Xu Qinghe quickly patted him, afraid his emotional fluctuation would affect his blood pressure: "Uncle, don't worry. Many young people see a neurologist for minor issues." For now, she could only reassure him. "What's your daughter's name? Do you remember her ID number? I'll help you check."
Just then, Jiang Yang also came over and chimed in to comfort him: "Go ahead and tell me; I'll write it down. Don't worry; we'll check for you right away."
They were only comforting the patient, not actually going to check.
The patient remembered his daughter's ID number better than his own; he quickly recited a string of numbers: "Her name is Tao Han, as in 'self-restraint' Han."
Tao Han?
That name was very familiar to Xu Qinghe. Shi Wenli's middle school classmate was named Tao Han, and she had an appointment with a neurology specialist on Saturday morning.
Not only did the name match, but the age also fit.
She knew which middle school and which class Shi Wenli had attended, so she asked the patient if his daughter was in Class 12 of a certain affiliated middle school.
The patient was surprised: "Dr. Xu, how did you know?"
Xu Qinghe: "Your daughter is a middle school classmate of a deputy chief in the neurosurgery department. I heard about it from that deputy chief. She saw a neurology specialist around noon on Saturday, and her son is about to start kindergarten, right?"
Patient: "Yes, it was the 11:30 time slot."
It was indeed a neurology specialist appointment.
His grandson was almost three.
Xu Qinghe reassured him: "It's just stress causing insomnia lately; no major issue."
The heavy weight in the patient's heart finally lifted: "Dr. Xu, I'm especially grateful. Thank you, thank you. And Dr. Jiang, I've caused you trouble during this time. Please tell my daughter not to worry about me not making it through the ICU after surgery. Even if I have to fight with all my might, I'll pull through."
Jiang Yang patted the patient's arm: "Uncle, don't worry; you're in great shape now."
After calming the patient, he glanced at Xu Qinghe. He knew she got along well with Brother Shi, but he didn't expect it to be this good—so good that she knew exactly who Brother Shi had encountered in his clinic, their names, and even family details.
His own parents didn't know each other that well.
Just then, Director Gu entered the OR.
The patient gradually calmed down, and Xu Qinghe began anesthesia induction.
Jiang Yang also got busy and had no time to think about other things.
The surgery went smoothly. Transesophageal echocardiography showed good valve function, no significant paravalvular leak.
The patient's circulation was stable, and Xu Qinghe began administering protamine to neutralize heparin.
While slowly infusing, she kept a close eye on the monitor in case the patient had an allergic reaction to protamine.
Eleven minutes after giving protamine, the monitor suddenly alarmed, and the patient's blood pressure dropped sharply.
Within seconds, systolic pressure fell from 120 to 75.
Xu Qinghe: "Director Gu, pause!"
She stopped the protamine and immediately administered intravenous epinephrine.
The circulating nurse quickly increased the infusion rate.
Despite medication and fluid resuscitation, the patient's blood pressure not only failed to recover but, as Zhang Xun looked at the monitor, the systolic pressure had dropped to 50.
The alarm continued; blood pressure and heart rate kept falling.
Xu Qinghe assessed calmly: "Director Gu, the patient is allergic to protamine."
She then injected methylprednisolone and continued adding epinephrine.
The patient had reported no history of allergies, and his daughter Tao Han had confirmed that her father was not allergic to any food or medication. But many times, even patients with no allergy history can be allergic to protamine.
Gu Changshen paused all fine maneuvers, focused on cardiac tension, and instructed the preparation of instruments for a second bypass.
Xu Qinghe had already heparinized the patient in preparation for re-establishing cardiopulmonary bypass. But before going on bypass, the patient's blood pressure and heart rate began to recover.
They didn't need to use the second bypass; blood pressure gradually stabilized.
Zhang Xun, experiencing a protamine allergy for the first time, carefully filled in the record.
If the major surgeons in orthopedics had experienced such life-saving rescues, they probably wouldn't think that Senior Sister overreacted every time she stopped a surgery, nor would they think her anesthesia skills were lacking.
At 1:30 PM, the surgery was successfully completed.
Jiang Yang: "Sister Qinghe, today Director Gu is treating us to a big meal. The delivery is on its way. Join us."
"Thank you, Director Gu." Xu Qinghe smiled in agreement.
Director Gu often treated the cardiac surgery team to meals out of his own pocket, and she always got to share the benefit.
Finally able to rest and catch his breath, Jiang Yang found the chance to ask Xu Qinghe some questions.
If she hadn't rattled off in the OR exactly which middle school and class Brother Shi attended, what his classmate's name was, and how old her child was, he wouldn't have brought it up.
"Sister, you know Brother Shi so well. Have you noticed he's been a bit different lately?"
Xu Qinghe: "...Different how?"
"If I knew, would I be asking you? You know every detail about which classmate he met in his clinic. Can't you see how he's different?"
"..."
Xu Qinghe unscrewed her water bottle and took a sip. "I've been busy lately; I didn't notice. If I run into him tomorrow, I'll observe carefully."
While drinking, she opened WeChat on her phone.
Half an hour ago, Shi Wenli had sent her a message: [I just got off a surgery. Have you eaten?]
Xu Qinghe: [Not yet, just finished. Today I have a big meal—Director Gu is treating us!]
Shi Wenli replied immediately: [Then eat quickly.]
Xu Qinghe: [It hasn't arrived yet; I'm waiting in the break room.]
Xu Qinghe: [By the way, don't wait for me to get off work today. I still need to follow up on a few patients and fill in some anesthesia records. You go ahead with your stuff. Anyway, I'll see you when I get home tonight. I'll tell you what I want to say when we meet.]
Shi Wenli: [Okay. I'm going to scrub in; next surgery is about to start. See you tonight.]
Xu Qinghe: [See you tonight.]