as you say. But if it's not bacterial meningitis, you'll regret it."

"..."

"Write your name and the name of your medical school on this memo paper. If the puncture shows nothing, I'll complain to your medical school."

"Okay."

A welcome response.

I calmly wrote my name and the name of Shinwon University on the memo paper.

"You crazy kid, you're pushing it too far."

Jae-wook Ma ground his teeth, realizing I was a first-year medical student.

But what could he do?

I am only a first-year medical student in name, but in reality, I am a former associate professor of thoracic surgery.

I even temporarily served as an assistant professor of emergency medicine in Busan due to the influence of Kang Tae-sub.

"Teacher Yang, please prepare the lumbar puncture set."

"Okay, doctor."

The dressing cart rattled as it approached the bed where Sarang was lying.

Soon, Jae-wook Ma, wearing surgical gloves and a mask, began the lumbar puncture.

Thanks to his two years of experience, he completed the puncture without any mistakes.

After completing the puncture, Jae-wook Ma's eyes briefly met mine.

His eyes were wild, as if he wanted to devour me, but I found his gaze absurd.

It was like a case of the pot calling the kettle black.

If a patient has symptoms as severe as Sarang's, a lumbar puncture is a standard procedure.

Why is he blaming me for doing what should be done?

I was frustrated that the reputation of good doctors is tarnished by careless doctors like Jae-wook Ma.

"Sarang, how are you feeling now?"

While waiting for the cerebrospinal fluid test results, I sat on the bed and cared for Sarang.

I applied ice packs to her feverish body.

"Brother, I feel a bit better than before."

The painkillers were starting to take effect.

It was fortunate that I was a thoracic surgeon who had returned to the past.

I confirmed that Sarang's symptoms were serious and brought her to a large hospital, and made sure she received a lumbar puncture.

If the response had been delayed...

I didn't even want to imagine the consequences.

I sat on the examination table and glared at Jae-wook Ma, who was fuming.

He probably still doesn't know what he did wrong.

Treating patients as unwelcome guests and giving them a cursory examination is a grave mistake.

As time passed, the cerebrospinal fluid test results were about to come in.

Whether Jae-wook Ma is incompetent or I am incompetent will be revealed by the test results.