24ES | Chapter 5.3

The intern who had run out earlier returned with the saline. After swiftly completing intubation, Yesung poured the saline over the glass-lodged abdomen and covered it with gauze.

Removing the shard blindly wasn’t an option, as the patient’s vitals were stable precisely because the glass was plugging the wound. Pulling it out recklessly could result in catastrophic bleeding and an uncontrollable drop in blood pressure. The priority now was to stabilize the BP as much as possible.

“Where’s the blood? Isn’t it here yet?!”

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Despite flooding the patient with IV fluids, his blood pressure showed no signs of recovery. Just as Yesung’s urgency peaked, a nurse rushed in, clutching blood packs.

“Here’s the blood!”

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Her announcement spurred the team into motion. Of the two blood packs she carried, one was immediately connected to the IV line, and blood began flowing into the patient’s veins, aided by the quick actions of the medical staff.

“Replacing the fluid pack! How’s the patient’s condition?”

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“The vitals are stabilizing. Thankfully, the BP isn’t dropping anymore and is holding steady.”

With a slight sigh of relief, Yesung straightened his back. “Can we do a CT scan right away? Let’s proceed with that ASAP. Dr. Im?”

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“Yes!”

“When the guardian arrives, please secure their consent for the surgery.”

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“Understood!”

After nodding at Im Dowoon’s enthusiastic reply, Yesung turned back to Joohyuk. “It’s better not to remove the glass shard just yet. If we pull it now, it’ll cause massive bleeding. We can’t even tell what’s been damaged. Let’s confirm with the CT and remove it in the OR.”

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“Yes, Sunbae.”

Finally catching his breath, Yesung removed his blood-stained gloves and left the treatment room to report to Professor Jin. Pulling out his phone, he quickly called the professor, who informed him that the first pediatric emergency surgery was nearly finished and they’d soon join him. Relieved, Yesung pocketed his phone just as Joohyuk emerged from the treatment room.

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“Sunbae, about Minwook…”

The school uniform was stained with blood, but the name tag on the chest remained legible: Woo Minwook. Sensing hesitation in Joohyuk, Yesung crossed his arms.

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“…You think so too?”

“Yes, it seems that way.”

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Joohyuk, just like Yesung, had immediately recognized that the injuries weren’t from a simple fall or collision.

“The paramedics said they found him collapsed in a secluded alley. There were multiple bloody footprints and shards of what seemed to be a broken liquor bottle nearby. Fortunately, a passerby discovered him quickly and called for help, which is how he got to our hospital in time.”

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Hearing this report, Yesung nodded grimly. The confirmation added weight to his suspicion.

“The best way to confirm this would be to ask the patient, but since he’s unconscious now…”

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“Dr. Han! Minwook’s CT results are out!”

“For now, let’s focus on the surgery.”

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“Yes.”

Patting Joohyuk’s shoulder, Yesung turned to follow Dowoon to review the CT scans. When they reached the station, his face hardened as he studied the monitor, and Joohyuk’s expression mirrored his concern.

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“…There’s more internal bleeding than we thought.”

“It looks like the shard nicked the inferior vena cava. And as expected, there’s liver damage. Luckily, the aorta is unharmed…”

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“We should proceed with surgery immediately. What’s the OR status?”

“Let me check right away!”

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As Joohyuk sprinted off, Yesung was about to return to the treatment room when he noticed a pale-faced middle-aged woman entering the chaotic ER. Her staggering steps led her directly to the station.

“Min… Minwook… My Minwook…”

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She was clearly the patient’s mother. Approaching her, Yesung introduced himself.

“Hello. Are you Minwook’s mother?”

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“Yes, I’m… I’m his mother! My son… Where is he? I thought he was at school, but I suddenly got a call saying he’s hurt…”

“Please try to stay calm. I’m Han Yesung from pediatric surgery, and I’m the doctor in charge of Minwook.”

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“Yes, yes… Doctor…”

“Minwook was in critical condition earlier due to low blood pressure, but he’s stable now. However, he has significant internal bleeding, and surgery is necessary to remove the lodged glass shard.”

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“Surgery? How badly is he hurt? Is my Minwook going to be okay?”

“Sunbae! The OR is ready for Minwook!”

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Joohyuk’s announcement interrupted the conversation. Dowoon, sensing the situation, approached to assist with the guardian.

“Dr. Im, please explain the situation to the guardian thoroughly and help her stay calm.”

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“Yes, Doctor!”

Yesung trusted that Im Dowoon would handle the consent form without needing further reminders. Leaving the patient’s guardian in Dowoon’s capable hands, Yesung quickly made his way back to the treatment room.

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“We’re moving the patient to the OR!”

“Yes!”

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With the medical team in tow, Yesung personally took hold of the bed and wheeled it out of the treatment room. He noticed the guardian, now in tears, watching them anxiously from where she had been speaking with Dowoon. However, there was no time to spare. Without hesitation, Yesung continued swiftly toward the operating room.

***

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“Dr. Han! The surgery here is going to take longer than expected, so it’s impossible for me to get to your side right now. You’ll have to take the lead. Can you handle it? Dr. Park mentioned there’s liver and vena cava damage. You’ve handled plenty of cases involving liver and vascular sutures, haven’t you?”

The call came just as all the preparations for surgery were completed, leaving only the arrival of Professor Jin, who was tied up with another emergency surgery.

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It was a surprising turn of events, but Professor Jin was right—this was a type of surgery Yesung had performed numerous times. With no one else available to take the lead, Yesung quickly agreed. He would be the one to operate.

“Dr. Han, you can start the surgery now,” said Professor Gong Minseob from anesthesiology, who was checking the patient’s vitals.

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“Yes. As soon as I perform the laparotomy and remove the glass shard, there’s a high likelihood of increased bleeding and a sudden drop in blood pressure, Professor,” Yesung cautioned.

“Understood. I’ll pay extra attention to that side. Don’t worry about anything here—just focus on the procedure, Dr. Han.”

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“Hoo…”

At Professor Gong’s encouragement, Yesung took a deep breath behind his mask and extended his hand.

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“Starting with the abdominal incision.”

The scalpel was placed in Yesung’s latex-gloved hand. Bringing the blade to the incision site, he began the delicate process. The surgery officially started as Park Joohyuk, now acting as the first assistant, readied the suction device.

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With steady hands and unwavering focus, Yesung guided the operation, knowing the patient’s life depended on his precision.

—

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“Phew… Good job, Dr. Park.”

“You worked hard too, sunbae!”

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The surgery had been touch-and-go for a while. When the blood pressure plummeted due to heavy bleeding caused by removing the embedded glass shards, the situation turned critical. But in the end, it was a success.

Yesung removed his mask and turned around.

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“Wrap things up for me, Dr. Park.”

“Of course, don’t worry, sunbae.”

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Park Joohyuk, who had weathered many crises alongside Yesung, replied with a noticeably relieved expression. Leaving him behind, Yesung stepped out of the operating room.

Walking down the long hallway, he exited the restricted area meant only for medical staff. Passing through the automatic doors, he pulled off his surgical cap.

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The moment he stepped out, the patient’s guardian, who had been anxiously waiting, rushed toward him.

“D-Doctor! How’s our Minwook? What happened to him?”

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“There was significant bleeding from the liver and blood vessels while removing the glass shards, which made it a bit tricky. But we managed to quickly find the bleeding points and suture them well. The surgery was successful, ma’am. You can relax now.”

“Oh… oh. Thank you, thank you so much, Doctor. Truly… thank you…”

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The guardian, her face looking gaunt from the past few hours of worry, covered her mouth with her hands as tears welled up. She repeatedly bowed and expressed her gratitude. Yesung waved his hand to dismiss the thanks, saying it was just his duty, and stepped away.

There were still things to discuss with Minwook’s guardian regarding the results of the surgery, but now wasn’t the time. He decided to wait until Minwook regained consciousness and had a clearer understanding of the situation before talking further.

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As he headed straight for the locker room, the hospital intercom crackled to life. Yesung paused to listen.

“Cardiothoracic Surgery. Code Blue. Main Building, General Ward, Room 605. Code Blue.”

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His instinctive reaction was to dash out, but his steps faltered. A Code Blue, signaling a cardiac arrest, was indeed an emergency. However, this time it was specific to the cardiothoracic department.

The beeping of the intercom faded, replaced by the sound of hurried footsteps echoing down the hall. Yesung’s gaze naturally followed the commotion.

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He spotted Jung Hageon rushing through the crowd below, with Seong Yugang close behind him.

“Tch. Can’t people just move aside?”

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Watching Jung Hageon sprint without regard for bumping into others, Yesung recalled what he’d seen earlier that morning in the ER.

“I’ll assist with this surgery, so Dr. Han, you stay on standby.”

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“Yes, understood, Professor.”

Standby was essentially a euphemism for taking a break. After sending the second pediatric patient of the day to the OR, Yesung had turned around and spotted him by chance. It wasn’t planned—just coincidence.

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He hadn’t expected to run into Jung Hageon again so soon after seeing him that morning. He was dealing with an emergency patient at the time.

“Get me an 8mm adult endotracheal tube.”

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“Yes!”

“And an epi, please.”

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“Right away!”

Jung Hageon never lost his composure, no matter the patient. He didn’t raise his voice. Every move was calm and methodical.

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“You there, Doctor. Your hands are slowing down. CPR is basic. How can you not even get the fundamentals right?”

Even when scolding, his tone remained level. From him, Yesung learned that speaking in a low, steady voice could be far more intimidating than shouting. Even from a distance, it was obvious how unimpressed he was.

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“Move. I’ll do it myself.”

“S-sorry!”

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Pushing aside the resident who looked on the verge of tears, Jung Hageon climbed onto the bed and began performing CPR himself. His precise posture and steady rhythm demonstrated the gold standard of CPR.

Seeing him in action, anyone scolded by him would likely feel too humiliated to argue. Yesung had seen the resident biting his lip, probably holding back tears.

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“…Phew.”

How long had he kept at it? The patient’s chest heaved as they gasped for air.

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“!”

Yesung’s eyes widened. Alive. Only then did he realize his fists had been clenched tight. His palms were damp with sweat. If just watching made him this tense, how must the person performing the CPR have felt?

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And yet, Jung Hageon descended from the bed with a blank expression. There wasn’t even a hint of relief or satisfaction at having saved the patient. Around him, other medical staff quietly showed signs of relief, making his stark contrast all the more striking.

“Let’s transfer the patient.”

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His expression said it all: he was merely doing his job. He seemed indifferent to the outcome, as if saving the patient was a given. Watching him retreat, Yesung had left the ER before Jung Hageon could spot him.