Chapter 151: Wind Rises On The Border!
“The reason there are so many suturing techniques for tendons is that too many orthopedic doctors have failed by simply suturing tendons interruptedly. This reality has forced orthopedic doctors to create original suturing techniques.”
“The suturing of the spleen, gallbladder, and liver you just mentioned is quite effective with simple interrupted suturing, so there’s no need to talk about specialized techniques.”
Chen Song was happy that Lu Cheng shifted the conversation to professional matters.
Otherwise, Chen Song wouldn’t know what to talk to Lu Cheng about, discussing Lu Cheng’s “betrayal”?
No, no, no, that thought was too harsh; Lu Cheng never carried the label of Chen Song’s possession.
Lu Cheng said, “Teacher Chen, please take a look at this paper. This paper was published by a joint team from the Urology Department and the Hand Surgery Department, discussing some suturing techniques in microsurgery.”
“It can achieve re-implantation after the transection of the corpus cavernosum…”
Chen Song took Lu Cheng’s mobile phone and, after a brief glance at the paper’s abstract, understood what was going on.
He glanced sideways at Lu Cheng, “So? What are you trying to say?”
Lu Cheng explained in detail to Chen Song, “Teacher Chen, when I was studying at Xiehe Hospital, a teacher there told me that the essence of suturing is to reconstruct the order of life through the means of suturing.”
“Suturing is the means, and reconstructing the order of life is the fundamental goal.”
“For example, the essence of nerve suturing, vascular suturing, and tendon suturing is to connect tissue ends and promote scar regeneration through sutures and suturing techniques.”
“Many other surgical operations are also like this.”
“The concept of spleen preservation surgery is essentially no different from this,” Lu Cheng said to Chen Song.
Lu Cheng’s words were concise and specific, making them easy to understand. Chen Song then asked, “Are you suggesting that by adding some techniques to the suturing in spleen preservation surgery, the indications for spleen preservation surgery can be further expanded?”
Lu Cheng replied, “Teacher Chen, it’s not about expanding the indications for spleen preservation surgery, but about expanding the application range of suturing techniques within spleen preservation surgery.”
“Current spleen preservation surgery still emphasizes partial splenectomy. If, through improvements in suturing techniques, some cases that require partial splenectomy can be handled with suturing, they can achieve a good prognosis.”
Lu Cheng didn’t dare to think about changing the surgical indications and contraindications; he was only thinking about whether some suturing techniques from hand surgery could be integrated into spleen preservation surgery to expand the application of suturing in it.
This was a rather grounded speculation.
Lu Cheng’s idea was easy to understand but very difficult to implement. Chen Song’s brows furrowed, “Spleen tissue is completely different from tendon tissue; this type of solid organ is more fragile!”
“Moreover, the blood supply system within the organ is intricate, making it very difficult to handle.”
“If handled improperly, local necrosis can occur, and the risk to the patient is much higher than failing to suture a tendon.”
Lu Cheng said, “However, Teacher Chen, the standard emergency procedure for spleen rupture is splenectomy. Compared to the risks of spleen preservation surgery versus splenectomy, expanding the application of suturing techniques is actually a manageable risk.”
Lu Cheng’s reasoning was sound and logical.
How high were the risks that the first surgeon to perform spleen preservation surgery had to bear?
Chen Song glanced at Lu Cheng, “Your own research project hasn’t even started yet, and you’re already thinking about other projects?”
“Looking for something else while you still have something? Is that the kind of person you are?”
Lu Cheng’s tone was calm, “Teacher Chen, the focus of the research project on tendon suturing techniques is currently on whether it has been done, not on whether the techniques are theoretically imperfect.”
“This project currently lacks sufficient data support, but the maturity of the techniques is sufficient.”
“As for spleen suturing techniques, it’s still in its very early stages, so it’s necessary to make some preparations in advance,” Lu Cheng said.
“So, you plan to use this to please me?” Chen Song lifted his arrogant chin, instantly embodying a cat person.
Lu Cheng calmly shook his head and said, “Teacher Chen, if you speak like that, aren’t we just going back to the same topic?”
“I just feel that spleen preservation surgery has applied hemostasis to its fullest extent but has not integrated the full essence of suturing.”
“So, I was thinking if there are any loopholes to exploit. These are the only surgeries I know, and this is what I ponder every day.”
Chen Song’s brows began to furrow, his eyebrows raising and then relaxing.
After an unknown amount of time, Chen Song looked at Lu Cheng and said with a low tone, “You’re also a restless soul, the kind who creates waves even when there’s no wind.”
“Well said about seeking clarity of mind.”
…
Half a minute later, Chen Song realized Lu Cheng was unfazed and asked a soul-searching question, “Do you know what you’re actually talking about?”
Outside the window, a gentle breeze rustled the leaves, the leaves cast shifting shadows, and the shadows played with their eyes, bit by bit, frame by frame.
Lu Cheng nodded, then shook his head, “Teacher Chen, to be honest, I don’t understand it very well, so I’d really like to ask for your guidance on this question.”
Lu Cheng had not done scientific research before and had not read many research papers.
Although he had started reading recently, his reading volume was still very, very limited.
Chen Song pursed his lips, then bit them, but ultimately couldn’t help himself, “A newborn calf fears no tiger. Do you think that if you, Lu Cheng, can think of it, others can’t?”
“The current spleen preservation surgical procedures do have limitations in not fully utilizing the advantages of suturing, but are these things we don’t understand?”
Chen Song’s tone and voice were slightly distorted.
His eyes, like burning flames, pierced through Lu Cheng, wanting to see if Lu Cheng considered everyone an idiot.
Lu Cheng quickly shook his head, “Teacher Chen, I didn’t mean that.”
Seeing Lu Cheng’s honest expression, Chen Song continued, “I don’t know your intentions behind making these statements today.”
“But I want to tell you that secondary original creation is much easier than primary original creation.”
“Don’t think that because you’ve made a new modification to tendon suturing techniques, you can then tackle solid organs.”
“While the breakthrough from one hundred to one thousand is indeed difficult, a tenfold increase, the breakthrough from 0 to 1 is, in principle, an infinite multiplication.”
Chen Song couldn’t just belittle Lu Cheng, “Of course, having such an idea is a good thing, but we can be cautious and put this idea aside for now!”
“For instance, let’s set a small goal first, and learn spleen preservation surgery next. Once you understand all the surgeries for the gallbladder, liver, spleen, and pancreas, we can revisit this issue.”
“At that time, perhaps you’ll have new insights, and you might even find your current ideas somewhat laughable…”
Chen Song was not just rejecting Lu Cheng’s proposal but also specifically guiding him on what he should do next.
Because only after you have a comprehensive understanding and mastery of various surgeries for preserving solid organs can you talk about ‘original creation’ or ‘modification’!
After all, Chen Song truly regarded Lu Cheng as a student, not just a nominal one. Chen Song had seriously taught Lu Cheng many things and even considered taking Lu Cheng under his wing.
Tong Yuan’an had tried to interfere multiple times, but Chen Song had stood his ground.
Although the current situation deviated from his initial intentions, Chen Song did not hate Lu Cheng or truly get angry with him.
If Lu Cheng had refused Zhong Junyun for his own benefit, Chen Song would have felt that Lu Cheng lacked understanding.
Lu Cheng was not speaking without reason. After attentively listening to Professor Chen Song, Lu Cheng carefully glanced at his panel again—
【Specialty Surgical Procedures: Gallbladder Removal Surgery （Proficiency 10/10 ）, Appendectomy （Proficiency 10/10 ）, Splenectomy （Proficiency 10/10 ）, Spleen Preservation Surgery (Mastery 0/20), Gallbladder Preservation Surgery （Mastery 0/20 ）】
【Suturing Professional Basic Skills: … Membrane Suturing （Proficiency 9/10 ）】
【Suturing Specialty Skills: Modified Kessler Suturing （Mastery 0/20 ）, Modified Tang Method Suturing （Mastery 6/20 ）… Spleen Parenchyma Suturing Technique （Beginner 2/5 ）… 】
Specialty Surgical Procedures, Suturing Professional Basic Skills, and Suturing Specialty Skills are different operations and techniques.
After carefully reviewing the technical regulations on the panel, Lu Cheng savored the suturing technique in his mind again. Once he was sure, he said:
“Teacher Chen, I have some ideas. Can I buy some pig internal organs and demonstrate them for you?”
Chen Song replied, “Of course, you can!”
“Xiao Lu, let me tell you, failure is the mother of success. Every suturing technique you see today is actually a single success after countless failures.”
“Any surgeon will have their own understanding and insights into different operations and procedures.”
“First, you gain understanding and insight, and then you practice the operation, which may lead to failure or success.”
“Like you, finding the correct modification path for a technique immediately is called enlightenment, and enlightenment occurs very rarely.”
Lu Cheng knew that he couldn’t explain it clearly to Professor Chen Song now; perhaps after he started practicing, Professor Chen Song might understand something:
“Teacher Chen, I would appreciate your guidance then.”
“Okay, send it to me.” Since Lu Cheng was still like a newborn calf unafraid of a tiger, Chen Song would not suppress him just to target him.
…
Pig spleen is a pig’s spleen organ. It doesn’t sell well in ordinary markets and is generally inexpensive.
After Mu Nanshu received Lu Cheng’s message, although she didn’t know what Lu Cheng was planning, she was relatively free, so she went to three different markets and bought six.
As soon as Mu Nanshu returned home, she sent Lu Cheng a screenshot, saying, “Aunt Hui just messaged me saying she went to the market, but I’m already home!”
“If it were twenty minutes earlier, I could have waited for her at the market.”
Lu Cheng jokingly replied, “It’s okay, my mom won’t get lost.”
Tian Hui was efficient at selling vegetables and evading city inspectors.
Mu Nanshu sent an eye-rolling emoji and then asked, “What do you need these pig spleens for? Shouldn’t you be buying pig trotters?”
“To practice surgical techniques. Pig trotters are for practicing tendon suturing techniques.”
“Spleen preservation surgery should be practiced this way.” Before Professor Chen Song confirmed whether this suturing technique was effective, Lu Cheng didn’t want to tell Mu Nanshu the truth.
After all, if he made a big joke out of it, it would seem like he was showing off.
Once there was concrete evidence, Mu Nanshu would know everything.
“Oh, then I’ll ask again tomorrow. You can probably buy these directly from the slaughterhouse!” Mu Nanshu had experience with animal experiments.
“That’s fine too, I didn’t even think to ask at the slaughterhouse,” Lu Cheng replied.
After replying to the message, Lu Cheng looked up at Professor Chen Song and saw that he was lying there flat, with an expression of utter disinterest in the world.
Lu Cheng actually wanted to ask Professor Chen Song for more advice, but seeing his expression, he hesitated and finally decided not to disturb Professor Chen Song’s ‘peace’…
At 7:40 PM, after dinner, Lu Cheng escorted Mu Nanshu to the entrance of Chengxin Plaza Residential Area.
Mu Nanshu noticed Lu Cheng seemed a bit distracted, “Why are you in such a hurry? You look so preoccupied.”
Lu Cheng thought for a moment before replying, “I’m going back to practice my skills. Otherwise, why would I have asked you to sell pig spleens today?”
“I have my own plans! I’ll tell you more when there’s something concrete.”
Mu Nanshu nodded slightly, “You’re being so mysterious. I won’t ask then… But please don’t buy chocolates or anything; I’m on a diet…”
Mu Nanshu was a month younger than Lu Cheng, and with October approaching, she thought Lu Cheng was preparing a birthday gift for her!
Lu Cheng was stunned for a moment, understanding Mu Nanshu’s words.
He then looked at Mu Nanshu, who was now walking with her hands behind her back, her steps even, humming a tune…
Lu Cheng, without delay, returned to his home and immediately locked himself in his training room.
Lu Cheng glanced at his panel again.
This panel indeed couldn’t create something from nothing; techniques Lu Cheng was completely unaware of were not recorded.
However, it seemed this panel also had the ability to autonomously optimize, improve, and combine different skills.
For instance, Lu Cheng had previously thought about modifying tendon suturing techniques, and an unnamed entry appeared.
In the days since his return, Lu Cheng had been thinking about whether suturing techniques could be integrated into spleen preservation surgery, and spleen suturing techniques had emerged.
Lu Cheng carefully recalled the method Professor Chen Song had taught him for creating simulated spleen rupture specimens with different AAST scores, and then began to cut.
Ten minutes later, four AAST Grade IV spleen rupture specimens appeared.
Lu Cheng turned on the camera’s recording button and then began to suture them one by one…
“First one, failed.”
“Second time, failed.”
“Third time, failed.”
Lu Cheng could only increase the level, raising the proficiency of the spleen suturing technique to the proficient level.
“Fourth time, still failed.”
Lu Cheng re-made the “specimens”!
On the fifth and sixth attempts, fine layered spleen suturing surgery finally succeeded, and Lu Cheng’s expression instantly brightened.
Sitting down, he removed his gloves and washed his hands.
After re-watching the entire recording process, he edited and packaged all the key video nodes and sent them to Chen Song…
