6:33 p.m., Theater an der Wien, Patient Lounge
Nora was lying on a wooden hospital bed in the lounge, with Marcus and two midwives beside her.
Marcus knew in his heart that since he agreed to the operation, he, as an obstetrician, was of little use. The only thing he could do was to try his best to save Nora and the child before the operation.
He kept careful records of the labor process, while the midwives were in charge of the mother and child. One took Nora's pulse, and the other used the most fashionable fetal heart rate stethoscope [1] to keep an eye on the child in the belly.
"What's your heart rate now?"
"It's about the same as usual, between 85 and 90."
"Where's the child's?"
The receiver has been placed at the midline of Nora's abdomen above the navel: "It was down to 120 before, but now it is 140-150 times per minute." [2]
"It's okay, okay, you continue to listen, listen carefully! If there are changes, tell me immediately!" Marcus sighed, and looked at Nora anxiously like a nagging middle-aged woman, "Child How are you? Do you feel any movement?"
"I just moved twice, and it was quite strong."
Noila looked relaxed, not feeling nervous at all about being on the operating table.
The annoying husband was away, and the nurse helped change the clothes soaked in amniotic fluid. Now the only place she felt uncomfortable was her belly. The throbbing pain caused by uterine contractions becomes rhythmic. As time goes forward, the duration of the pain gradually lengthens and the intervals shorten.
But Nora didn’t take the pain seriously, all she thought about was the child: “Doctor Marcus, can I give the child a name now?”
"Choosing a name is a big deal. After the birth, you and your wife will have to make the decision together..."
Marcus didn't react at first, but suddenly he saw the circles under her eyes were slightly red, and then he realized how much pressure the 19-year-old girl was under.
Referring to the cesarean sections performed over the years, very few women survived. Fulfilling perhaps her last wish in life, Marcus said without hesitation: "What name do you want? I'll tell that guy then!"
"The boy will be named Silvio after his grandfather, and the girl will be named Renesse after her grandmother." Nora had already thought of the answer, and was waiting for Marcus to agree, "When the time comes, you will definitely You have to convince him."
"Well, they are all good names. I have written them down. Don't worry..."
...
6:35
The door to the lounge was pushed open, and Herman came in a hurry: "Teacher Marcus, I'm here!"
Marcus looked up at the clock and finally breathed a sigh of relief. Herman was in place and Kavi was there, which at least showed that the Department of Surgery did not choose to escape even when Ignatz was away. But he still had to lose his temper. After being frightened for two hours, Marcus had to vent his anger: "Why are you so hard to find a surgeon? Where's Hills?"
"He left earlier than me, and his home is further away than mine. Judging from the time, it should be almost here."
They were also unlucky.
Due to the lack of communication equipment such as telephones and telegraphs, the two people just left the theater around five o'clock. They met the postman who Kawei paid to send them all the way home, and then rushed back. Coming and going, the journey alone took an hour. 【3】
"Who would have thought that Miss Nora's water would suddenly break, and all the original plans would be ruined."
"Don't talk nonsense. What plans do you have?" Marcus let out all his anger. "It was originally agreed that the due date of delivery would be March, and you had the surgery at the end of February. But this guy Ignatz delayed it. If you continue to delay, you will have to wait until now when your amniotic water breaks, are you willing to do so?"
"The surgery is too difficult, and the teacher also wants to be more prepared." Herman could only help calm him down.
Marcus knew that surgeons were both iron-clad surgeons and smooth assistants. Herman is just a second assistant. As long as the real chief surgeon doesn't come, it will be useless even if Hills is in place: "Where is Ignatz? Why hasn't he come yet?"
Herman usually doesn't dare to ask about Ignatz's private life: "I don't know."
"Why can't you find anyone in the surgery department? Kawei can only be seen in the ward a few times."
"I usually do surgeries..."
"What about after the operation? You won't go back to the ward to see?" Marcus was a little angry, "If you guys were willing to go back to the hospital after the operation, you would definitely be able to catch Nora's water breaking, and you wouldn't be here. Just wait."
Herman could only stand by the door and smile.
This is what Ignatz usually does. He throws away the scalpel, takes off his robe, leaves the theater and goes to do his own thing. He and Hills had already begun to perform some minor surgeries on their own, and they must have imitated others. If we really wanted to investigate, it was not Ignatz who taught them.
“I’m not here already, let Nola bear it any longer, and she’ll be on stage soon.”
"The key is Ignatz. How can we perform a cesarean section if he's not here?" Marcus stamped his feet anxiously, but Nora was in the room, so he had to lower his voice and whisper to Herman, "Norah's palace The contractions have been going on for a long time. A strongly contracting uterus will increase the difficulty of the operation. Does he understand it???" [4]
"I see......"
...
6:38
The host in a bright dress ran in through the long aisle. He didn't look at anyone when he entered the door. He just asked, "How are you? Can you go on stage?"
"Get on stage? No one is here, how can we get on?" Marcus pointed at Herman and said, "I don't necessarily want him to get on."
The host glanced at Herman: "Ignatz is not here yet?"
“I can’t find anyone.” Marcus looked at Nora who was enduring the pain of contractions and was really anxious. “When I asked him to drive early, he said he wanted to practice again. Now he has been practicing for so long. , I’m proficient enough, who knows he’s gone.”
The host works for the theater, and what he has to do is to coordinate the operation time and supervise the operation to be carried out on time. It is impossible to consider the relationship between the doctors.
For them, postponement and cancellation of surgeries are common and not unusual. As long as they divide responsibilities and interests well: "All the tickets are sold short. If they can't do it, your brand will be ruined." , in terms of money..."
As soon as Herman heard that something was wrong, he immediately interrupted: "We didn't give you permission to sell surgery tickets."
"Huh?" The host pointed in the direction of the gate, "The newsboy and the ticket booth said it was Mr. Carvey's request."
"Kavi asked the newsboy to instruct you to sell tickets?"
The host was a little confused. This sounded very unreliable. How could it be decided by a newsboy whether or not he could undergo surgery?
Hermann often goes to the theater and knows the transaction process inside very well: "Kavi is just an assistant. At most, he is conveying the message to you to set aside an operating theater so that the cesarean section operation can be carried out in a timely and effective manner. He cannot I am instructing you to sell tickets, let alone have the qualifications to instruct you. After all, the chief surgeon of the operation is Teacher Ignatz, do you understand?"
Just when the two were in a stalemate, Hills also arrived: "Has the operation started?"
"No." Herman passed the door of the preparation room, "Nora's water broke and she needs immediate surgery. Now she has to wait for Teacher Ignatz."
When the host saw that it was Ichisuke, he couldn't help but turn over the question he just asked and ask it again. Unfortunately, neither Hills nor Herman knew Ignatz's whereabouts, and no one could decide when the surgery would take place.
"Listen to the voice next door. There are 118 seats and more than 20,000 crowns are charged. If the operation goes wrong, you will be fully responsible!"
"I told you just now that this was caused by you selling tickets privately. What does it have to do with us?"
"I can't control this. When the time comes, go talk to the boss yourself..."
The two of them were going back and forth, causing Hills to look solemn: "If you want to quarrel, go out and close the door. The mother needs absolute rest before the operation."
Everyone knows what it means to give up surgery now.
Nora died in childbirth, the theater's reputation collapsed, and the hospital had to pay a large sum of compensation, which was not good for anyone. But these things are all tied to the chief surgeon Ignatz, and no one has considered how to remedy the situation if the chief surgeon is absent.
Forced termination of pregnancy?
Putting aside Fuleni's attitude, the cross on the chest alone made it difficult for Marcus and the other midwives. Moreover, Nora herself did not agree, and now with the pressure from the theater, the operation must be carried out.
"Hiles, if Ignatz doesn't show up again, I think it's better for you to do it." Marcus suddenly made a suggestion, "You have worked under him for so many years and practiced with him repeatedly. After a cesarean section, I should be able to do this.”
"this......"
"Ignatz has always valued you very much. This time he specially raised your salary to keep you. You should show your performance." Marcus said earnestly, hoping that his motivation could give the pending surgeon a decision. Substitute for, "What do you think?"
Hills certainly wanted to seize the opportunity.
He only returned to Isuke's position by relying on the threat of leaving his job, which was like a trump card. He got back what should have been his own, but the distrust caused by the threat was difficult to eliminate. He desperately needed a chance to prove himself, but it was a pity that this opportunity came a little early.
"No, I'm not qualified to perform a cesarean section yet. I've always been doing the work of an assistant." Hills refused, "The operation is too difficult, and I will definitely fail if I take it over."
Marcus cursed inwardly and looked back at Herman. Unexpectedly, Herman ran away faster and immediately opened the door and ran out: "I'd better go outside and take a look, maybe Mr. Ignatz Already here."
...
At 6:41, Herman walked out of the preparation room
As soon as he opened the door, he could faintly hear the cheers inside and outside the theater, and when he came to the aisle, the sound became more obvious, as lively as a festival.
Hermann didn't want to seize this rare opportunity, but like Hills, he also lacked the skills and courage to take on the role of chief surgeon.
Herman was depressed.
The emergence of Kawei not only impacted the intern graduates like Bergt, but also impacted him and Hills.
Originally, if Hills resigned, he would be able to take the position of Isuke, but Hills withstood the pressure by threatening to resign, completely blocking this path. It was difficult for him to have the energy to surpass Hills' car, and there were not many hospitals that could invite him to go. Not only was there no source of disease there, but it was also difficult to secure a position for the surgeon.
I would rather make a chicken head than a phoenix tail, but if I only give a chicken neck, I have to think carefully.
At this time, Kawei finally appeared in front of him carrying Ignatz's cesarean section surgery box: "Teacher Herman, you are here."
"Well, where is Teacher Ignatz?"
"When the water first broke, I asked several coachmen to look for it, but they haven't found it yet." Kawei shook his head, and then easily gave the same advice as Marcus, "If you don't come again, I think it will be us. Come on, three of you. Teacher Hills will be the surgeon. As soon as you help, I will stand by and pump the blood to draw blood."
"It's not that simple..." Heman rolled his eyes at him. He didn't know whether he was sincere or deliberately trying to stir up trouble. "What if we fail?"
Kawei is a staunch surgeon and a staunch power-seeker. He not only has the skills but also enjoys the pleasure of being the surgeon. So no matter what situation he encounters, he will try his best to find Ignatz out of his duty, but he sincerely does not want him to come back: "My tickets to the theater are all sold out. Even if I don't go, I have to go."
"You also know that the tickets are sold out. How did you get the newsboy to spread the word before?"
"I asked them to keep an operating theater for us to use."
"that's it?"
"That's all, how could I let them sell tickets privately."
Herman didn't know what to do either.
"It's better to wait."
...
6:43
With a shout, Ignatz quickly walked through the aisle and directly entered the door of the lounge, but this time it was not his legs, but a stretcher.
It was two rickshaw pullers who brought him in. Regardless of where the man was found, the operation was definitely not possible, at least not today.
"We tried our best. He was like this when we first found him. He couldn't wake him up even if he screamed nonsense." A coachman said, "But we thought that Mr. Kawei gave a death order, so after discussion, we decided to put him Pull me over first and then talk."
Ignatz was covered with a blanket. Although his eyes were closed, he did not completely lose consciousness: "It's so bright here... Where is this?"
"Nora is going to have a cesarean section." Kawei replied seriously.
"Do whatever you want, it's not time yet!"
"Her water broke."
"If the bottle breaks, drink it! What are you afraid of?"
The people present were all from medical school. One look at Ignatz and they knew something was wrong: "I can't even recognize my old enemy. How much do you think he drank?"
"At least a full bottle of brandy, mixed with half a bottle of laudanum."
"almost."
"I won't wake up in seven or eight hours."
"What should we do now?"
Marcus doesn’t care about Ignatz’s life or death. What he wants is for the operation to proceed normally: “It’s impossible for Nola to wait until tomorrow morning for the operation, and even if she does wait until tomorrow, looking at him now, it’s still unclear whether he can go on stage. . Let Hills be the surgeon, hurry up and get on stage!"
With these words and the host's encouragement, the trio had no choice but to walk into the surgery theater.
"Ladies and gentlemen, Nora, an obstetric patient at the Municipal General Hospital, went into labor two hours ago. She had to face a full-term baby and a narrow birth canal. She was judged to need a cesarean section early, but the operation time was never Sure.
Today, the goddess of luck comes.
Today is destined to be an extraordinary day,
Today, it is destined to be recorded in history. "
The host was impassioned: "Let us warmly welcome the surgical team of the Municipal General Hospital, which represents the top level of surgery in Austria, to officially enter the hospital!"
