Read Novel Full Chapter 1388 551: Took the Medicine to the Wrong Place, Refusing to Eat—Newborn Baby (Part 2)
Chapter 1388 551: Took the Medicine to the Wrong Place, Refusing to Eat—Newborn Baby (Part 2)
Everything else is fleeting.
Only being able to cure the patient's illness is most welcomed.
"Alright then, I'm off!"
In the end, Zhou Can didn't expose the fact that Brother Wei came here because of his liver issues. He joked a bit and let it pass with a smile.
Adults should never have their weaknesses or flaws exposed directly; breaking face is absolutely taboo.
A few minutes later, he successfully arrived at the pediatric ward's neonatal intensive care unit.
Director Tang Fei, Director Zhuang, and Director Le from Cardiothoracic Surgery were all anxiously waiting for him. Despite the presence of numerous directors, they were helpless regarding the newborn's condition.
After a brief exchange of pleasantries, Zhou Can went straight to the point.
"How is the patient's condition?"
"The situation is very dire. The primary symptom is a refusal to eat; the baby hasn't even been drinking much water for three days. Breathing is rapid, crying is weak like a mosquito's buzz, and the face is entirely gray. If no solution is found today, I'm afraid this child is in imminent danger."
Director Tang Fei explained the situation with a hint of urgency on her face.
For her, the death of the patient wouldn't have much of a personal impact.
Yet she was as anxious as the child's parents, and this sense of responsibility is genuinely precious.
From her description, what's causing the rapid deterioration isn't heart failure, but rather the refusal to eat.
Zhou Can has been practicing in Pediatrics for more than two years, accumulating considerable clinical diagnostic experience.
There are many reasons for a patient's refusal to eat, among which respiratory difficulties are the most common.
After birth, infants naturally suckle mother's milk, which is an innate survival skill that humans have evolved.
However, suckling requires considerable effort, which can lead to heavy breathing. If fed manually, one of the infant's nostrils might be blocked by the mother's body during suckling.
In such cases, they can only breathe through one nostril, making it even more difficult.
Out of an instinct for self-protection, infants may choose to keep themselves in a relatively easier breathing state, leading them to resist suckling.
In obstetrics' inpatient wards, occurrences of babies refusing to feed right after birth are quite common.
Even when offered formula, they may refuse to drink.
At this point, vigilance is required as babies who don't eat for over a day are often ill. Newborn mothers and their families should not fear spending money or assume it's nothing major and hide the truth from doctors and nurses.
Because in today's big city hospitals, typically patients are discharged within two days after delivery.
Doctors and nurses are usually very busy and may not notice whether the baby is feeding, relying instead on simple inquiries with family members and the mother herself to obtain relevant information. This situation leads to potential risks when family members deliberately conceal facts from doctors.
Zhou Can encountered such families during his pediatric consultations.
They brought a few-days-old baby for examination whose mental state was extremely poor, showing signs of lethargy and dry lips. When questioned, the family responded hesitantly and ambiguously.
Upon examination, it was found the baby was already in a life-threatening state.
Faced with this situation, one can only secretly curse the family for being so ignorant—such a vivid little life might pass away prematurely.
In the hospital, even if a newborn refuses to eat, if the issue is promptly reported to doctors and nurses, there are ways to save the baby's life, such as direct intravenous nutrition delivery.
In the neonatal ICU, some premature infants weigh only a few hundred grams at birth, looking as small as frogs.
With careful care and attention from medical staff, those in stable condition can often gain weight within a month, reaching three to four kilograms, at which point they generally develop into normal newborns.
"Director Tang, after discussing with other directors, what do you think the illness is?"
Zhou Can asked this while reviewing the patient's data and inquiring about the experts' discussion outcomes.
Because he was not present for the previous discussions among these experts.
Diagnosing such complex cases often requires collective wisdom and collaboration.
"The current diagnosis leans towards heart failure, but there's no consensus on what specifically causes it."
Diagnosing a disease based on symptoms, various test results, and experience is not the hardest part.
Finding the cause of the disease is what's truly challenging.
Heart failure can stem from many reasons, like cardiomegaly, congenital heart defects, or even unusual cases like the one Zhou Can resolved recently, where calf muscle atrophy led to heart failure.
A newborn's body is much more fragile than an adult's.
Many examinations that can be directly used on adults can't be used to test newborns.
Moreover, adults can accurately express discomfort and symptoms.
Infants, however, can't communicate any issues and can, at best, cry a few times.
"Where is the patient now?"
"In room number 7, I'll take you there!"
Despite her busy schedule and prestigious status as the pediatric department's chief director, Director Tang Fei personally took Zhou Can there, both out of respect for him and also indicating her utmost concern for this patient.
Tang Fei led Zhou Can to the neonatal ward.
On the third bed upon entering lay a woman who had given birth a few days ago, wearing a postpartum recovery band on her forehead.
In China, postpartum recovery is highly valued, as it's believed that after childbirth, all bones become relaxed.
Binding the head tightly with a band is said to aid postnatal recovery.
If not bound, it's believed that headaches may become a lasting consequence.
Although this belief has no scientific basis, the rules passed down by previous generations are adhered to by most, preferring to err on the side of caution. They opt for postpartum recovery and various care practices.
For example: no cold water exposure, no bathing, no hair washing...
Numerous taboos.
The mother appeared to be around twenty, very young. At the moment, she was affectionately holding the baby, trying to give him some water.
Unfortunately, the baby was very resistant, refusing to open his mouth or pushing the nipple out forcefully.
Seeing a group of doctors enter the ward, the mother and family appeared somewhat reserved.
The family stood up and gave up the best spot.
"Is the baby still refusing to drink water?"
Director Tang Fei approached and asked with concern.
"Yes! We don't know why he just won't drink any water, always pushing the nipple out vigorously every time." The mother expressed her worried concern.
The joy of becoming a mother hadn't yet faded when the baby's strange behavior deeply unsettled her.
For an adult, three days without eating or drinking would already lead to collapse.
Let alone a newborn.
"This doctor is a well-known expert in our pediatric department, Dr. Zhou Can. He is proficient in pediatrics and cardiothoracic surgery, among other fields, and was specifically invited for this consultation to hopefully identify the cause of the child's illness."
Director Tang Fei introduced Zhou Can to the family.
Being proficient in multiple fields is indeed a considerable advantage.
For example, diagnosing the newborn in front of other doctors who are at a loss while the relatively young Zhou Can brings hope to everyone.
"Thank you, thank you all! Dr. Zhou, please take good care of our baby!"
The mother repeatedly expressed gratitude to the doctors.
"May I hold the baby?"
Zhou Can asked.
"Of course, of course!"
The mother handed the baby over to Zhou Can.
The family watched from the side, feeling that the doctor seemed particularly young. But for such a young doctor to be introduced prominently among these older doctors, he must have remarkable skills.
"Whimper whimper..."
With an unfamiliar person holding him, the baby opened his weary eyes and let out a frightened cry.
However, his cries were very faint.
Like a little kitten calling out.
Zhou Can was already observing the child closely, including his nasal cavity, oral cavity, and complexion, among other things.
"Has he gone a long time without milk or water?"
"Since birth until now, he refuses to drink. His lips are chapped, and at most, he'll take just one or two sips before pushing the nipple away." The mother replied, her heart aching.