The Surgeon's Studio

The surgery ended and Zheng Ren stepped away from the operating table.

He did not remove his surgical gown. Instead, he waited for Su Yun to bring the stretcher trolley over and helped to move the patient.

“Su Yun, does Sea City have a psychiatrist? It would be best if the patient had access to one once she recovers.”

Su Yun replied, “No, we don’t. There are very few psychiatry departments in our country. I know someone who’s based in Imperial Capital.”

“Are they any good?”

“Talented; definitely worth a try, but it’s a bit pricey.”

Su Yun’s social circle was a galaxy compared to Zheng Ren’s.

Psychiatry was an uncommon specialty in China. The fact that Su Yun had a recommended contact was a testament to his well-connectedness.

“I’ll have a word with the family about the recommended therapy for the patient,” Zheng Ren said as he watched the stretcher trolley leave the operating room. He had not taken his gloves off.

“Go ahead. Let me know if they want the contact.” Su Yun and Chu Yanran wheeled the patient out of the operating room.

“Su Yun, get the father to stay back. I have something to show him,” Zheng Ren called out after Su Yun. He had wanted to show the father the evidence.

“I remember!” Su Yun’s voice reverberated outside the operating room hallway.

Zheng Ren rotated his shoulders to relieve the tension. He saw Department Chief Sun standing in the corner.

The department chief looked to be in a daze. The yellow plastic bag was untied and a distinct odor permeated the operating room.

Zheng Ren tried to get the department chief’s attention. “Chief Sun, the surgery is done. I’m going to inform the family.”

Department Chief Sun snapped out of his daze. He wore a confused expression as his mind processed what was being said to him.

His silence prompted Zheng Ren to ask with concern, “Chief Sun, are you feeling well?”

“Uh…” Department Chief Sun hesitated, then he sealed the yellow plastic bag and walked toward Zheng Ren. “Little Zheng, your diagnosis was spot-on!”

The department chief gave Zheng Ren a congratulatory thumbs-up, a wide smile on his face.

This was the second time the department chief had praised him. If Su Yun was here, some sarcastic remark would have been made. The department chief’s enthusiastic compliments were met with an awkward smile from Zheng Ren.

Zheng Ren felt he was undeserving of praise.

After all, it was the System that provided the diagnosis.

Truth be told, Zheng Ren could not recall the specifics about Rapunzel Syndrome. He would have to look up the article to refresh his memory. These thoughts raced through his mind as the department chief showered him with praise.

Department Chief Sun did not sense the awkwardness in the air. The smell of the impacted stool might have temporarily impaired his brain functions.

“Little Zheng, that friend of mine will be arriving tomorrow. I’ll have to trouble you to perform the TIPS surgery,” Department Chief Sun said solemnly.

“It’s no trouble. Admit him to your ward. I believe your department is more experienced in handling hepatic encephalopathy,” Zheng Ren replied with a smile.

Department Chief Sun nodded faintly.

He wanted to slap himself for his past foolishness.

Zheng Ren had a foreign professor by his side. What was his name? Rudy? Ruben? Even if Zheng Ren could not perform the TIPS surgery, the professor could step in, but why would a foreign professor deign to take up a subordinate role?

The foreign professor’s presence was to Department Chief Sun’s benefit. He had communicated the Caucasian professor’s involvement with his friend to gain brownie points.

He still had doubts about the success rate of the TIPS surgery, but he trusted Department Chief Xia’s judgment.

Department Chief Xia was a capable woman. She survived countless altercations with Department Chief Liu; that was an amazing feat on its own.

She rarely praised others, but Zheng Ren was an exception. He came with Department Chief Xia’s recommendation and she was not shy with her compliments.

Department Chief Sun had a clearer picture of Zheng Ren’s status now. He was in good spirits as he followed Zheng Ren out of the operating room.

Despite the age difference, Department Chief Sun was willing to admit he had misjudged Zheng Ren. The junior doctor had grown into a force to be reckoned with in Sea City General Hospital.

Zheng Ren carried the yellow plastic bag out to the corridor.

“Family of Wang Yutong!” Zheng Ren announced.

Wang Yutong’s father immediately appeared before Zheng Ren, concern etched into his worn face.

Su Yun had informed him to wait for the lead surgeon to explain the circumstances and rushed off with his daughter.

Zheng Ren eyed the man. “You’re Wang Yutong’s father?”

“Yes.”

“Your daughter is suffering from a rare illness.”

The middle-aged man’s face paled. He looked as if Zheng Ren told him his daughter had cancer.

The man’s imagination ran amok and panic seized him.

Zheng Ren could see the shift in expression and quickly smiled to lighten the mood.

“Your daughter has a psychiatric disorder,” Zheng Ren clarified.

A curveball.

Wang Yutong’s father was surprised.

“Psychiatric disorder?” the man questioned.

A psychiatric disorder required surgical treatment?

“It’s… The disorder is called Rapunzel Syndrome.”

“Rapunzel…” The man eyed Zheng Ren suspiciously. If not for the full surgical gear, he would think Zheng Ren was a sham. Hints of blood splattered on Zheng Ren’s gloves made him think twice.

“Rapunzel Syndrome is a rare medical condition resulting in ingesting hair. Hair is made of keratin, which cannot be digested by gastric acid and enzymes, causing problems in the gastrointestinal tract,” Zheng Ren explained.

“The body can excrete a few strands, but a person with Rapunzel Syndrome ingests an excessive amount of hair. Often the patient displays symptoms of thinning hair and malnutrition due to gastrointestinal problems.” Zheng Ren leaned forward with the yellow plastic bag. “Here is the trichobezoar that formed from the large amount of hair she ingested, so you can get a better idea of what your daughter has.”

Zheng Ren opened the yellow plastic bag to show Wang Yutong’s father.

The long explanation was helpful for him to understand his daughter’s condition and his distrust in Zheng Ren slowly faded.

There were many questions in his mind still, but he understood the gist of it.

Holding his breath in, he peered into the open plastic bag.

Zheng Ren pulled out a piece of the trichobezoar.

The individual strands of hair were a part of the patient’s stool and they were numerous. It was a disturbing sight to behold.

A picture was worth a thousand words.

Wang Yutong believed Zheng Ren’s diagnosis.

“Doctor, how do we treat her?” he asked Zheng Ren with pleading eyes.