The Godfather of Surgery

The general meeting room of the Department of Surgery, The University of Tokyo Hospital.

Around the rectangular conference table, experts are discussing cases. There are not only professors from the Affiliated Hospital of the University of Tokyo, but also professors from Shuntian Hospital. It can be said that the top surgical professors in Japan have gathered.

Several of them are Japan's leading professors, such as Professor Ito, a consultant professor of spine surgery and neurosurgery at Shuntian Hospital, and the current director of spine surgery and neurosurgery are all his students.

He has always advocated that neurosurgeons should study the brain and spine thoroughly, and only after they are familiar with the brain and spine can they perform subspecialty.

In Japan, where the academic clan system is used, these professors have absolute right to speak. They have taken a back seat and invited them to participate in case discussions, not members of the royal family, consortium bosses, or dignitaries.

Their rich experience can become an important basis for decision-making, and more importantly, their prominent position can become a solid backing for the chief surgeon.

The status of Shuntian Hospital in Japan is equivalent to that of Xiehe in China.

In Japan, in terms of medicine, Shuntian University has a higher status than the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Tokyo, and Shuntendo Hospital has a higher status than the Affiliated Hospital of the University of Tokyo. It is no exaggeration to say that Shuntian University is the father of the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Tokyo.

The case under discussion is none other than the owner of the Fujiwara family - Fujiwara Yasheng, the current president of the Fujiwara Foundation, and the uncle of Masao Fujiwara.

Since the tumor was found in the physical examination, the Fujiwara Foundation donated US$3 billion to Todai University for his case study.

"Mr. Fujiwara's surgery is too risky. At present, even with the help of the most advanced navigation equipment, there is no success rate, less than 5%."

"Yes, we have conducted a large number of animal experiments, and the success rate of the operation cannot exceed 5%."

"Would you consider inviting European and American parties to participate in the treatment?"

"No, the success rate on the American side is not higher than ours. Mayo's Johanneson, I am very familiar with their surgical operations, may be behind us in terms of details."

"Mr. Fujiwara's condition is confidential. If it is not necessary, try not to invite others to participate."

"I agree that surgery for these types of tumors, I personally think, we are already at the forefront."

"Everyone, have you ever thought about it? If you don't perform surgery, Mr. Fujiwara Taniyu won't have any chance! Professor Fujiwara Masao, what is your opinion? You are not only a core member of the patient's treatment team, but also a family member of the patient." Professor Ito has gray hair, but He was in high spirits, especially his back was straight and his voice was loud and clear.

Masao Fujiwara recorded while listening. Although there was a full-time secretary to record, he still made some necessary records himself.

"According to my student Fumiya Takahashi who went to China for further studies, he reported that Dr. Yang Ping in China had a successful case." Masao Fujiwara felt that something new should be injected into the discussion.

"The case doesn't explain anything, what's different about his surgical method?" asked Professor Daisuke Komori, director of neurosurgery at the Affiliated Hospital of Eastern University.

"He has done a lot of in-depth research on the anatomy of the upper cervical spinal cord and brain stem, especially on the anatomy and function of the nerve nuclei, and based on this, he designed a different surgical approach. Even in his case, the patient during surgery The heartbeat and breathing stopped several times, and the operation was continued after resuscitation. The most incredible thing is that there was one operation during the heartbeat and breathing stopped." Masao Fujiwara did not see it with his own eyes, and could only describe it based on Takahashi's report.

"This is crazy! The heart can stop beating and then undergo surgery because of the support of extracorporeal circulation. Once the life center of the brain stops working, who can provide substitute protection? Who can guarantee resurrection?" Professor Komori felt incredible, his tone frivolous.

"Are you sure that Takahashi saw it with his own eyes? According to your description, the credibility of this case is extremely low. If we use it as a reference, we will go astray." The director of neurosurgery of Shuntian Hospital couldn't believe it.

"We also have a 5% success rate. It's not surprising that there are successful cases. I'm afraid it's more of luck. Besides, if he has a mature surgical plan, why didn't he publish a paper?" The deputy director of Shuntian Spine Surgery responded.

The director of spine surgery of Shuntian Hospital went out for a meeting, and the deputy director attended the meeting on his behalf.

"It takes time for a paper to be published in a journal. This is not a reason to deny it. Everything should not be based on emotions, but should be supported by evidence. There is no evidence that its credibility is low, so this information cannot be ruled out for the time being." The professor's tone was calm.

He is the teacher of Masao Fujiwara, the consultant professor of the Department of Orthopedics at the University of Tokyo Hospital, and Professor Ikeda.

"Everyone, we must be cautious about anything that is beyond common sense, and we must not be gullible, and we must not judge it as low credibility, so that we will miss some valuable information. Thinking such an attitude is very dangerous, blind and arrogant, and this is a harbinger of imminent backwardness!" Professor Ikeda further reminded everyone with a stern tone.

Professor Ito immediately said: "I agree with Ikeda-kun very much, you are only one step behind!"

For the reminder from the old professor, everyone blushed and no longer dared to make fun of them frivolously.

"Continue——" Professor Ito asked Fujiwara Masao to continue.

"I asked Takahashi to replicate his surgical method, and then simulated the operation on an experimental monkey. Unfortunately, I was unable to replicate the effect of his operation. This doctor, I was fortunate enough to have an intersection with him. He once successfully completed an abdominal surgery. Surgery for huge and complicated hemangioma. I have failed in this case, but he succeeded. For this reason, I sent Takahashi to China to study with him. After Takahashi came back, he reported to me that his operation was like a ghost. The work, Takahashi used to be arrogant, and after returning from China, he became modest and cautious, so I think, this person is not simple, but he is an orthopedic doctor, as far as I know, in China, upper cervical spinal cord tumors are orthopedic The spine category, but the brainstem tumor is a neurosurgery category, it is difficult to understand why he can perform interdisciplinary surgery, and it is the most dangerous interdisciplinary surgery, in China, this is almost impossible." Fujiwara Masao did not rashly deny, but at the same time Doubtful again.

"Let's put it aside beforehand, but don't ignore it!" Professor Ito felt that it was pointless to discuss this issue again, and it was difficult to discuss it clearly.

"I heard that your inpatient department received a case very similar to Mr. Fujiwara?" Professor Ito asked.

"Yes, our neurosurgery ICU is now treating a patient, which is very similar to Mr. Fujiwara's condition. I think we can perform surgery on this patient, and then accumulate experience from it, and then use the experience for Mr. Fujiwara's operation. The success rate of the operation is It will definitely improve a lot." Professor Komori suggested.

The professors were stunned for a moment, and then Professor Ito said: "This is a good opportunity, the success rate of the operation needs to accumulate, the ape animal experiment is very close to the human, but there is still a gap, and the tumor model is very different, if there is a close Regardless of whether this person's operation is successful or not, it is definitely a good opportunity for President Fujiwara, and we must cherish it."

"Do it, don't you—" someone objected.

"In the progress of medicine, there will always be people who make sacrifices. This is not surprising, and it does not violate ethics." Professor Ikeda's tone was serious.

"No ethics dictates the order of our operations." Professor Ito supported Professor Ikeda.

Masao Fujiwara breathed a sigh of relief, because as a family member of the patient, he could not open his mouth to propose that he would use this patient as a research case to accumulate experience for his uncle's surgery.

Now Professor Komori helped to propose it. Professor Ito and Ikeda agreed. Of course Masao Fujiwara was happy. He was most worried that the two professors would reject it.

"However—the patient's family has informed us that they will be treated conservatively for the time being. They will invite a doctor to perform the operation. The doctor's information will be submitted to our hospital soon." Professor Komori was quite disappointed.

Ito's tone was angry: "In the field of neurosurgery and spine surgery, is there anything more advanced than us? Even Mayo's Johannesson would not dare to say that he surpasses us in surgery. Who does he want to hire? The United States and Europe Our top professors, we will invite them to do surgery out of exchange and study. In addition, do we need to invite others to perform surgery? We can refuse this request. For such cases, Shuntian and Tokyo University Affiliated Hospital, They are all top-notch existences. You should explain to them clearly that this case is the most dangerous tumor in the world. The danger is because of the location of the growth, not our technology. The number of people in the world that can operate on him should be in the single digits. We are one of them."

"I have explained patiently, but the other party is very firm that the patient cannot be transported. If surgery is required, it can only be operated at our place, but if the other party proposes to hire a doctor outside the hospital to perform the surgery, as long as the doctor's qualifications meet the requirements, regardless of law or ethics, we will It seems impossible to refuse!" Professor Komori was helpless.

Professor Ito was even more angry: "It's ridiculous, this is contempt for us, how can there be patients who don't believe us?"

"He may not be clear about the medical community. You continue to communicate with them. We must do the surgery. As for the doctor to be the main surgeon, I can't think of who they are going to hire. Doctor, he is no better than us." Professor Ikeda and Professor Ito agreed completely.

"Understood, I will do my best." Professor Komori promised.

Fujiwara Masao also said: "I will work with Komori to change the minds of the patient's family."

"Our first-generation hall master, Mr. Sato Tairan, founded Shuntendo University, and the third-generation hall's head, Sato Nasaka, founded the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Tokyo. At that time, when the Faculty of Medicine of Tohoku University was formally established, 20 of the 22 professors came from Shuntendo, Shuntendo and Toda Hospital. The best hospital in Japan, now, Mr. Fujiwara is lying in our ward, but we seem helpless, and my heart is suffering, so everyone, we must do our best, unite and cooperate to strive for the greatest success rate of surgery, the operation under the microscope, I'm getting old, so please two, Masao Fujiwara and Daisuke Komori!"

Professor Ito stood up and bowed, and Fujiwara Masao and Komori Daisuke immediately stood up and returned the salute.

"Please take me to see President Fujiwara again?" Professor Ito asked.

The meeting was temporarily adjourned. Masao Fujiwara and Daisuke Komori led Professor Ito to the special ICU ward again to visit Fujiwara Tani.