Surgery Godfather-Chapter 615: Refusing a toast only to be forced to drink a forfeit

Chapter 615: Refusing a toast only to be forced to drink a forfeit

At this moment, the Spine Surgery Center of Nandu Affiliated Hospital One was filled with professors and doctors from the entire department.

As a clinical trial partner for the spinal external fixator, they are also one of the experimental centers.

The experimental data from Sanbo Hospital had been transmitted over, the case information was projected on the large screen, and Professor Zou, as the director of this center, sat in the front.

A series of X-rays, two weeks, four weeks, six weeks, eight weeks, ten weeks, and twelve weeks after surgery, all were displayed on the screen, forming a stark contrast.

For every case, regardless of how severe the scoliosis was previously, the final X-ray will always show a nearly normal lateral image of the spine.

The Spine Department of Nandu Affiliated Hospital One is one of the top four centers in the country.

Xiehe, 301, Drum Tower, and Nandu Affiliated Hospital One are the leading hospitals for scoliosis treatment; all other hospitals take a step back in comparison.

Chief physicians and doctoral advisors alone counted to over a dozen. This was where Su had begun his career.

With the arrival of Professor Su, everyone in the conference room stood up. Professor Su made a gesture with his hand, and everyone promptly sat back down.

The chief position was reserved for Professor Su. As Professor Su took his seat, Professor Zou next to him immediately introduced, "Professor Yang Ping’s project treatment from Sanbo Hospital has arrived. Look, the orthopedic results are somewhat shocking. I’ve gone over it several times—still can’t get over it."

Professor Su merely grunted in response while carefully examining the X-rays.

The introduction of spinal external fixator’s clinical trials into Nandu Affiliated Hospital One was partly due to private interests as he was unsure of the ultimate effect.

After all, the technology was challenging, and even if it came out, it was uncertain whether it would enter the clinical stage without several generations of technology iterations.

It was perfectly okay for now to favor one’s own, for if he didn’t support, others wouldn’t either.

The young people had indeed given a surprising performance; the data they’d produced in mere months had astounded even Professor Su.

From the establishment of the project to the success of clinical trials, it had shockingly taken only a few months. The speed was just too fast.

"Stop!" called out Professor Su, pointing at a slide.

The doctor in charge of controlling the computer quickly paused the ongoing slow display of the X-rays.

With a Cobb angle abnormality of 176 degrees, corrective surgery was successful in three months, with the functionality of each segment retained and no signs of fusion anywhere.

Professor Zou was the commentator, "From a three-dimensional perspective, the concave side of the curve has been opened up, the axial rotation has been straightened, and with the progressive correction, the tolerance of the spinal cord has been expanded. Hence, no cases of nervous symptoms occurred."

The screen image instantly switched, using animation to demonstrate the corrective process, as the curved spine gradually straighten.

"Who’s the young man’s mentor? It seems like he was the champion of the Golden Knife Award?"

One professor inquired, flipping through some documents in his hand. Of course, he didn’t realize that Yang Ping was going to be the future son-in-law of his own dean.

"That’s him. He corrected the spine of the ’Folding Man’ live in the Golden Knife Award. Quite audacious."

Another professor responded.

"He is Han Jiangong’s student. He is currently pursuing his doctorate."

"Han Jiangong has such an excellent student? Old Zou, why didn’t you headhunt him?"

"Only one case of minor pinhole infection. Seems like the safety control was handled very well."

"Spreading the correction across every responsible vertebra is an excellent approach."

The meeting’s atmosphere was relaxed as everyone familiarized themselves with the material and chatted.

They had never considered before that scoliosis correction could be achieved with Ilizarov theory.

In their concept, although surgical methods continue to improve, they were nothing more than improvements to osteotomy and internal fixation devices centered around pedicle screws. The central idea was still to use osteotomy and fusion for correction.

Using an external fixator for progressive correction directly subverted the concept of spinal correction.

These professors often went to North America and Europe for conferences and no team out there was researching this technology, as far as they knew.

"We have a partnership with Sanbo Hospital and are one of the clinical trial centers. Now, we need to select some cases, carry out similar surgeries with informed consent. Today, we’ve gathered everyone here to familiarize ourselves with this new technology in advance." Professor Zou announced loudly.

"For the first case, it would be best to invite this Professor Yang to perform the surgery, given it’s his technique. I heard he’s a deputy professor hired through the ’low position, high employment’ program at our Nandu Medical University?"

Professor Zeng, a chief physician and doctoral advisor, was somewhat skeptical towards this new technology.

If it would work or not, we’d know after doing a few at Affiliated Hospital One, straightening it out in a month or two would make him a true believer.

"If there are no doubts about this technology, we are ready to enter clinical trials. Depending on the need, we have to prepare at least thirty cases—the more, the better. For starters, I will provide ten patients." Professor Zou raised his hand.

"Perfect, I have five patients on hand, I’d like him to give it a try?"

Professor Zeng was eager to see how this Yang would employ his new technique.

"I also have six patients here. I want to see if this can indeed work. The cases demonstrated on the PPT just now looked promising."

Another professor offered a few patients.

"We should actively participate. When it comes to such talented young people, we must show our support."

Professor Su hadn’t said a word for some time, leaving the meeting generally open for Professor Zou to facilitate, and would only speak at critical moments.

"I offer ten from my end!"

Professor Wang stood up.

"Xiaohui, introduce two more from us." Suddenly feeling a step behind, Professor Zou immediately added two more cases and asked the doctors under him to prepare.

"Old Zou, are you trying to compete with me?"

Professor Wang was a shrewd individual. He remembered that Yang Ping had come to Affiliated One hospital to perform surgery before, so he had a subtle feeling that Yang Ping’s identity was not simple.

And Professor Zou was unusually enthusiastic about this clinical experiment from an outside hospital - Zou was a cunning man!

"I have five more cases here, add them!"

Professor Wang refused to be outdone.

Finding a dozen or so patients with scoliosis all of a sudden wasn’t an easy task.

Would you follow or not?

Professor Wang waited for Professor Zou to respond.

It was indeed a bit of a quandary. If he claimed to be first, it would seem vulgar in the eyes of Professor Su. On the other hand, if he did not contest, he would seem less enthusiastic than that young man.

"We should show this kind of enthusiasm towards new technologies. I’ll add four more."

Professor Zou gritted his teeth.

The cases reported out were all pre-assessed and presumed to agree to participate in the study. Some had already been psychologically prepared. In case of temporarily added cases, it couldn’t be guaranteed that they would agree.

The atmosphere of the whole meeting was a bit lively.

Professor Zou was the director of the Spine Center, while Professor Wang was the deputy director.

Everyone knew that Professor Zou and Professor Wang were fiercely competitive in academia.

But now, they were also determined to compete over the number of cases for the experiment. fгeewebnovёl.com

"Fifty cases will suffice for this batch, we don’t need too many. It is, after all, a clinical trial, we should try to minimize the risk." Professor Su intervened to pacify the two men’s rivalry.

"Well, let’s calculate the number. If it’s not enough, we’ll leave slots for the medical teams that haven’t participated. We should try to have everyone participate." Professor Zou seized the upper hand and promptly diverted the argument.

For Affiliated One Hospital of Nandu, preparing fifty cases was a simple task. The quota was quickly filled.

---

Hans had gathered some intelligence, all about the spinal external fixator.

The first phase of the clinical trial was a success, and the second phase of the trial would be carried out in Xiehe, Magic City Sixth Hospital, and Nandu Affiliated One. The third phase clinical trial could potentially be even larger in scale.

Hans had been intending to obtain a sample of the spinal external fixator, but hadn’t managed to get one yet.

So, he hastily brought the information to the American headquarters to report the unfavorable news to the senior management in person.

After careful assessment, the senior management gave Hans an instruction - either acquire the company, or make it disappear completely.

Back in Shanghai, Hans, with the support of the top management, promptly took action.

Huang Jiacai’s office.

Mr. Hans was having a discussion with Huang Jiacai.

"President Huang, we have shown enough sincerity, 1 billion. Only we can offer this price. If you’re not satisfied, we can continue discussing. Say a price that you would be satisfied with."

The haughty Hans didn’t understand why this company director, who only had a high school education, was so obstinate. Wasn’t it the best outcome to take the money and leave?

Hans felt that 1 billion was already the highest price his company was willing to pay for this small company. If they still did not agree, it really was unnecessary to continue the negotiation.

Huang Jiacai shook his head: "Mr. Hans, the acquisition price you have offered is far from our expectations. It seems that you still don’t understand the value of Ruixing."

"Value? Don’t naïvely think that one product can shift the market. I don’t want to be your enemy. Here’s the thing, take your time, give me your response in three days. There is a saying in China, ’Once the village is passed, there won’t be this shop.’ I believe President Huang understands this better than I do." Hans was getting impatient. This was the last negotiation.

If the negotiation broke down, it meant that he would have to take the second plan into consideration, making Ruixing disappear.

"Is this your final ultimatum?" Huang Jiacai was unfazed.

Hans laughed in a gentlemanly manner: "I can tell you frankly that we are determined to win. Have you thought about the consequences of rejecting us?"

Hans had a myriad of ways to make Ruixing disappear.

"You are so confident, Mr. Hans? We are very curious about what this consequence might be."

Huang Jiacai was unabashedly blunt.

As a representative of a giant corporation, Hans had never been treated this way before.

Each time they swallowed up a small company, it was with an overwhelming momentum. The other party would have to gratefully accept the money.

"Mr. Huang, are you really not considering the consequences? Do you know what your actions are akin to? The Chinese have a saying, ’Refusing a toast only to drink a forfeit!’"

Huang Jiacai scoffed: "In that case, I’ll give you another Chinese saying - ’Wait and see,’ Goodbye! "

Watching the furious figure of Hans leaving the room, Huang Jiacai asked his deputy, "Has the equipment in the warehouse been completely sterilized?"

"It’s been sterilized and can be used in the clinic at any time." The deputy replied.

The strategic reserve in the warehouse finally had its use. Without this reserve, Ruixing would not be able to withstand the heavy blows from the giant corporation.

The staff at Ruixing finally understood why Huang Jiacai spent money to stockpile this batch of independent products, just for the purpose of precaution.

Even during the most financially difficult times, the strategic reserve always held top priority.