Chapter 103
Chapter 103
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Translator: crow
Chapter Title: Assassin (4)
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Dash.
My butt hadn't even touched the seat before my fingers snatched the mouse.
'Okay, let's recap. Recap.'
The thoracic surgery call was over.
All that was left was waiting for the patient to return safely from CT, and in the meantime, prepping meds just in case of any mishaps.
I refreshed the EMR screen.
...
My eyes scrolling down stopped on one line.
[Labetalol HCl (Labesin) 20mg IV push (Dr. Baek Eun-seo)]
"Oh...."
An exclamation slipped out before I knew it.
While I'd been tangled up with thoracic surgery and reviewing the ultrasound with the professor, Baek Eun-seo had already entered the order.
'Eun-seo, you're starting to look like a real doctor.'
When aortic dissection is suspected, the first thing to do is lower blood pressure and heart rate.
You have to reduce the pressure battering the vessel wall to slow the tearing.
That's why beta-blockers are top priority.
"Dose of 20mg. Spot on."
I was nodding in relief when—
"..."
A chill ran down my spine from behind.
I turned to see Professor Cheon Eun-jeong staring daggers at the monitor screen, arms crossed.
The rhythm of her fingers tapping her arm was picking up speed.
"No, when's this CT coming up...."
Professor Cheon's eyes flicked to the clock in the bottom right of the monitor, then back to the PACS screen, then to the clock again, nonstop.
"It's been over five minutes since it went down. Elevator broken? Or did they blow the line? Why isn't it loading?"
"Professor."
I called out to her cautiously.
She looked ready to punch through the monitor.
"What."
"Maybe they just got into the CT room? Time-wise, waiting for the elevator, wheeling the patient bed down, positioning, securing the contrast line...."
I laid out the most reasonable timeline to calm her down.
"The aorta's tearing inside the patient's gut—elevator's the issue? Argh, forget the official read; just send the images already. Come on. Please."
Professor Cheon turned back to the monitor, groaning.
We just need the images.
Before radiology's official report, if we spot the torn intima with our own eyes, we can rush straight to the OR.
Every minute, every second counts.
"Just hang in there a bit longer."
I kept my calm and changed the subject.
"Did the beta-blocker go in?"
Professor Cheon asked abruptly, as if it just hit her.
"Blood pressure can't spike. It's already tearing, and if the heart starts pounding, it'll rip more. It was 110 earlier."
"Yes. It's in."
I pointed at the monitor screen.
"Eun-seo must've ordered it. Probably injected right before heading down to CT."
The administration log was timestamped.
"Dose?"
You can't just wing it.
Too little, no effect. Too much, hypotension drops coronary perfusion, and the already shaky right ventricle could flatline.
"Right there. Labesin 20mg IV. Appropriate initial dose. As far as I know, it's correct...."
Professor Cheon leaned in close to the monitor.
Then straightened up and gave a curt nod.
"Yeah, it is."
Only then did her rigid shoulders ease a fraction.
"Not bad for a first-year. Handles this stuff without being told. Better than you?"
"...Is that so."
Credit where it's due.
"Kidding."
And so we stared endlessly at the blinking cursor and the empty image list.
Please.
Please don't let it rupture during the scan.
That was the only thought.
"By the way, Hyun-jae, what're you doing?"
Professor Cheon, fed up with glaring at the monitor, scolded me.
I had the station phone to my ear, punching buttons nonstop.
"Oh, what you asked earlier. Contacting the guardian. It's the son's number..."
Beep. Beep. Beep...
It was ringing, but no answer.
Third try already.
"But... it's a 051 emergency room number, so they think it's spam and ignore it. World's gone scary these days."
At my earnest analysis, Professor Cheon sighed deeply and pinched her brow.
"God, dude... Tried their cell? They pick up 010 numbers. Are you an idiot?"
"...Aha!"
I pulled my phone from my pocket.
Why didn't I think of that.
"How does a kid like this get called a genius...."
*Ahem.*
Ignoring Professor Cheon's lament, I dialed the guardian on my cell.
Riiiing—
They picked up before the second ring.
The power of 010.
[Hello?]
A young man's voice, groggy like he'd just woken up.
"Hello. Sorry for the late hour. This is Busan Cheongjin University Hospital Emergency Room."
[What? Emergency room?]
The sleep vanished from his voice in an instant.
"Are you Son Jeong-sin's son?"
[Yes, yes. What's going on?]
"Your father was rushed to the ER. Sorry, but you need to come to the emergency room right now—as fast as possible."
[My dad?]
"Yes. He came in with chest pain and shortness of breath. Exam suggests a critical emergency: strong suspicion of aortic dissection."
No point sugarcoating; it'd waste time.
Gotta convey the urgency fast.
"We may need to go straight to emergency surgery once CT confirms. We'll need surgical consent, and the situation's dire. Just get to the ER as quick as you can."
Rustling and frantic movement came through the receiver.
[Okay! Got it! Heading out now!]
[But doctor, I'm in Gimhae right now... Even flooring it, it'll take 30 minutes. I might be late. If surgery's needed, I'll consent. Verbal consent over the phone for now.]
Smart guardian.
"Understood. We'll proceed with verbal consent. Sign the papers when you arrive. Drive safe, but hurry."
[Yes! Be there soon! Thank you!]
Click.
I hung up and nodded to Professor Cheon.
"Guardian contacted. On the way, verbal consent for surgery secured."
"Good job."
Professor Cheon turned back to the monitor.
PACS was still silent.
Staring at that black screen made my blood run cold.
"Professor."
"What."
"Before heading to the OR, BP and heart rate management..."
We had Labesin, but where to target BP? Add esmolol if it spikes en route? The fine details worried me.
"Should I go check the CT room myself...."
Instead of answering, Professor Cheon fidgeted in her seat.
Anxiety at its peak.
She looked ready to bolt.
"Eun-seo's there. She's sharp. Handled the Labesin preemptively. She'll manage."
"Still a first-year."
"I handled something similar my first year."
"You and her? You're the mutant."
Professor Cheon grumbled but sat back down.
Her fingers drummed the desk relentlessly.
Tap.
Tap.
Tap.
They synced eerily with my heartbeat when—
Ding~
An alert chimed from the station computer.
A new line appeared in the PACS list.
[ER187703 Son Jeong-sin / M / 52 / CTA Aorta]
"It's up."
Professor Cheon barked reflexively.
"Click it quick. Hurry!"
"Got it."
She's impatient.
I gripped the mouse tight and double-clicked the line.
Loading bar spun.
1 second. 2 seconds.
3 seconds later, a high-res chest CT slice filled the monitor.
"..."
Professor Cheon and I held our breath together.
No need to wait for radiology's report.
Any ER doc—no, any med student on rotation—could see it. Crystal clear. Horrifying.
Ascending aorta.
The body's largest, toughest vessel, pumping fresh blood from the heart everywhere.
Dead center, it was split wide open.
The intima had torn, creating a thin flap dividing the vessel into dual lumens.
"Type A...."
Professor Cheon muttered.
"Right here...."
I pointed at the monitor.
The entrance to the right coronary artery, feeding the heart muscle.
A flap of dissected intima fluttered precariously, barely blocking it.
Ding-dong—
Then, the ER elevator doors opened. A man in scrubs dashed toward the station.
No need to check who.
Only one person dashes like that at this hour.
Still, for courtesy, I glanced at the name on his left chest.
[Cardiothoracic Sur...]
Thoracic surgery's here.
No need to read the rest.
I shot up from my seat.
"Ah, CS doc!"
"Yeah, yeah, is the CT up for that patient?"
Kang Min-seong panted, lunging for the monitor.
"It's up... See for yourself."
I just pointed silently.
Kang Min-seong's eyes locked on the screen.
"...Ah."
A short sigh.
That one word held everything.
'We're screwed' 'Can we save him' 'There goes tonight's sleep'
"Call CT to send straight to OR?"
Kang Min-seong nodded vigorously.
"Yes, please. I'll contact the OR now. Anesthesia team's ready; we can go up immediately."
He gave me a quick nod, pulled his phone, and stepped away.
I grabbed the intercom and dialed CT extension.
Beep beep beep beep.
Riiiing—
"CT room."
"Emergency Medicine, Han Hyun-jae. 187703—bypass ER, straight to OR on 3. Thoracic surgery approved."
Hung up. Behind me, Kang Min-seong was on the phone in the hall corner.
Probably their professor.
He hung up, waved at me, and sprinted back to the elevator.
"Heading up now! Take care of the patient!"
Doors closed. He was gone.
I stared blankly at the elevator.
"...Professor Cheon."
I called to Professor Cheon, who stood arms crossed, staring at the monitor.
"What."
"Our part's done, right?"
"Done."
She answered flatly.
Her gaze lingered on the torn aorta image.
"...Can we save him?"
Professor Cheon paused, then shrugged.
"...Who knows."
Cold, but true.
God's domain.
Professor Cheon looked away from the monitor at me.
She patted my shoulder.
"But one thing's sure: you massively boosted that patient's survival odds."
She flashed a grin.
"Good work. Chin up. Back to it."
Her words cracked open the tightness in my chest.
Right.
I'd done my part.
"...Yes."
Night's still long. Patients to see.
I nodded and returned to my seat.
Silently praying for a miracle in that OR above.