Some risks had nothing to do with the doctor's skill.
Fortunately, his father wasn't his patient, or they would have ended up physically fighting on the spot.
Just as he finished speaking, Xu Qinghe pushed open the door and walked into the ward.
After a brief self-introduction, she asked the old man detailed questions.
"Doctor, you don't need to explain. I understand the risks of surgery, and I can sign the consent form right now. I only have one request: give me the anesthesia in my back. I absolutely refuse general anesthesia."
The eldest son interjected, "Doctor, don't listen to my father. The risk of spinal anesthesia is high—I know."
The old man sat up in agitation. "Who's having the surgery here! Even if spinal anesthesia is risky, I'll still sign!"
Seeing that an argument was about to break out, Xu Qinghe smiled gently. "Uncle, please lie down first. Let me take a look at your lumbar MRI."
The old man was stubborn and refused to lie down, grumbling in anger at his eldest son.
"Uncle, getting angry will raise your blood pressure. It'll also affect your ability to play cards after discharge, right?"
"..."
Faced with Xu Qinghe's soft-spoken manner, the old man felt a bit embarrassed and, out of courtesy, lay down for now.
From the images, the spinal disease was indeed severe, but a puncture was still feasible.
Xu Qinghe said, "Uncle, whether we can do a spinal puncture for anesthesia ultimately depends on the neurosurgery doctor coming to evaluate the degree of nerve compression. Let's decide after that."
The old man's tone softened. "When can the neurosurgery person come?"
Xu Qinghe didn't know.
The attending physician called the neurosurgery resident on call and gently urged, "Are all the directors still in surgery?"
The elderly patient already had chronic nerve issues. When the consultation was requested yesterday, the attending had specifically noted that he wanted a physician of associate chief physician level or above to see the patient.
The chief directors were certainly busy.
The person on the other end said, "Director Shi happens to be here, but there's a patient's family in his office discussing something right now. Can you wait about ten minutes?"
"Sure, sure. Thank you."
Before the ten minutes were up, Shi Wenli appeared in the general surgery ward.
He carefully reviewed the old man's lumbar MRI.
Xu Qinghe stood beside him, looking at the images on the light box together.
Shi Wenli pointed to a spot for Xu Qinghe. "Look here. The spinal stenosis is quite obvious."
Xu Qinghe noted, "Only the L4-5 interspace looks relatively better."
Shi Wenli scrutinized it carefully. "Based on the degree of nerve compression, it's not too severe. The nerve roots aren't being pinched. However, since the nerves are already compromised, there's still a risk with the puncture."
Xu Qinghe nodded.
The patient's spinal canal condition was poor, which placed high demands on the puncture technique.
She decided, "I'll give it a try. It should be fine. If the puncture doesn't go smoothly, I'll switch to general anesthesia."
Shi Wenli turned off the light box. "I was only away for a year, and now you can independently handle level-four surgeries in neurosurgery anesthesia, and your puncture skills have improved so quickly. Have you had any rest this year?"
It must have been hard.
Xu Qinghe smiled faintly. "Basically no days off."
They chatted as they walked back to the ward.
Shi Wenli carefully examined the old man's neurological function. After a comprehensive assessment, he said to Xu Qinghe, "Neurological function is acceptable too."
Xu Qinghe looked at the old man. "Uncle, if during the puncture you feel a sensation like an electric shock going down your leg, you must tell me immediately."
The old man was delighted to hear that spinal anesthesia was possible. "Okay! Doctor, I'll cooperate!"
Xu Qinghe reminded him, "Uncle, from now on, let's stay happy, don't get angry, and keep your blood pressure under control."
"All right, all right, I'll follow the doctor's orders." As he said this, the old man turned and glared at his eldest son. "Look at how this doctor treats me."
The eldest son: "..."
After the visit, Xu Qinghe left the ward with Shi Wenli.
"How is Teacher Zhang recovering?"
She had been so busy these past few days that after the 24-hour postoperative follow-up with Teacher Zhang, she hadn't gone back to the neurosurgery ward.
Shi Wenli said, "Recovering well. He'll be discharged in a couple of days."
Mentioning Teacher Zhang reminded him that he still owed her an orange.
"When you have time, come by my office to get the orange. There are also some small snacks you can take."
Xu Qinghe hadn't expected him to remember that after so many days.
She didn't decline. "Did Shi Miao give you the snacks?"
After all, he wouldn't bring snacks himself.
They either came from colleagues or his sister—mostly the latter.