Chinese medicine: from rural hospitals to top three hospitals in Kyoto

The operation ended very late, so I rested for a night and had a neurosurgery the next day.

It is also the peak showdown that all neurosurgeons are most looking forward to - the petroclival meningioma resection, performed by Qu Haoran and Chen Yang, is a real life forbidden zone.

The surgery for petroclival meningioma is extremely difficult.

The tumor lurks in the deepest part of the petrous slope area of ​​the skull base, like a demon entrenched in the center of a maze, surrounded by all important life centers and cranial nerves such as the brainstem, basilar artery, trigeminal nerve, facial and auditory nerve, and abducens nerve.

The surgical path is long and narrow, and every incision is like walking a tightrope over an abyss. Any slight mistake will cause the patient to die, become a vegetative state, or face serious neurological defects such as blindness, facial paralysis, and difficulty swallowing.

"Remember the points I told you."

In the car on the way to the hospital, Qu Haoran and Chen Yang sat together. Chen Yang could see that Qu Haoran was obviously a little nervous.

The difficulty of this operation was obviously beyond Qu Haoran's ability.

If Chen Yang had not told Qu Haoran about the difficulties of the operation in advance, and if Chen Yang had not been there to supervise, Qu Haoran himself would not have dared to take on such a difficult operation.

"I remember." Qu Haoran nodded.

"Director Qu, Director Chen is right here. He let you be the lead surgeon, so he must have the necessary control. Don't worry, go ahead. If anything happens, Director Chen will be able to take over immediately."

He Yonghua also said to Qu Haoran with a smile.

Qu Haoran nodded: "Yeah."

At this moment, Qu Haoran was actually still a little excited. If he could complete such an operation, it would be a rare challenge for him.

After entering the operating room, Qu Haoran stood in front of the sink, with the cold water washing his hands.

Looking at himself in the mirror, Qu Haoran encouraged himself: "Come on, you can do it."

Since becoming the chief physician and a well-known expert at Tiantan Hospital, Qu Haoran has rarely had such a mentality as this time.

For Qu Haoran, this is not only an operation, but also the ultimate appearance of him and Chinese neurosurgery on the international stage.

Inside the operating room, the shadowless lamp cast a cold, dazzling light. The patient was slowly wheeled in, anesthetized, his head positioned, and a sterile drape applied... Each step was a solemn ritual, the silence thick with a tense, volatile atmosphere.

Inside the observation room, the air was so heavy that water seemed to drip out.

Professor Masakazu Sakata arrived early and sat upright in the front row, looking more serious than ever.

All the neurosurgeons from Country R, ​​standing behind Sakata Shoichi, were present, their eyes glued to the live broadcast screen of the surgery about to begin. They wanted to witness with their own eyes the extraordinary abilities of this Chinese expert, favored by the legendary Chen Yang.

Qu Haoran walked to the main operating position, and Chen Yang still stood behind Qu Haoran.

"This time, Mr. Chen doesn't even plan to perform the surgery himself?"

Inside the observation room, Ichiro Yamamoto was a little bit unbelievable.

Sakata Masakazu's pupils also shrank. For such an operation, Chen Yang still didn't plan to be the main surgeon?

Although Chen Yang was giving instructions on the side and was the commander-in-chief, operation was also a very important aspect for surgeons.

"Let's start." Chen Yang said softly to Qu Haoran.

After Zhong Dongyang and He Yonghua recommended Qu Haoran, Chen Yang watched Qu Haoran's surgery and learned about Qu Haoran's level.

Chen Yang was sure that with Qu Haoran's level, and with his guidance, Qu Haoran would be able to complete this operation.

If Kyoto International Medical Center wants to become bigger and stronger, it certainly cannot rely on Chen Yang alone, so others must also grow up as quickly as possible.

Fortunately, Zhong Dongyang and his companions are all top experts in the country, and what they lack is only some top-notch technology. Chen Yang came to Country R this time to train his troops.

Qu Haoran took a deep breath and picked up the scalpel.

Qu Haoran chose the "presigmoid transpetrous approach", which is one of the most commonly used but also most complicated routes to reach the petrosal clivus area. It requires grinding off a large amount of petrous bone in the temporal bone and opening up a winding passage in the hard skull.

The hum of the drill echoed through the silent operating room, sending bone chips flying as the drill bit turned. Qu Haoran's operation was steady and precise, each movement showcasing his deep and solid foundational skills.

But the experts watching were all experts, and they could tell at a glance that his movements were even more cautious than the usually effortless Sakata Shoichi, and his progress was relatively slow. A suppressed restlessness quietly permeated the observation room.

"Don't rush, safety comes first."

Chen Yang's voice sounded in Qu Haoran's ears at the right time, calming his somewhat anxious heart like a stabilizing force.

"Be careful to protect the greater superficial petrosal nerve and cochlear structures."

"Understood," Qu Haoran replied softly, taking a deep breath and steadying his pace. He could feel the sweat running down his back, and the nurse wiped his forehead in time.

The passage was finally opened, but when the grayish-white figure of the tumor appeared faintly at the end of the deep surgical field, Qu Haoran's heart sank.

The real challenge has just begun.

The tumor was extremely tightly adhered to the brainstem, like a stubborn vine entwined around a cornerstone. The basilar artery and its branches were wrapped in it, and the optic nerve and oculomotor nerve were severely deformed due to being squeezed.

As separation began, the crackling of the bipolar coagulation device and the hissing of the suction device intertwined to become the dominant rhythm within the operating room. Every slight tug, every tiny fluctuation in the vital signs on the monitor, struck Qu Haoran like a hammer, and it also rattled the nerves of everyone in the observation room.

Qu Haoran focused his attention and tried to separate the tumor from a relatively safe area, but the tumor was more resilient than he had imagined, and the interface between it and the brainstem was blurred. Every advancement was met with great resistance, as if he was moving through glue.

An agonizing hour passed, but the progress of tumor removal was hopelessly slow.

Inside the observation room, the slight commotion could no longer be suppressed.

"The adhesions were too tight, and the situation was more difficult than expected."

"If we continue like this, the operation will be prolonged indefinitely, and the patient's body might not be able to withstand it..."

"It seems that the Chinese experts have also encountered insurmountable obstacles..."

Amidst the whispers, questioning glances were cast at Chen Yang, who stood beside Qu Haoran. Sakata Masakazu frowned and also looked at Chen Yang, only to find that his expression remained calm, as if he had already anticipated the suffocating predicament before him.

"Director Qu."

Chen Yang's voice rang out again, his tone carrying a strange, soothing power that could calm all agitation. "Remember what I said yesterday? The transformation level. What you're trying to separate now is the interface between the tumor and the brainstem's pia mater. This is where the greatest resistance lies."

Qu Haoran's movements suddenly stopped, and his heart seemed to be tightened by something.