Chapter 190: Technique Is King!
“Okay, Teacher Tong,” Lu Cheng replied without hesitation.
The tendon layering that Tong Yuan’an mentioned refers to the state where the tendon is split, making tendon rupture in this condition more difficult to suture.
Ordinary tendon suturing techniques have a relatively high re-rupture rate. In the past, sutures were handled in the usual way due to technical limitations.
However, with relatively better suturing techniques now available, there’s no reason not to use them and intentionally increase the likelihood of rupture.
It’s sufficient to not display the specific suturing technique in the operative record.
Lu Cheng immediately called the surgery shift and asked them to take over his post from the operating room.
When Lu Cheng arrived at the operating room, Tong Yuan’an had already almost finished processing the severed limb, with only the tendon suturing remaining!
“Teacher Tong, is this split into two layers?” Lu Cheng hesitated slightly.
“Yes, so for this kind of situation, it’s best to use the weave method. I’m not very proficient with this technique. After careful consideration several times, I decided to call you over.”
“After all, you are on duty today,” Tong Yuan’an replied naturally.
If Lu Cheng had been off duty, he wouldn’t have called.
Lu Cheng not only developed high-quality tendon suturing techniques but also had a wide range of learned and mastered tendon suturing techniques.
As for the weave suturing technique, Tong Yuan’an had never systematically studied it. His own techniques had reached a certain level, and he wouldn’t spend time going back to learn other tendon suturing techniques.
What Tong Yuan’an said represented his assessment of the surgical procedure; Lu Cheng was merely the operator, with Tong Yuan’an providing the treatment philosophy.
“Okay, alright, Teacher Tong,” Lu Cheng was very receptive and meticulously followed the weave suturing method, quickly suturing the severed ends of both tendons.
After suturing, Tong Yuan’an immediately measured the tension of the tendon suture: “Good, good… The more techniques one masters, the more adaptable they can be.”
“Xiao Lu, it’s indeed comfortable to be a doctor like you geniuses; you learn a technique and then just use it.”
Lu Cheng replied, “Teacher Tong, I wouldn’t say I’m a genius.”
“You’ve won two first prizes, and you still say you’re not a genius? How ambitious are you?” Tong Yuan’an asked with a gentle tone, looking down.
Lu Cheng’s expression was honest, his gaze was honest, and his tone was honest: “Teacher Tong, these are just provincial first prizes, not national competition ones.”
After the tendon was sutured, the vascular bed for the reattached finger was prepared, and then it was time for vascular suturing.
Tong Yuan’an didn’t make this difficult for “Lu Cheng” but personally began the procedure. He looked up at Lu Cheng and said, “You’ll likely stand out in the national competition too!”
“Good scientific research is the mainstream pursuit for everyone now because once there’s a breakthrough in research, it can achieve a dimensional strike.”
“As for technology, if you don’t know it, you don’t know it.”
“Good techniques can compensate for a lot of deficiencies in basic skills.”
“It’s just a matter of time.”
Lu Cheng suddenly said, “Teacher Tong, I’m not planning to participate in the upcoming national competition.”
Tong Yuan’an’s head shook violently, the flesh on his double chin jiggling: “Why? Aren’t you going to make money?”
Lu Cheng said, “That was the original plan, but the situation has changed, hasn’t it?”
“You know very well what’s been happening at our hospital recently. I’m afraid if my achievements are too outstanding, it will be difficult to leave the county hospital smoothly.”
“The more chaotic it gets, the more people will want to use something to divert attention and calm the situation.”
“I don’t want to be the ‘early bird’.”
What Du Qiang told Lu Cheng was easy to understand.
This is also a common tactic in news and diversion. If something bad happens in a place, a good way to divert attention is to promote other positive events.
Would a doctor from the county hospital winning a provincial skills competition be positive energy? Certainly.
What if they also won a national skills competition first prize?
Once such publicity is too deeply intertwined, it becomes irreversible.
As the saying goes, listen to advice and eat well. Lu Cheng didn’t want to gamble on the leaders’ open-mindedness to prove Du Qiang wrong.
Plans are plans, but initial plans need to adapt to the actual situation. Lu Cheng didn’t want to become the focal point for Long County People’s Hospital to divert attention, thus being completely tied to the hospital, or even becoming a spokesperson.
“Then all your previous efforts would be in vain?” Tong Yuan’an could understand, but he felt it was a bit of a pity.
Lu Cheng smiled, “It’s not entirely a pity, Teacher Tong.”
“As you’ve seen yourself, seeing is believing. Winning an award and surpassing others at least means they won’t look down on me anymore because of my identity.”
“The first day I arrived in Shashi City.” Lu Cheng said this, smiling without speaking.
Tong Yuan’an was indifferent: “Xiao Lu, this is the real world. Most people are snobbish and judge by identity.”
Lu Cheng nodded, “So… if I said I wanted to teach your colleagues some techniques and have them participate in the competition, they shouldn’t think I’m being eccentric now.”
At this point, Lu Cheng explained his actual plan: “Teacher Tong, this is my plan.”
“At Xiehe Hospital, one of my teachers will participate with tendon suturing techniques and parenchymal organ suturing techniques.”
“If any teachers at Xiangya Hospital are willing to learn, they can participate with vascular suturing and nerve suturing techniques.”
Tong Yuan’an was stunned for a moment after hearing this, then sighed, “Your words are better left unsaid.”
“Since you’re from Xiehe Hospital anyway, it’s fine to keep the benefits for your own hospital.”
Is what Lu Cheng said even human?
The techniques you can reliably win with are tendon suturing and parenchymal organ suturing. If you don’t participate and teach these techniques to people at Xiehe Hospital, it’s like giving a gift to pave your future.
Can Xiangya Hospital compete with Xiehe Hospital in vascular suturing and nerve suturing?
Lu Cheng continued to smile and say, “Teacher Tong, you are also my teacher, which is why I’m giving a gift to your colleagues.”
Tong Yuan’an retorted impatiently, “You’re using suturing techniques from Xiehe Hospital as a gift? What’s the use of that?”
Lu Cheng replied, “Techniques are techniques, and methods are methods. Only techniques that form a standard procedure can be called methods.”
“Xiehe Hospital’s nerve suturing has not yet formed a ‘named’ technique!”
“If your colleagues manage to win in this area, wouldn’t that be interesting?”
Lu Cheng’s tone was slightly mischievous, appearing flippant, as if he enjoyed watching chaos.
Tong Yuan’an was not stupid; his intelligence and cognition were sound, so he could naturally understand Lu Cheng’s implication.
His eyes blinked rapidly several times: “What do you mean?”
“Literally,” Lu Cheng replied quickly.
“There are two points: I won’t participate, and I don’t want people I don’t want to win, to win!”
“And if possible, I hope the people I want to win, win higher awards.”
Lu Cheng’s words seemed a bit eccentric, as if the skills competition was Lu Cheng’s plaything.
Lu Cheng wanted to dictate the rules, wanting to decide who wins, and they must win.
Tong Yuan’an said, “Eh, who do you think you are?”
“Never mind nerve suturing, how are you going to make us win in the main race of vascular suturing?”
“Everyone basically has a 100% immediate blood flow patency rate!”
Lu Cheng replied, “Speed, vessel diameter, and severed segments.”
“100% patency of one severed end can’t compare to 100% of two severed ends and three segments. 100% sutured in ten minutes will definitely score lower than being sutured in five minutes.”
Tong Yuan’an fell silent after hearing this!
Of course, Tong Yuan’an became withdrawn again.
He understood Lu Cheng’s implication: Lu Cheng was likely going to work on these two suturing techniques again.
Lu Cheng had a history of this.
If Lu Cheng hadn’t previously developed tendon suturing and parenchymal organ suturing techniques, Tong Yuan’an would have wanted to spit in his face.
But Lu Cheng had a history, and he was unreasonable.
The parenchymal organ suturing technique for spleen, which shouldn’t have existed, was developed by Lu Cheng, and even Chen Song was rendered speechless, proving the authenticity of this suturing technique.
Based on this, if Lu Cheng now claims to have further improved vascular and nerve suturing techniques, would you believe him?
Instinctively, one wouldn’t believe Lu Cheng could be so monstrous.
However, rationally, one wouldn’t completely disbelieve; instead, they would adopt an attitude of “better safe than sorry.”
Tong Yuan’an’s mind was exploding, so much so that he even felt his own actions were somewhat distorted.
Why?
Why did Lu Cheng’s output seem like a sheep’s droppings, constantly appearing wherever he went?
It wasn’t until Tong Yuan’an had sutured two veins that he broke the silence in the operating room, his voice hoarse and serious: “Jokes are not to be made lightly.”
“Teacher Tong, I can joke, but not this kind of joke with you.”
Lu Cheng’s tone was also very formal: “And you’ve known for a long time that I’m a petty person, not a gentleman.”
“I’m doing this based on two points.”
“First, I can’t go out to compete anymore. Otherwise, I would have wanted to win first place in four categories.”
“Second, no matter what, Huashan Hospital cannot win first place, and other hand surgeons at Xiehe Hospital cannot win first place.”
“Not for any other reason, but because I’m not happy about it.”
“Then you’re just being…” Tong Yuan’an couldn’t finish his sentence.
You’re so noble!
You don’t want Huashan Hospital or Xiehe Hospital’s hand surgery teams to win first place, so you’ll claim first place with original techniques. Your reason is so pure and unconventional.
Tong Yuan’an’s “dao heart” collapsed, more fragmented than Xie Yuan’an’s.
“Teacher Tong, let’s wait until tomorrow after we’ve seen it,” Lu Cheng said with a smile.
【 Unnamed Nerve Suturing Technique （ Proficient 10/10 ）, Unnamed Vascular Suturing Technique （ Proficient 10/10 ）】
Lu Cheng looked at the items on the panel with considerable confidence.
Tong Yuan’an warned him again: “Xiao Lu, you are already excellent. You don’t need to add more qualifications to benchmark yourself.”
“Just be yourself, and you are already very formidable. If you are just joking, your Teacher Tong can pretend not to take it seriously.”
“However, if I really call people over, although we won’t spread it, your ‘clown’ label will be cemented in our minds.”
“It’s not a big disadvantage, but it’s not of much benefit either.”
Tong Yuan’an could indeed call people over, and he certainly would.
In hand surgery, the innovation of tendon suturing techniques doesn’t hold significant original meaning. It’s merely to prevent other countries from dominating, a matter of sentiment.
In hand surgery, the innovation of parenchymal organ suturing techniques is also irrelevant to hand surgery, as hand surgery doesn’t involve parenchymal organs. Therefore, Tong Yuan’an would only offer Lu Cheng his blessings.
However, hand surgery also recognizes the brilliance of such innovation. The reason people like Tan Zhongyuan value Lu Cheng is their hope that Lu Cheng can make significant contributions in other areas of hand surgery in the future.
For example, in the fields of vascular suturing and nerve suturing, where standard suturing techniques have not yet been established, he could set his own benchmark, with his and Xiangya Hospital’s names written on it, achieving an overtake on a curve and standing at the pinnacle of national and even global hand surgery.
“I understand, Teacher Tong,” Lu Cheng replied calmly.
This time, Lu Cheng wasn’t passively responding or being passively drawn in; he intended to stir things up.
Even if he couldn’t compete in person, Lu Cheng wanted to cause a stir.
There’s no cheating in competitions. As long as the judges in clinical practice are not manipulated, any kind of teaching is not considered cheating.
“Vascular suturing technique? Nerve suturing technique?”
“Not a joke?” Tong Yuan’an continued to press.
“No!” Lu Cheng replied.
“You start suturing! I’m going to make a call.” Tong Yuan’an immediately stopped his work.
This matter was too significant, and the quality of Lu Cheng’s vascular suturing was also good, having won an award in the provincial competition, so it wouldn’t fall below standard quality.
“Okay!” Lu Cheng nodded.
Tong Yuan’an actually made the call, not only to his own teacher, Zhou Yuhui, but also to Tan Zhongyuan and Liao Fan simultaneously.
October 28th was a Wednesday, and October 29th was a Thursday, both weekdays.
Normally, professors at Xiangya Hospital have official work schedules, either performing surgery or seeing patients.
However, the matter was so significant that after Professor Tong Yuan’an’s call, Tan Zhongyuan reprimanded Tong Yuan’an over the phone: “Tong Yuan’an, you’re not a child anymore. You’d better be responsible for your words.”
“We need solid justification to request leave from the hospital and cancel appointments and surgeries.”
Tong Yuan’an said, “Director Tan, what I mean is, whoever is free tomorrow can come.”
“I asked Lu Cheng five times, and he confirmed it each time.”
“He said yes.”
Tan Zhongyuan thought seriously for a moment, his breath sounding like bellows as he tried to maintain his composure: “Professor Zhou and I will come; Liao Fan doesn’t need to.”
“We’ll be there immediately.”
“I think so too,” Tong Yuan’an replied.
“What are Lu Cheng’s thoughts?”
“He doesn’t have any particular thoughts. He said he just doesn’t want people he doesn’t want to win, to win. That’s all.”
Tan Zhongyuan was not like Tong Yuan’an; he didn’t have such a good temper and wasn’t prone to becoming withdrawn: “Damn it.”
…
The next day, October 29th, the weather was overcast turning to cloudy.
The 15th day of the 9th lunar month in the Gui Mao year, Ren Xu month, Geng Shen day, auspicious for weddings, travel, cleaning, moving, signing contracts, trading, moving into a new house, and acquiring wealth!
Fortunately, the small training room that Tong Yuan’an had set up in his dormitory had not been dismantled, and many pieces of equipment were still there, with more items brought in.
At eleven o’clock last night, Tong Yuan’an personally contacted the ‘suppliers’ in Shashi City and asked them to deliver the goods directly to Long County in Xiang Province.
The quantity of goods ordered was substantial, amounting to over a hundred thousand yuan. Therefore, the sales personnel did not hesitate and departed overnight, arriving in Long County before Professor Tan Zhongyuan and Professor Zhou Yuhui, and began setting up the training room overnight.
By the time Tong Yuan’an and Lu Cheng returned, they had almost finished the setup.
“Professor Tong, please inspect it and see if there are any changes needed. We have ample stock this time, as much as you need,” the sales representative from the biology company said with a friendly smile.
They knew that once such a project was initiated, it would involve orders of hundreds of thousands, potentially exceeding a million yuan.
“It’s fine to have extra stock. That’s all for now. You can go and rest,” Tong Yuan’an nodded and began to usher them out.
“Then Professor Tong and your team, please proceed.”
“Teacher, let’s add WeChat. If you need any materials in the future, just give us a call. We handle distribution throughout the province, and we can also arrange for cross-provincial deliveries.”
“The price will definitely be negotiable,” the salesperson was quite professional, preferring to err on the side of caution.
Tong Yuan’an said, “This is Doctor Lu Cheng. You’d better offer a lower price, even lower than what you offered me.”
“It’s all negotiable. Teacher Tong, if you order more, the price we offered you can also be discussed,” the sales representative had a keen sense for business.
Tong Yuan’an was about to undertake something major, potentially leading to millions in orders.
He was a real-world salesperson, not an online one, and wouldn’t consider millions in orders from a project team to be insignificant.
This was a godsend.
“You can leave now; we need to get to work,” Tong Yuan’an formally began to usher them out.
Lu Cheng said, “Teacher Tong, I’ll operate first. When I’m almost done, you can go find Director Tan and Professor Zhou to verify the data.”
“They’ve been traveling all night; let them rest for a bit.”
“Are you tired?” Tong Yuan’an asked Lu Cheng, “We’re not in a hurry.”
Lu Cheng said, “I’m a bit tired, but I’m afraid if I fall asleep, I’ll oversleep.”
“It’s just for demonstration; we don’t need many data sets. It’ll take less than an hour.”
“Teacher Tong, let me explain. I plan to perform vascular suturing on three severed ends and four segments, and nerve suturing on two severed ends and three segments.”
“I’ll finish and leave. You can then record the data. If the data isn’t good, have Teacher Tan and the others leave, and I’ll call them personally to apologize when I wake up.”
“If it’s acceptable, can I get a good night’s sleep?”
“The competition is in December, which is still a long time away.”
Tong Yuan’an’s breathing became rapid. Seeing Lu Cheng’s calm demeanor, he said in a hushed voice, “You go ahead and do it. If you do it well, I’ll personally give you a back rub tonight.”
Lu Cheng didn’t hesitate and began to put on a sterile surgical gown and sterile gloves.
Tong Yuan’an, the stout man, was naturally the anesthesiologist. He not only had to anesthetize the naked mice but also dissect and expose the tail vessels and nerves of the naked mice.
These preliminary tasks would naturally be handled by the subordinates.
Lu Cheng’s current role was chief surgeon, not a subordinate.
It wasn’t a performance, but it surpassed any performance.
…
Morning, 11:40 AM.
Tan Zhongyuan and Zhou Yuhui, two senior professors, arrived at Tong Yuan’an’s dormitory. The three of them had even brought three highly professional measurement instruments.
These measuring instruments were stored in their vehicles, brought from Shashi City overnight.
At 11:45 AM, Tan Zhongyuan observed the external appearance of Lu Cheng’s sutured three-severed-end, four-segment vascular suture, and his expression became serious.
The naked mouse had been anesthetized and was waking up. Although its tail couldn’t move nimbly, it occasionally showed ‘activity’ with a twitch.
This was rather alarming.
After all, Tong Yuan’an had taken photos. Lu Cheng had severed the naked mouse’s tail nerves twice!
Nerves are not like blood vessels; once cut, they can be rejoined to restore function.
If nerve suturing were that simple, there wouldn’t be so many mobility impairments caused by nerve injuries in reality!
“Hu Yi, Han Yun Shen. Start the measurement!”
“Yes!” Hu Yi and Han Yun Shen were both students of Tan Zhongyuan and part of Tan Zhongyuan’s team.
Among them, Han Yun Shen’s surgical breadth surpassed Tong Yuan’an’s; only in terms of depth of operation was he inferior to Tong Yuan’an.
And Hu Yi, an attending physician, was the first-place winner in vascular suturing in this provincial competition, a quiet and unassuming young talent.
He was only thirty-two years old this year, just two years older than Lu Cheng!
The measurement speed on the equipment was fast.
The results came out quickly, and the various data immediately silenced Tan Zhongyuan, Zhou Yuhui, and the others.
“Immediate blood flow patency rate 99.9%!”
“Blood flow speed: 0.24-0.26ml/min! （milliliters/minute）; theoretical value is 0.2-0.3mL/min（milliliters/minute）.”
“Re（Reynolds Coefficient）: 2322-2425! （2000-2500）”
“Turbulence volume ratio: 8%! （Normal value: 1%.）”
“Bleeding: None!”
“Nerve conduction velocity, NCV: 33-35m/s! （25 – 50 m/s）”
“Action potential amplitude, APA: 100-108mV! （90–130 mV）”
“Sensory nerve conduction velocity, SNCV: 55-57m/s（40–60 m/s）”
“Motor nerve conduction velocity, MNCV: 56-58m/s（40–60 m/s）”
…
Gulp, gulp, gulp!
Han Yun Shen, Tong Yuan’an, and others began to swallow saliva.
“Is this f***ing cheating?” Hu Yi’s frog-like eyes widened!
“This is definitely cheating,” Hu Yi, a professional hand surgeon who could understand the practical meaning of these parameters, stated with certainty.
Tong Yuan’an was jolted out of his shock by Hu Yi’s words and then said, “Director Tan, Master, Lu Cheng’s operation was not a simple severance, but data from multiple severances.”
“These parameters are too stable. He was mentally prepared for this.”
“I have his operative videos here, and it’s confirmed that all operations were performed by Lu Cheng himself.”
Tan Zhongyuan and Zhou Yuhui were relatively calm, as their advanced age made them less susceptible to extreme joy or sorrow.
“Measure the other one,” Tan Zhongyuan immediately instructed.
The data for the second mouse was also measured, which was largely similar to the first set.
Tan Zhongyuan glanced at it and asked, “What did that Lu Cheng say? He doesn’t want the teams from Xiehe Hospital and Huashan Hospital to win awards, right?”
Tong Yuan’an replied, “Yes, that reason is a bit messed up.”
Zhou Yuhui, who had been silent, patted Tong Yuan’an’s plump cheek: “What do you mean ‘this reason is messed up’?”
“Do you know what’s messed up? As long as it’s a reason, it’s a legitimate reason.”
“Huh?” Tong Yuan’an was taken aback.
“This reason is good!~” Zhou Yuhui’s expression was serious, and his tone was unquestionable.
