Shi Lei chuckled. "Lively, isn't it? You two decide who will be the first assistant." After the anesthetic had taken effect, he added with a grin.
The solemn and serious atmosphere that had filled the operating room moments ago had vanished. Everyone else was now eagerly watching Liu Banxia and Qi Wentai, waiting for the show to start.
Being the first assistant in surgery was no joke; it played a crucial role throughout the entire procedure. For instance, they assisted with changes during the surgery and helped the attending surgeon when they encountered difficult angles.
And the Second Assist? Essentially, their role was stitching the skin and observing. The difference was not insignificant.
"Hurry up. One minute. If you can't decide, both of you can get lost," Shi Lei stated.
"Little Shi, you're ruthless," Wang Lei chimed in.
"Old Wang, don't expect to just enjoy the show," Liu Banxia said gloomily. He then turned to look at Qi Wentai, raised his eyebrows, and asked, "How many inguinal hernia surgeries have you performed?"
"Once."
Qi Wentai felt very annoyed, knowing Liu Banxia was about to compare their number of operations performed.
"Hehehe, hehehe, I've done it twice," Liu Banxia exclaimed proudly. "But I'm a generous guy. My suturing technique is pretty good, and I've performed one more inguinal surgery than you. So, I'll give you the first assistant position this time."
Hearing this, even Wang Lei was a bit surprised. He knew Liu Banxia well and was aware of his obsession with surgeries. It was unexpected for Liu Banxia to give up the opportunity so easily.
"What are your thoughts?" Shi Lei asked, looking at Qi Wentai.
"I... I..." Qi Wentai stammered.
He didn't want this charity, but his desire for surgery was no less than Liu Banxia's. He even suspected Liu Banxia was doing it deliberately, waiting for him to refuse.
"Do you even pee standing up? So indecisive! And you call yourself a master's degree student, you're not womanly at all," Liu Banxia grumbled.
"Who are you talking about? Who's not womanly?" Qi Wentai retorted without thinking.
Suddenly, the operating room erupted in laughter. This Liu Banxia was still such a troublemaker. But it was a good thing; at least when he was in the operating room, no one felt lonely.
Qi Wentai felt troubled. But seeing Liu Banxia already standing in the Second Assist's position, he knew it was a done deal; he had lost this round.
"Hey, Old Wang, I've made a connection here! Maybe I'll get a discount on a house in the future," Liu Banxia asked grinningly.
"Heh, you dare provoke me? Don't you know I'm also the anesthesiologist for the anal fistula case this afternoon?" Wang Lei asked with a grin.
"Brother Shi, how could you set me up like this? Why didn't you tell me? I would have buttered up our Old Wang beforehand," Liu Banxia grumbled.
"The principles of inguinal hernia repair," Shi Lei stated after taking the scalpel.
Liu Banxia quickly composed himself. "First, achieve full exposure. The incision superiorly should be near the inferior epigastric artery to fully expose the neck of the hernia sac. Second, high ligation of the hernia sac is necessary to eliminate the peritoneal outpouching and prevent recurrence. Third, meticulous hemostasis is crucial to prevent postoperative hematoma and subsequent infection. Finally, the abdominal wall must be reinforced to reduce weak points."
Ding! Experience Gained: 20 points. Diagnostics skill proficiency +15 points.
Qi Wentai was stunned. There hadn't been such a Q&A session in the surgeries he had participated in before. Usually, the attending surgeon would explain techniques during the operation, as the answers to these basic questions were all in the textbooks.
"Actually, watching Brother Shi operate is a real treat," Liu Banxia began to praise as Shi Lei made the first incision. "His technique is delicate yet efficient."
"Enough nonsense. I've already exposed the aponeurosis of the external oblique muscle. What's next?" Shi Lei asked.
"Separate the connective tissue beneath the deep layer of the superficial fascia," Qi Wentai answered this time, a slight blush on his face.
"Not bad, you even know how to buzz in with answers now! Plus ten points for that," Liu Banxia said with mock seriousness. "No time for applause, everyone's hands are full."
"Good thing this surgery isn't too difficult, or your chatter might make me slip up," Shi Lei said, amused. "Lift the aponeurosis."
Hearing Shi Lei's instruction, Qi Wentai quickly began to assist.
Hernias are very common conditions in hospitals. For many patients, the condition is congenital. While inguinal hernia repair is a more advanced procedure than a routine appendectomy with current medical technology, it was well within the capabilities of an experienced surgeon like Shi Lei.
Although Liu Banxia had been joking around just moments before, his eyes were now keenly focused. Even as a Second Assist, observing live was far better than watching a recording; the sense of immersion was much stronger.
Especially since he was very familiar with the surgical steps, and now with his mental attribute bonus, he found himself constantly thinking about how he would perform each step if he were the one operating.
This patient had a relatively large hernia sac. Shi Lei performed a high ligation, using purse-string sutures, and then excised the redundant upper portion of the sac wall.
"Alright, the rest is up to Liu Banxia," Shi Lei said cheerfully after completing the repair. "He's been boasting for so long; today, we'll all get to learn from him."
"Hehehe, don't underestimate me," Liu Banxia boasted. "I was merely hiding my true abilities before, afraid you'd feel inadequate!"
"Banxia, Lily also mentioned your suturing is excellent. We're all eager to witness it," Wang Lei said with a grin.
Was Liu Banxia just boasting? No, he really wasn't.
After getting into position, he took two deep breaths. To others, it might have seemed like he was putting on an act, but in reality, he wanted to demonstrate his absolute best in front of Shi Lei.
This time, the suturing felt distinctly different to Liu Banxia. His needle placements were more precise, his speed quicker, causing Shi Lei and the others watching to nod in approval.
This was especially true for Wang Lei and the other career operating room staff; they had seen it all. As the saying goes, even if you haven't eaten pork, you've surely seen a pig run.
Having worked in the operating room for so long and collaborated with numerous attending surgeons and assistants, they could tell that Liu Banxia's current suturing absolutely deserved a thumbs-up.
Ding! Daily Task Completed (9/20).
Assisted in Inguinal Hernia Repair Surgery: Experience +100 points, Suturing Technique proficiency +200 points, Inguinal Hernia Repair Technique proficiency +150 points, Diagnostics skill proficiency +100 points, Dressing Change Technique proficiency +50 points.
Suturing Grade: Perfect. Experience +1,000 points, Suturing Technique proficiency +500 points, Glory Points +5.
Congratulations! Host has leveled up to Level 13 (11,365/12,880 XP). Gained Attribute Point: 1. Glory Points +5.
As Liu Banxia tied the final knot and saw the system notifications, he felt an incredible sense of satisfaction.
Through this surgery, he had discovered a few key insights.
For a surgeon, surgery was paramount.
The entire surgical process involved a vast amount of knowledge. Thus, even by merely participating as a Second Assist, he had completed eight daily tasks and received such plentiful rewards.
The more seriously he approached his tasks and the more perfectly he performed, the greater the rewards. What if he were the attending surgeon? He was now thoroughly looking forward to the anal fistula surgery scheduled for that afternoon.