Just as Zhao Heng continued writing his thesis and Xu Man Ni watched from the side, Gao Jun walked into the office from outside, his face serious, as if something major had happened.

"Teacher, what's wrong?"

Seeing Gao Jun come in with such a heavy expression, Zhao Heng couldn't help but feel a bit puzzled. Knowing Gao Jun for some time, Zhao Heng had never seen him look this grim.

"Xiao Zhao, come with me. There's an emergency consultation in the ICU."

Gao Jun said solemnly.

"Alright, sure."

Zhao Heng nodded, judging by Gao Jun's serious expression at this time, something significant had surely happened.

Closing the open document, Zhao Heng stood up and nodded to Xu Man Ni beside him before following Gao Jun out.

"Teacher, what exactly is the situation?"

Seeing the usually composed Gao Jun looking so anxious, Zhao Heng couldn't help but ask curiously.

"It's from the plastic surgery department; they admitted a patient who underwent a silicone implant procedure. But just now, after the surgery, the patient hasn't woken up and has developed severe brain edema."

Gao Jun briefly explained the situation.

"So, they're blaming it on anesthesia?"

Upon hearing this, Zhao Heng immediately understood what might have happened.

In plastic surgery, silicone implant procedures are quite routine, and silicone itself is a very safe filling material. It is rare to hear of complications as severe as brain edema from silicone implants.

Given that the surgical error is unlikely, the blame has suddenly shifted to anesthesia.

Only an anesthesia mishap could cause such severe conditions as deep coma and brain edema.

This is why Gao Jun's expression is so heavy. He has just taken over the anesthesiology department, and anesthesia still belongs to the surgical wing; it hasn't been separated to form an independent center of anesthesia and perioperative medicine yet. If such an incident occurs, the impact would be very negative.

"Who was responsible for anesthesia during this surgery?"

Zhao Heng asked.

"It was Teacher Wen."

Gao Jun replied.

"Teacher Wen? With his level of anesthesia expertise, it couldn't lead to such a severe complication."

Hearing this, Zhao Heng felt even more surprised.

Gao Jun referred to Lao Wen, who is a senior anesthesiologist in the anesthesiology department, Wen Shen.

Wen Shen, as a senior anesthesiologist, is on par with Gao Jun in terms of skills. Having practiced anesthesia for many years, no patient under his anesthesia has ever had such severe complications.

"I also think it wouldn't happen, but the patient's side has brought in a professional medical accident lawyer who insists it's Wen Shen's mistake, saying the anesthesia was injected into the subarachnoid space, directly causing the patient's brain edema."

Gao Jun sighed.

For silicone implant procedures, usually, lumbar anesthesia is sufficient, which involves injecting local anesthetic directly into the epidural space to achieve the effect of nerve root anesthesia.

The subarachnoid space is also located in the lumbar region, containing cerebrospinal fluid that connects directly to the brain. Although anatomically similar, the epidural space is located at the outermost layer, whereas the subarachnoid space is situated at the innermost deep layer, separated by a subdural space.

Generally, experienced anesthesiologists would not commit such a basic error.

Injecting anesthetic intended for the epidural space into the subarachnoid space is an unacceptably fundamental error, and an extremely serious allegation. If this claim is substantiated, it would constitute a catastrophically serious full-responsibility medical accident for Wen Shen.

The consequences of such an incident would be devastating for any doctor.

No wonder Gao Jun looks so grim.

As a senior doctor in anesthesiology and having a strong relationship with Gao Jun, coupled with his excellent skills and good personality, Wen Shen is considered an important figure on whom Gao Jun relies heavily for the future independence of the anesthesiology department.

Now that Wen Shen is suddenly facing such an issue, it's understandable why Gao Jun is anxious and stressed.

"Could it be due to other reasons or some underlying illness of the patient?"

Zhao Heng thought and said.

"It's currently hard to say. The most important thing now is to control the situation. The patient suffering from brain edema and in a coma is a somewhat influential internet celebrity, so the hospital is very concerned about the impact of this issue."

Gao Jun said.

Upon hearing this, Zhao Heng felt a chill inside. As a doctor, one must never relax!

Before long, Gao Jun and Zhao Heng arrived at the ICU. At this moment, there was already a gathering of people at the entrance of the ICU, with expressions that were unfriendly, making Zhao Heng feel that things were amiss.

"Let's go in and check the patient first."

Seeing these people with hostile expressions at the ICU entrance, Gao Jun sighed and said to Zhao Heng.

"Okay."

Zhao Heng nodded.

Soon, the two entered the ICU and approached a bedside.

Zhao Heng saw a pale-faced, eyes-closed, twenty-something girl lying on the bed. This girl must be the internet celebrity who had undergone the silicone implant.

Just by roughly observing her face, Zhao Heng noticed at least three or four areas that had been operated on.

Looking closely, Wen Shen stood next to the bed with a worried expression on his face. Not far off, several department chiefs stood, presumably for consultation regarding this patient.

"Lao Gao, Xiao Zhao."

Seeing Gao Jun and Zhao Heng arrive, Wen Shen's expression improved slightly, greeting them.

"How is the situation now?"

Gao Jun didn't bother with pleasantries, directly and straightforwardly asked.

"All possible tests have been done, but the cause of the patient's brain edema hasn't been found."

Wen Shen shook his head and said.

He could confirm that the anesthesia given to the patient—every step including the dosage and puncture location—had absolutely no issues.

Yet, the patient didn't wake up after the surgery and developed brain edema.

This kind of situation was the first time Wen Shen had encountered.

"As long as your operations had no issues, they can't hold you responsible. Rest assured."

Gao Jun still believed in his old friend's skills, not believing that Wen Shen would commit the rumored error, unable to differentiate between the epidural space and the subarachnoid space.

"Sigh, right now you're the only one who believes me."

Wen Shen sighed and said.

Zhao Heng remained silent, taking up the patient's medical record and examining it closely.

He examined for a long time, but couldn't find any suspicious elements.

Brain edema, according to its mechanism of occurrence, can be classified into vasogenic cerebral edema (VCE), cytotoxic cerebral edema, and interstitial cerebral edema.

And for the patient lying in a coma on the bed, every possible cause has been subjected to appropriate tests with no abnormal findings.

Having reviewed this patient's medical record, Zhao Heng felt the challenge in treating this patient's condition.

If the cause of the patient's brain edema could be identified, the possibility of anesthesia error could be ruled out, and Wen Shen naturally would have no issues.

But if all other checks showed no problems, the only potential cause of the patient's brain edema would certainly be anesthesia error.

Excluding all impossibilities, the last possibility can almost be confirmed.

However, there is still an opportunity; the patient's brain edema has just developed and hasn't caused irreversible damage to the brain tissues yet. If the real reason for brain edema is identified, and targeted treatment is applied, there might be a chance to recover everything.

But time is crucial now, every minute and second is very important.

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