Chapter 17: You Can Even Do This?
Soon, Qingyue Shen prepared the equipment for the endotracheal intubation. She turned to Ziyan Fang, for now, all hope rested on him. If Fang succeeded in intubating, the elderly woman could be saved. If not...
Qingyue Shen made no unnecessary movements. Having spent some time in the emergency department, she had witnessed countless scenes like this. Every day, people died in the emergency room. Sometimes, there was no time to grieve before rushing to save the next patient.
Ziyan Fang approached quickly, positioning the old woman on her back, placing a pillow beneath her shoulders, and gently tilting her head backward. Then, holding the laryngoscope, he carefully inserted it along the tongue’s surface. Upon reaching the base of the tongue, he gently lifted the epiglottis.
At that moment, the elderly patient's vocal cords came into view.
Now was the crucial moment.
Fang seized the opportunity, swiftly guiding the endotracheal tube into the trachea, then withdrew the stylet and removed the laryngoscope.
After completing the procedure, Fang exhaled deeply and stepped back half a pace, glancing at Qingyue Shen beside him.
Her eyes widened in disbelief, but Fang’s signal instantly brought her back to focus. She suppressed her shock and connected the ventilator tubing for the patient.
At that moment, the elderly woman’s oxygen saturation began to rise steadily, ultimately returning to normal levels.
Only then was the old woman pulled back from the brink of death by Ziyan Fang.
Qingyue Shen looked at him in amazement and asked, “Doctor Fang, you actually know how to intubate?”
“A little. I’m confident in my ability, so I did it,” he replied. “I wouldn’t joke around with a patient’s life.”
Hearing this, Qingyue Shen was deeply moved again. Fang was just an intern, yet he knew how to perform endotracheal intubation—he was a prodigy! Such an outstanding intern—how had Director He ever discovered him? It was astounding.
From start to finish, Fang remained calm and composed, making optimal decisions and choices every step of the way. Working alongside a doctor like him was truly reassuring.
Qingyue Shen felt admiration swelling in her heart. Just then, outside came the anxious voice of Zixiao Zhu.
“Teacher Cao, the patient here is almost gone.”
Zixiao Zhu rushed into the emergency room, pointing to the elderly woman on the bed, turning his head as he spoke, “Teacher Cao, here.”
“This patient needs an endotracheal intubation, he…”
Before he could finish, Zhu’s eyes widened. Cao Chong hurried in behind him.
“Where? Which patient needs intubation? Where?”
Though composed in expression, Cao’s hurried steps betrayed his inner turmoil. Even after years as an emergency doctor, he grew tense when facing death.
Zixiao opened his mouth, regret tinting his tone.
“Why no response?”
“Why are you two silent? Has the patient passed?”
Before the words were out, Qingyue Shen quickly stepped forward, covering Zhu’s mouth.
“Don’t talk nonsense! The patient is fine, no cause for alarm!”
Saying such things in front of patients and family was bold indeed, but that was just an intern.
“Ah?”
Zhu was stunned. At the same time, Cao pressed anxiously, “What’s going on? Which patient?”
“Which one?”
“Teacher Cao, it’s him,” Fang pointed to the elderly woman on the bed.
Cao looked closely at her, then his gaze fell on the invasive ventilator.
“Isn’t she stable now?”
“Who did the intubation?”
Cao was confused.
Zhu was even more shocked. He considered a possibility, then looked up at Fang, his eyes wide with surprise.
“Dr. Cao, this endotracheal tube was inserted by Ziyan Fang,” Qingyue Shen explained.
Upon hearing this, Zhu was astounded, staring at Fang as if he were a monster.
Really?
Which good-hearted intern could perform intubation? This was no joke.
No one else could do it, so why could he?
Cao was equally stunned, then began examining the elderly patient.
Endotracheal intubation was not something just anyone could do.
For an intern to perform it was shocking.
If done correctly, it was fortunate; if done wrong, it would be disastrous.
But after carefully checking the patient, Cao raised his eyebrows slightly.
“The patient’s condition has indeed stabilized. No need to worry for now.”
The patient’s family nearby expressed heartfelt gratitude, repeatedly thanking Fang.
Cao led Fang out of the room and back to the office.
“You may have saved this patient, but the condition hasn’t improved.”
Cao spoke slowly.
“I know,” Fang nodded.
With his surgical expertise, he understood well that although the patient had been rescued this time, what about next time?
It wasn’t always possible to act so promptly.
Moreover, patients requiring such difficult resuscitation could relapse at any moment.
If that happened, another rescue attempt might not succeed.
For the patient, it was merely buying a little more time.
“Director He really has an eye for talent to have brought you into our emergency department,” Cao continued.
He was a strict doctor, but after observing Fang’s handling of the patient, he couldn’t help but praise him.
Among all the interns he had supervised, Fang’s skills were undoubtedly the strongest.
Cao stood, gently patting Fang on the shoulder.
“All right, work hard here in the emergency department. I’ll go update the family.”
With that, Cao left the office.
Inside remained Zhu, Fang, and Qingyue Shen.
Qingyue Shen gave Fang a thumbs-up and left with a bright smile.
“Doctor Fang, you’re incredible! I admire you!”
Fang smiled quietly, saying nothing.
Zhu circled Fang like he was at the zoo, clicking his tongue in amazement.
“Xiao Fang, you’re really amazing—at least better than me.”
“Brother Xiao, you flatter me. I just got lucky.”
Zhu shook his head.
“I’m a bit jealous, but I’m not foolish. I’ve learned intubation too, but I panic when danger strikes, unlike you—so calm.”
He sighed, “But honestly, I know this patient probably won’t survive long. Just a matter of days.”
Fang was silent.
He understood this as well.
Sometimes, even if saved, death was merely gathering strength for the next strike.