My Medical Skills Give Me Experience Points

Chapter 1046: Chapter 412: Like Family, The True Cause of Gangrene (2)

Perhaps due to malnutrition, the little boy’s hair is thin, soft, sparse, and yellow.

"I... am a little hungry!"

The little boy sneaked a glance at his mom and then quietly answered.

"So cute! Uncle will bring you something to eat tomorrow."

Zhou Can gave the little boy a friendly smile.

"Our hospital has a charity project specifically designed to assist out-of-town patients and their families. I’ll inquire about it tomorrow. If you qualify, you can eat in the cafeteria for free."

This remark was obviously directed at the female family member.

"Thank you! Thank you so much!"

The man in the hospital bed spoke weakly.

People’s hearts are made of flesh.

Difficult and troublesome family members exist, as do those who break your heart; Zhou Can has encountered many.

But he always maintains his kindness and warmth.

Seeing patients in need of help, he provides some appropriate assistance to the best of his ability.

"Brother, don’t be so polite. How are you feeling now? Are you uncomfortable anywhere?"

Zhou Can asked the patient.

"I feel much better, just a bit cold," the patient replied.

Cold intolerance is one of the common symptoms of severe infections and widespread gangrene.

Septicemia can truly claim lives.

And it can easily take lives.

"I’ll have a nurse bring another blanket later. In a while, someone will be here to give you an IV; let’s see how things are tomorrow. Hopefully, we can save your leg."

Zhou Can refrained from blaming the patient and family for their previous misguided meddling, which turned a wound that could have healed with suturing into an infected, purulent, and even gangrenous state.

Because it serves no purpose now.

If given a chance to redo it, the patient and family would undoubtedly go to a proper hospital to treat the wound.

And not to a small clinic just to save money.

Such tragedies, where saving money results in harsher losses, play out in hospitals almost daily. Sometimes, lives are lost.

To illustrate, a 41-year-old male patient often experienced irregular bouts of abdominal pain. Fearing high hospital examination costs, he ignored it. Until one day, he collapsed from the pain at the construction site.

Sent to the hospital by his coworkers, it was already late-stage colon cancer.

If he had gone to the hospital earlier, the cancer might have been stopped in its tracks.

Another patient squeezed a red pimple on his nose bridge, later noticing swelling and persistent redness. Within three days, he was in the hospital’s ICU.

You know, daily ICU costs start at several thousand.

For cases like his, tens of thousands a day aren’t uncommon.

Zhou Can noticed a slight expression of pain on the man’s face.

This wasn’t just a symptom of cold.

"Are you in pain somewhere?"

"The leg I had surgery on feels a bit swollen and painful. Should be fine, it’s been happening for quite a while. Since the incident, it swells and pains occasionally."

The patient answered indifferently.

"Does your leg frequently swell and hurt after the injury?"

Zhou Can pursued further.

As a professional, he can keenly detect risks that patients might overlook.

"Yes, it seems that phenomenon started after the surgery," the patient nodded to confirm.

"Is the swelling and pain migratory or fixed in one place?"

Zhou Can continued to ask.

"Seems like it’s migratory! The swelling and painful area is a large patch; sometimes, it feels like a drill is moving around inside."

The man thought carefully before answering.

Zhou Can became aware of the issue.

"Okay, rest for now. You can drink water and eat. This leg shouldn’t be moved carelessly; it’s best to use the bedpan for the bathroom." Zhou Can advised the patient.

Walking and squatting could potentially cause further wound splitting, bleeding, or fluid leakage.

And since it’s currently in an open drainage state, having just undergone the first surgical debridement, preventing new contamination of the wound is essential.

"When he uses the toilet or when washing his body, you can use cling film, plastic bags, or similar items to protect the wound’s bandage from contamination. Absolutely no water," Zhou Can instructed.

This water includes the patient’s urine and stool liquids.

Having given instructions, Zhou Can stood and left.

His brows furrowed slightly, clearly thinking about the patient’s condition.

The leg swelling pain is migratory, and it occurs intermittently, persisting to the present.

Could it be related to the patient’s gangrene?

With his extensive surgical experience, Zhou Can had encountered cases of local gangrene caused by arterial embolism.

He now strongly suspected localized arterial embolism in the patient’s leg.

If true, it’s imperative to remove the thrombus or fat embolus from the artery; only after restoring blood flow can the leg wound heal.

Zhou Can went to the night market outside the hospital, bought three servings of hot dumplings, and returned to the emergency inpatient ward.

"Hey, why is Dr. Zhou back again?" Jiang Shuangshuang was still diligently attending to the patients.

Administering drips, changing dressings, is mainly the nurse’s responsibility.

But it’s like a married couple; separated responsibilities make things dull. Doctors and nurses should work with shared goals, aiming to help patients recover.

In this regard, Jiang Shuangshuang and Lin Ping are both competent.

"I saw dumplings for sale outside the hospital, so I bought some for the patient in bed 22 and his family. That child is too young, and it’s so pitiful to be hungry!"

Zhou Can answered with a smile.

"Indeed, quite pitiful. And I’ve never heard of our hospital having a charity project that covers meals for patients and families. Dr. Zhou is truly special!"

She flashed a charming smile.

"Haha, revealing the truth is an adult’s prerogative! Help if you can; everyone faces tough times!"

Zhou Can winked at her with a smile.

Leaving Jiang Shuangshuang looking at his back, her face revealed a lovely smile.

Warmth can illuminate anyone’s heart.

It can inspire others, serving as an example.

Moral virtues can uphold everything.

Needless to say, Zhou Can undoubtedly stands taller in Jiang Shuangshuang’s heart. This good impression will last a lifetime, continuously influencing her medical career.

When Zhou Can delivered the dumplings, the nurse had already administered the IV.

"I went out for a late-night snack and happened to buy some for you; I’m not sure if it suits your taste."

"Thank you! Thank you so much! How much is it? Let me pay you!"

The female family member was moved, tears welling in her eyes.

Only after experiencing helplessness, despair, and cold treatment from others, can one truly appreciate how warm and precious the kindness from strangers is.

She encountered refusals while calling for money to treat her husband.

While seeking help for her husband, large hospitals refused treatment when she insisted on preserving his leg, pushing her aside.

Until she met Zhou Can, who offered their family much help.

"No money needed, I’m treating you!"

Zhou Can declined to accept payment.

"I just thought about his condition on the road. Logically, being so young and strong, with the wound promptly treated, gangrene shouldn’t occur. Considering the previously mentioned migratory leg swelling pain, I suggest an ultrasound to check for vascular embolism."

He proposed some new check-ups to the family.

"You know how severe your husband’s condition is. Now, every second counts to preserve his leg. Personally, if you agree to the check-up, I’ll consult with the senior doctor and order an urgent ultrasound now. Our emergency ultrasound room has night staff. If it is a thrombus, delay is unacceptable; immediate embolism removal is necessary..."

Zhou Can carefully explained the reasoning to the family.

"Dr. Zhou, we highly trust you. Since you said so, let’s do the check-up!"

The female family member held a high level of trust in Zhou Can.

This is the ideal doctor-patient relationship. Patients with deep trust in their doctors allow the physicians to act freely and do their utmost to treat the patient.

"Alright, I’ll consult with the senior doctor first. I’ll order the check-up and arrange for the ultrasound for your husband shortly."

Zhou Can, upon exiting, called Dr. Xu directly.

This matter certainly needs to be reported to Dr. Xu.