godfather of surgery

Chapter 1201 The overwhelming wealth

The patient's parents finally gave up their illusions and accepted the reality. Actually, artificial heart transplantation doesn't sound so bad, as long as it can save a life.

The illness itself can change rapidly, and sometimes the external conditions can also change rapidly. Doctors need to be able to change their treatment plans according to the changes in conditions. This is the principle of analyzing specific situations in specific ways. If one always remains unchanged, it is no different from trying to find a sword by marking the boat.

"We agree!"

The patient's father agreed to this plan. Professor Yang has already stated that this is the only plan; there is no other option.

With the development of artificial hearts, they may be able to last for twenty, thirty, or forty years, making allogeneic hearts less important.

The heart is like the body's "engine," pumping blood throughout the body through rhythmic, automatic beating.

However, when heart function declines severely, the pumping capacity decreases significantly, which is heart failure. There are more than 1000 million adult heart failure patients in my country, which is a relatively large number. Among them, the heart function of end-stage heart failure patients cannot be restored by drugs or conventional surgery, resulting in extremely poor quality of life and serious threats to their lives.

In traditional treatment, heart transplantation is the ultimate solution for end-stage heart failure. However, donors are scarce and the risk of postoperative rejection is high, so many patients cannot wait for a suitable donor. In recent years, the emergence of artificial hearts has provided a new path to life for these patients.

my country has already produced its third-generation magnetically levitated heart, and its technology is not lagging behind; in some aspects, it even surpasses similar international products. Ruixing is also researching artificial hearts, but having started later, its products are still in the laboratory stage and not yet in mass production.

A good domestic artificial heart, such as Corheart 6, is a third-generation magnetically levitated artificial heart and is currently the smallest and lightest artificial heart in the world, weighing only 90 grams, about the weight of an egg. Its core advantage lies in the use of magnetic levitation technology, which allows the pump body to "levitate" and work by using magnetic force, avoiding the friction of traditional mechanical bearings and greatly reducing the risk of blood damage and thrombosis.

The Corheart 6 artificial heart is 40% smaller than mainstream international products, making it ideal for Asian body types and even offering treatment possibilities for pediatric patients.

It is not only small in size but also consumes very little power, making it more convenient for patients to carry around on a daily basis and providing a longer battery life.

Now that this plan has been decided, Director Tian instructed the attending physician to quickly prepare for the surgery. As for the artificial heart, they should also contact the supplier manufacturer as soon as possible to prepare it.

Globally, the number of heart replacement surgeries is actually not high, with approximately 5000 heart transplants performed worldwide each year, unlike kidney and liver transplants. The main reason for this is the shortage of donors, and the advent of artificial hearts is expected to solve this problem.

If Yang Ping succeeds in cloning the heart in the future, then this problem will be completely solved.

"Artificial hearts are not without their drawbacks. For example, after implantation, complications such as drive line infection, gastrointestinal bleeding, thromboembolism, stroke, and right heart failure may occur. Moreover, they do not offer the same level of convenience as allogeneic heart transplants, requiring the user to carry a power system and prohibiting activities involving water such as swimming."

"As for the price, it's currently around 700,000 RMB. That's the price for domestically produced ones. Imported ones are more expensive. Actually, there's not much difference between domestic and imported ones at the moment. In some aspects, domestically produced ones are even better."

Yang Ping also briefly explained the disadvantages of artificial hearts to the patient's parents. His parents no longer cared about these disadvantages; they had no other choice, this was the only option, so why should they care about the disadvantages?

In choosing between allogeneic and artificial heart transplantation, younger patients can consider sequential therapy, where an artificial heart is implanted first, followed by a heart transplant, to prolong survival. Critically ill patients without an immediate donor should consider artificial hearts.

Patients with comorbidities such as fixed pulmonary hypertension, renal insufficiency, severe diabetes, or tumors are not suitable for artificial hearts, while patients with isolated right heart failure and isolated diastolic dysfunction may be more suitable for heart transplantation.

Heart transplantation and artificial hearts each have their advantages and disadvantages, and the choice should be based on a specific analysis of the patient's age, condition, comorbidities, and other specific circumstances.

However, given the patient's current condition, an artificial heart is the only option.

"Shall we go see the patient? Have they returned yet?" Yang Ping asked.

Patient An Chenfeng had just been sent for a check-up and had returned. The attending physician led the way, and Yang Ping went to the ward to see him, followed by a large group of graduate students and doctoral students.

He was in a wheelchair. It wasn't that he couldn't walk; his legs were perfectly fine. It was just that his heart function was too poor. He would get out of breath as soon as he moved around. Even when he was resting in bed, he would experience heart failure symptoms. His heart failure was already very serious, and his heart could stop beating at any time, which is why the surgery seemed so urgent.

The doctors and nurses helped him stand up from the wheelchair and then helped him sit on the bed.

"In a semi-recumbent position!" Yang Ping instructed the nurse.

However, An Chenfeng was familiar with this position because it was the most comfortable. The semi-recumbent position can reduce the amount of blood returning to the heart and reduce the burden on the heart. Therefore, patients with heart failure usually feel more relaxed and less uncomfortable in this position.

Nowadays, various advanced instruments and equipment play a huge auxiliary role in diagnosis, and the role of traditional physical examination methods has been weakened. However, some traditional physical examinations are still necessary, as they are information that doctors collect directly from patients.

For example, auscultation is very important for heart disease, and the intensity, frequency, rhythm, and murmurs of heart sounds are the most important aspects of auscultation. However, percussion of the heart's boundaries is less important.

Therefore, Yang Ping selectively retains traditional physical examination methods rather than mechanically copying them. For example, percussion of the heart's boundaries is certainly not as accurate as color Doppler ultrasound. It was a necessary method when various examinations were not advanced in the past. If the heart's boundaries were percussed, it would be time-consuming and laborious, and the boundaries would not be accurate. This kind of examination is generally done in special circumstances.

After examining An Chenfeng, Yang Ping inquired about his medical history and gained a comprehensive clinical understanding of his condition. Indeed, his heart function was now at grade four, and he was unable to engage in any physical activity. Even at rest, he would experience symptoms of heart failure, such as angina and difficulty breathing. Any form of physical activity would exacerbate his symptoms, even the slightest physical activity.

His heart functioned only to the bare minimum required to sustain life, and even that was barely adequate.

“An Chenfeng, I have just discussed your condition with your parents. You need surgery to implant an artificial heart, which will replace the main function of your original heart. Your original heart will not be removed. If a suitable allogeneic heart is found in the future, you can have an allogeneic heart transplant. If no suitable allogeneic heart is found, you can continue to use the artificial heart to maintain your health. With the development of artificial heart technology, its short-term survival rate is actually comparable to that of allogeneic hearts. Moreover, if a better artificial heart becomes available in the future, we can have another surgery to replace it with a better artificial heart.”

An Chenfeng's health has always been poor, making it impossible for him to do heavy work, which severely limits his job search. However, he is quite self-reliant and has rented a small corner to repair mobile phones, sell phone cases, and apply screen protectors. In fact, he taught himself all of these skills. He is honest and straightforward in repairing mobile phones, so he has a certain customer base and is able to support himself.

This kind of work doesn't require much physical strength, and he'd managed to make a living doing it for years. But in the last year or two, it's become unbearable; he feels unwell even when he's resting, which is seriously affecting his work. Fortunately, his biological parents found him, and seeing his condition, they immediately took him to see a doctor for treatment. "How much will it cost?" An Chenfeng asked in a low voice, afraid to speak loudly.

He came from a poor family and was extremely sensitive to money; this statement became his subconscious, instinctive reaction.

“Don’t worry about money. Your parents have money. Don’t worry. Just focus on getting better. Don’t be afraid. Professor Yang said that implanting an artificial heart is the best option. There are cases in China where patients have survived for 15 years. With that much time, they should be able to get a donated heart or a better artificial heart.” The patient’s father immediately comforted his son, but at the same time, a deep sense of guilt welled up in his heart. It was all his fault for not taking good care of his son, which led to him being stranded outside and ending up like this. He had failed in his responsibilities as a father.

“Don’t worry, this is your mom and dad’s business,” the patient’s mother comforted him.

"If there are no other problems, let's schedule the surgery as soon as possible," Yang Ping said.

"Okay, okay! We'll arrange it as soon as possible. Thank you so much." The patient's father immediately nodded and bowed to express his gratitude.

Back in the doctor's office, Director Tian asked, "Professor Yang, which company's artificial heart do you think we should use?"

"Dr. Xia, you'll be performing this surgery. Which hospital do you think we should use?" Yang Ping handed the surgery over to Xia Shu as the chief surgeon.

Artificial heart replacement surgery is not actually very difficult. Most trained cardiac surgeons can perform it. Xia Shu is perfectly capable of performing the surgery, as he is a top-notch doctor who has undergone rigorous training at the research institute.

“If the patient is financially well-off and has plenty of money, then they should choose the best one.”

Xia Shu was very decisive. He agreed with Yang Ping's opinion on the choice of treatment plan. He believed that patients shouldn't be forced to endure hardship. The patient was not short of money, and the attending physician was always thinking about saving money. This was what it meant to be forced to endure hardship.
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The next morning, Yang Ping came to the Overseas Chinese Building for rounds. Director Tian said, "Professor Yang, the medical device supplier has sent over the samples and data of the artificial heart. Would you like to take a look? Or if you have any requests, please feel free to tell them."

Yang Ping said to Xia Shu behind him, "Take a look later."

Xia Shu will be the lead surgeon for this operation. It's not a particularly special surgery. Yang Ping rarely performs surgeries these days. Surgery for conjoined twins is too difficult, and Song Ziming and Xu Zhiliang aren't entirely confident in their abilities. So, Yang Ping will personally take the lead. Besides, Yang Ping needs this surgery to slap the public in the face.

Song Ziming, Xu Zhiliang, and Xia Shu are all highly skilled surgeons for this operation. Xia Shu is particularly interested in cardiac surgery, making him the most suitable candidate to lead the procedure.

"Dr. Xia will be the lead surgeon," Yang Ping said.

The patient's parents immediately became anxious and, disregarding Xia Shu's feelings, blurted out, "Professor Yang, this surgery is quite risky. Could you please be the surgeon?"

"Don't worry, Dr. Xia is the best cardiac surgeon in our hospital. His cardiac surgery skills are top-notch, and he leads many cardiac surgeons who come here for further training, including doctors from abroad," Yang Ping told the patient's parents.

The patient's mother wanted to argue, but the patient's father pulled his wife aside and told her not to bring it up for the time being.

After the ward rounds, the patient's father followed him out. He expressed his desire to speak with Professor Yang alone to learn about some surgical details, and Yang Ping understood what he meant.

"Okay! Let's go to that meeting room."

Yang Ping and the patient's father entered the meeting room. The patient's father locked the door and immediately took out an envelope from his pocket: "Professor Yang! This is a thank-you letter that my wife and I prepared. You must accept it."

"Don't be shy!" Yang Ping didn't take it.

The patient's father opened the envelope and pulled out half of the folded letter inside: "Look, it really is just a handwritten thank-you note. We didn't mean anything by it; we just wanted to express our gratitude."

Yang Ping smiled slightly: "I appreciate your kind intentions, but don't worry. Dr. Xia's heart surgery is world-class. He performs many heart surgeries every day, including the kind of surgery your son had. I haven't performed surgery in a long time, especially this kind of surgery. I've done very few cases, far fewer than Dr. Xia. So you must trust him and don't have any worries."

Yang Ping knew perfectly well that the so-called thank-you note in the envelope contained a check. People like this are usually quite generous and would definitely not be able to fit it in an envelope, so they prefer to use checks. How could Yang Ping possibly accept it? He wouldn't even touch it.

“Take it back. I’m telling you again, rest assured, Dr. Xia’s surgical skills are world-class. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have arranged for him to do it. I haven’t performed surgery in a long time, especially this kind of surgery. I’ve hardly done any cases. Please believe me.” Yang Ping didn’t utter a single lie.

The patient's father had to take back his envelope. After thinking about it, he realized that what Professor Yang said might be true, so he felt a little relieved.

"Don't worry! Dr. Xia is someone you can trust. He has performed many allogeneic heart transplants, let alone artificial heart transplants. Artificial heart transplants are simpler than allogeneic heart transplants." Yang Ping reassured them once again.

"Alright, I have other things to do. Please trust our arrangements."

Yang Ping stood up, and the patient's father immediately helped open the door, stood to the side and bowed slightly, letting Yang Ping go out first.

As Xia Shu emerged from the meeting room, he was communicating with the artificial heart manufacturer's team. Upon learning that the lead surgeon was Professor Yang, the manufacturer immediately assembled a top-notch team, including the company's CEO, sales manager, chief engineer, and top assistant engineers, to serve the surgery. The scale and level of importance attached to the operation were unprecedented.

The company's CEO, surnamed He, graduated from Tsinghua University and has been engaged in the research and development of medical equipment since graduation. He and several engineers founded this company and developed an artificial heart. After several iterations, the product is now very mature, and some parameters even exceed those of similar foreign products. However, it has not yet been widely adopted in the domestic market because many doctors still prefer imported products.

"Professor Yang!" Upon seeing Yang Ping enter, Boss He immediately bowed and greeted him.

"This is Mr. He from the manufacturer. He heard that our research institute performed the surgery, so he personally led the team here," Director Tian explained. Mr. He wanted to use Director Tian's connection to get in touch with the research institute. Once their products were favored by the institute, rapid development would not be far off.

With such immense wealth descending upon him, Boss He will certainly do everything in his power to seize it.