Chapter 42: Need Someone to Help?
Moreover!
Chen Cang was going to use a round needle and he intended to choose the thinnest type available.
After some deliberation, Chen Cang decided on a suture needle that he had often used in the hospital: the ET164 suture needle, a number four round needle, 16mm in length. This needle was very thin and typically came with a number four thread, and it was quite short, only 16mm.
This type of round needle was generally used to suture blood vessels due to its limited sharpness and because it was very fine. If someone were to suggest using it to suture skin, that would be considered complete nonsense!
Yet, Chen Cang’s idea was to use a number four thread “tail bridge” in addition to this tiny ET164 to suture the skin!
Only by doing so, could he achieve the best results in terms of the suture properties and the appearance of the repaired skin!
Of course, this type of suture came with a high cost.
Firstly, it required a high level of skill; to be able to use a round needle for skin suturing, Chen Cang happened to have that technique, pass!
Secondly, it was expensive, pass!
Thirdly, the patient essentially had to remain still post-operation because the thread was so fine that even a slightly excessive movement could cause the suture to break, negatively affecting recovery. However, Chen Cang felt that this wouldn’t be a problem, at least not for the patient, since they would be well-taken care of by a large team.
The last requirement was the need for a perfect design plan, which was most important. Chen Cang happened to have the blessing of the “Eye of Beauty”!
After thinking it through, Chen Cang looked up, “I think, I should be able to do it.”
Upon hearing this statement, Zheng Guotan’s eyes lit up!
What was the phrase he had heard most often today?
“I can’t guarantee it!”
“It’s basically impossible!”
“This… is unrealistic!”
“Very difficult! No, too difficult!”
More than a dozen experts had been consulted, and each one had the same response, which frustrated Zheng Guotan to no end, yet he was powerless to change it.
But Chen Cang said something different: “I should be able to do it!”
This indicated that the young man was highly confident.
However, Zheng Guotan also considered another possibility! Youthful impetuosity, eager for quick success, wanting to stand out! Both possibilities were plausible, and Zheng Guotan naturally couldn’t just take his word for it. He replied with a glint in his eye, “That’s great, let’s go outside and discuss with the other experts to see if your idea is feasible.”
With that, he led Chen Cang to the living room.
Zheng Guotan clapped his hands and addressed the crowd, “Ladies and gentlemen, esteemed directors and experts, please listen first — after examining the wound, Dr. Chen believes we can give it a try. Let’s hear Dr.
Chen’s thoughts.”
Upon hearing Zheng Guotan’s cue to pay attention, everyone immediately turned around.
When they heard him mention that the doctor had a viable solution, curiosity
got the better of them.
What were these five or six people discussing over there?
Was it not a discussion on how to suture more effectively?
This doctor, so young, and unfamiliar looking, quite handsome though! Could he be in cosmetic surgery? Then… his appearance must be the result of plastic surgery, really handsome! Speaking of which, he could be a great spokesperson for a cosmetic surgery clinic.
After all… with a doctor who is a symbol of beauty, patients won’t be scarce, knowing how peculiar women’s buying desires are…
But he was just too young.
In the medical field, everyone believes that if you’re not bold, your work is not solid. If you couldn’t show a bald head, people would thinkyou lack deep
expertise,
However, considering that this doctor was invited by Zheng Guotan, nobody could underestimate him. Perhaps he was an outstanding talent from out of town.
Chen Cang looked at the crowd but did not recognize anyone. He wasn’t from the medical aesthetics field, and his understanding of it was limited to Zhang Zhixin and Xu Rou. As for dermatology, he was even less familiar; he was just a junior doctor in the emergency department.
Still, this didn’t affect his performance.
He looked up and said, “Hello everyone, I’d like to share my thoughts next.” “As everyone has seen, the lady’s wound is not severe. Any surgeon could handle a simple suture, but achieving a cosmetic level of suturing is very difficult due to the irregularity of the wound, making the difficulty of suturing geometrically more challenging… Therefore!”
“My approach is to use a circular needle similar to what’s used for suturing internal vessels. The needle I chose is the ET164 type, a 16-millimeter long number 4 needle, and for the suture thread, I also chose a number 4 caudal
bridge…”
Chen Cang hadn’t finished speaking when a crisp voice rang out!
“Impossible!”
Everyone looked toward the source of the voice and saw a woman around thirty-seven or thirty-eight years old, with gold-rimmed glasses and sophisticated looks, her hair pinned up at the back of her head, wearing a white coat and a pair of high-heeled leather shoes – a very attractive doctor.
“The method you’re describing is practically unfeasible; the ET164 is a needle for suturing vessels. Are you suggesting using a number 4 circular needle for skin suturing? Are you jolting? Do you think the thickness of the skin can be pierced by a circular needle? ^Moreover, the 16mm length… what’s that for? And you actually want to use a caudal bridge to suture leg skin, which is absurd!” “Therefore, I remain skeptical of such a method!”
After speaking, the woman stood there with her arms crossed, making her stance clear.
The others were nodding, “I also don’t think it’s feasible. Using an ET164 needle to suture skin, and with a circular needle at that… It’s difficult for the circular needle to penetrate due to the skin’s toughness. But the idea is good.” “Hmm, the circular needle indeed has many advantages; it causes less damage and less noticeable scarring.”
Chen Cang didn’t argue because they were speaking the truth. It all depended on Zheng Guotan now.
If he was willing, Chen Cang would proceed; if not, Chen Cang didn’t care. It was just a mission, and it didn’t matter to him whether he did it or not.
Zheng Guotan heard the discussion and frowned.
“Do any of the experts have good suggestions?”
The woman who had spoken earlier said, “Mr. Zheng, it’s impossible to leave no scars, the damage is too severe and suturing is too difficult. We can only rely on later scar removal treatment after suturing. We are fairly professional when it comes to scar treatment later. Also… the rose tattoo needs to be removed, otherwise the design will look very distorted after the suture.”
Everyone nodded in agreement.
Indeed, there was no need to hide anything in such matters; just say what needs to be said.
Ultimately, the decision rested with Zheng Guotan.
All the choices were on him. What should he do?
He didn’t distrust Chen Cang, but Chen Cang was just too inexperienced, and those present had much richer resumes. By comparison, Chen Cang was hardly seen as talented.
Yet, only Chen Cang had the solution. What should he do?
Just then, a man in his fifties from the crowd spoke up, “Mr. Zheng, I have a thought. Let this doctor give it a try. Even if he fails, we can still manage the repair afterward without much impact. Anyway… we’re out of options, so why not try this.”
“Actually, if this doctor can handle the circular needle suturing of the skin, using the ET164 type of small needle might indeed be reasonable, though the difficulty is high. If it’s botched, it’s just a waste of a basic caudal bridge thread, not a great loss.”
Indeed, the circular needle already causes less skin damage, let alone using a number 4 needle. It’s not damage-free, but it’s not significant.
Upon hearing this, Zheng Guotan’s eyes lit up. Right! Even if Chen Cang messed up the suturing, the worst-case scenario was as these people had said. Zheng Guotan turned to Chen Cang, “Howconfident are you?”
Chen Cang: “Eighty percent!”
After weighing the pros and cons, Zheng Guotan decisively nodded and said, “Okay! You do it, do you need an assistant?”
Chen Cang nodded, “Yes, I do.”
ps: I’ve updated a bit late, dear readers please excuse me