After leaving the operating room, Liu Haipeng said to Zhao Heng with emotion, "Dr. Zhao, when do you think the treatment for trigeminal neuralgia will no longer require such extreme measures as damaging the nerve?"

"Times are progressing, and medicine is developing too. That day will definitely come."

Zhao Heng said slowly.

Indeed, for the patient just now, although the pain was relieved after the surgery, he also permanently lost some sensation.

This loss is irreversible.

This also made Zhao Heng realize that from the current medical technology perspective, doctors are quite powerless when facing certain diseases.

Returning to the anesthesiology department, Zhao Heng looked at the time and found it was already 11:20.

Is it mealtime already?

Zhao Heng stood up and was about to change into his white coat to have his meal.

Today Xu Man Ni didn't come to work, so Zhao Heng had to eat alone.

Even though he was dining alone, Zhao Heng still wanted to take a walk outside the hospital. The patient from the surgery earlier left a significant impression on him.

After leaving the hospital, Zhao Heng wandered around and arrived at a street lined with food stalls near the hospital. After some looking, he found a decent beef noodle shop and went in, ordering an extra-large special braised beef noodle with added meat and mint.

While waiting for his order, Zhao Heng suddenly heard someone calling him, their voice filled with delight.

"Young Dr. Zhao?"

Zhao Heng turned his head and saw the middle-aged balding uncle from yesterday who had pulled Zhao Heng to the back row during a lecture.

"Uncle?"

Zhao Heng was a bit surprised but nodded.

He found the uncle's actions before the lecture quite amusing.

Subsequently, the middle-aged balding uncle sat down at Zhao Heng's table.

As soon as he sat down, the uncle said, "Oh, Young Dr. Zhao, I didn't recognize you as the expert yesterday. Seeing how young you are, I thought you were a visiting doctor."

"Perhaps having a face that looks forty or fifty is more convincing."

Zhao Heng laughed and joked lightly.

"Uncle, which hospital are you from?"

After a pause, Zhao Heng asked again.

"I'm from Dali State Hospital here for professional development."

"Young Dr. Zhao, I tell you, our Dali is a great place. If you have the chance, you must visit, and I'll be your tour guide."

The uncle was very talkative and extended an invitation for a tour.

"That sounds great, though I don't know when I'll have the time to go."

Zhao Heng smiled and nodded.

"That's true; at a large hospital like Eastern Hospital, you have even less rest time than we do."

The uncle said.

"Uncle, I still don't know your name."

Zhao Xu asked.

Constantly calling him uncle seemed a bit impolite.

"Well, my name is Zhong Jiaqiang. Young Dr. Zhao, you can call me Old Zhong."

Zhong Jiaqiang said.

"Alright, Old Zhong."

Zhao Heng readily agreed.

"Old Zhong, in your area, what's the situation for pain management in terminal cancer patients?"

Zhao Heng thought for a moment and asked again.

It's known that for pain management in terminal cancer patients, most places still rely on opioid analgesics.

Only a few hospitals perform advanced treatments like spinal canal analgesia device implantation.

In other words, the vast majority of terminal cancer patients are still suffering from chronic pain.

"Most rely on opioids for support, and only a few conduct nerve block anesthesia or nerve lysis or block surgery. Young Dr. Zhao, you know the economic situation in our southwest region, and most terminal cancer patients can't afford the cost of high-end surgeries like spinal canal analgesia device implantation."

As he spoke, Zhong Jiaqiang sighed. Although he came for professional development to learn the latest techniques, the extent to which these could be implemented upon returning is still uncertain.

Some terminal cancer patients have already exhausted their savings on chemotherapy and analgesics, let alone affording advanced surgeries like spinal canal analgesia.

"As of now, spinal canal analgesia is the best treatment for pain management in terminal cancer patients."

Zhao Heng said.

This spinal canal analgesia device implantation works through intrathecal infusion, directly acting on central morphine receptors to provide central analgesia, and the medication amount is significantly reduced, requiring only 1/300 of the oral dose; adverse reactions like dizziness, nausea, and constipation are also significantly reduced.

For terminal cancer patients, as long as the pain can be alleviated, their quality of life can be greatly improved.

"Young Dr. Zhao, you're right. For terminal cancer patients, the torment of pain is the greatest factor in declining life quality. As long as the pain can be effectively controlled, the patient's quality of life can be greatly improved. But the actual situation is, very few patients in late-stage cancer have the economic capacity to afford the costs of spinal canal analgesia device implantation."

Zhong Jiaqiang nodded and spoke candidly.

"Technology is always improving. Although the costs are high now, perhaps in the future it will become widespread."

Seeing Zhong Jiaqiang's troubled expression, Zhao Heng comforted him.

"Old Zhong, how much longer is your professional development?"

Zhao Heng asked again.

"Well, another six months."

Zhong Jiaqiang didn't understand why Zhao Heng asked but nodded anyway.

"That's some time. If you're available in the future when I perform spinal canal analgesia surgeries, you can come and observe."

Zhao Heng thought and suggested.

"Really? Young Dr. Zhao, no, Dr. Zhao."

Upon hearing Zhao Heng's words, Zhong Jiaqiang was immediately excited.

During the lecture that day, everyone saw through surgery videos how high Zhao Heng's level was.

After the class, many visiting doctors thought if only they could follow Zhao Heng and observe a few surgeries, it would significantly aid in their technical improvement.

However, to be frank, Zhao Heng is in the anesthesiology department, and the numerous visiting doctors are here for oncology, at most spending some time in the pain department. There's basically no channel to find Zhao Heng, let alone follow him in surgery.

Zhao Heng's offer was like a gift from the heavens for Zhong Jiaqiang!

"Of course."

Zhao Heng saw Zhong Jiaqiang's excited expression and nodded.

"Hmm, thank you so much, Dr. Zhao."

Zhong Jiaqiang was very grateful to Zhao Heng.

He knew that among this batch of visiting doctors, only he had such an opportunity.

So when the visiting doctors return to their respective hospitals, his performance in this area of surgery will certainly be better than other hospitals.

In this case, it would be greatly beneficial for Zhong Jiaqiang in terms of future professional title promotions.

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