The Enhanced Doctor-Chapter 734: Accumulation of reviews

Having options seems like a beautiful thing, but it often causes confusion.

Liu Banxia was very confused now, not having a clear idea of what to choose.

He fantasized about the promising prospect of excelling in both general surgery and orthopedics, but he also hesitated, wondering if he could truly endure that much hardship. He had become a bit lazy nowadays. Even though the training in his dream world wouldn't waste his real-world time, he didn't want to spend any more energy than necessary. His mind was in such a mess that he didn't even notice the patient returning with the CT scan films.

"Doctor, the CT technician said there's nothing wrong with my cervical spine."

The patient's words interrupted Liu Banxia's swirling thoughts.

"That's pretty much what I suspected. We can now consider cardiogenic dizziness," Liu Banxia said.

"Doctor, is that the Holter monitor test you just mentioned?" the patient asked.

Liu Banxia nodded. "Not just that; we can also do an echocardiogram. There are many causes of cardiogenic conditions, most of which are related to heart diseases. Among acquired factors, coronary atherosclerosis accounts for a high percentage."

"So, my advice is to do an echocardiogram and then wear a Holter monitor to record your dynamic ECG. With this two-pronged approach, we should be able to get a clear picture of the situation."

"Otherwise, if you only do one, you'll likely need the other for a definitive diagnosis anyway, which would just waste time. This way is more straightforward."

"There are quicker options, too, if you prefer. For example, coronary angiography, but that's invasive as it requires injecting a contrast agent. Another is a stress test, which is a way to artificially induce symptoms to check the heart's response."

"A characteristic of heart disease is that symptoms often don't show up on a resting ECG when you're not having an episode, which is why I didn't order one for you earlier. The choice of which tests to proceed with is yours."

"Alright, Doctor, I'll take your advice. I'll do the echocardiogram and wear the Holter monitor. Those two sound less demanding and probably won't cost too much," the patient said, smiling.

"I never imagined I'd come in for my neck and find out I might have a heart problem! Good thing I came. If it had progressed, could I have had a heart attack?"

His mood was still quite good, and he was perfectly willing to undergo these two tests.

After all, this doctor had explained things very clearly. He mentioned angiography and a stress test too. Just from the names, he could guess what those involved. These two, the echocardiogram and Holter, seemed much simpler and less arduous.

Liu Banxia nodded. "Those are all very possible. Many heart conditions are concurrent and can influence each other."

"However, once these test results are out, I'll have to refer you to the cardiology department. Your condition isn't related to orthopedics, so it needs to be managed by the cardiology specialists."

"Ah? Doctor, so you won't be managing my case anymore?" the patient asked.

"I'm a general surgeon. I just occasionally see patients in the orthopedics department," Liu Banxia said.

"Besides, for heart conditions, it's best to have a cardiologist make the diagnosis. They're the specialists; much more proficient than a jack-of-all-trades like me."

"I can only make a general assessment based on the situation. The specialists can give you a precise treatment plan. Don't worry, I'll take you over there myself."

"Our emergency center's cardiology department is very strong. As a newly established clinical area, it wouldn't be able to function without some highly skilled doctors."

"It's like buying a car. Often, the first batch uses the best materials. Conscientious car companies might add more features later without raising the price. But many will cut corners to control costs."

Although Liu Banxia's analogy was a bit tangential, the patient found it acceptable. There wasn't the slightest hint of evasion in Liu Banxia's words; every decision seemed to be made with the patient's best interests at heart. He's right, the patient thought. If you have a heart problem, who else would you see but a cardiologist?

"Looking up symptoms online has its benefits. It can make people aware of certain conditions in their early stages, prompting them to seek timely medical attention, just like you did today," Liu Banxia said as they walked towards the cardiology department.

"However, you can't believe everything you read online. Take your case, for example. Anyone looking at your symptoms online would think it's a cervical spine issue, but your cervical spine is actually fine."

"Cardiogenic dizziness is quite prevalent these days, which means there are many patients with heart conditions. It might be related to the high stress of modern life and work, and perhaps our diets being too oily."

"The symptoms of many illnesses can appear quite similar. It's not just ordinary people who get confused; even we doctors sometimes need instrumental examinations to make a careful distinction."

"So, in the future, when you seek medical help, trust your doctor's judgment. It's fine to look up symptoms online, but never self-diagnose and start taking medication based on that. That can lead to serious problems."

"After today, I really get it now. Doctor, do you think my condition is serious?" the patient asked.

"I can't say for sure just yet. If I say it's serious, you'll worry. If I say it's not serious, I don't have a basis for that yet," Liu Banxia replied.

"However, considering your flare-ups aren't very frequent and you haven't experienced other symptoms, if I had to make a wild guess, I'd say it's probably not too severe."

The patient visibly relaxed. Even though Liu Banxia had said it was just a "wild guess," he felt much more at ease.

"Doctor Xu, this patient was referred from orthopedics. It's possibly cardiogenic dizziness. A cervical CT was done, and it showed no abnormalities," Liu Banxia said upon arriving at the cardiology department.

"Why didn't you just order the tests for him then? Let me review the films and his case file," Xu Guosheng said.

"You're going to review it again? Not do the tests right away?" the patient asked, a little anxiously.

It was getting rather late, and he was worried it might affect the tests.

"We can't just transfer you casually. It's like sending a package – we need to know what's inside and double-check everything," Liu Banxia said with a chuckle.

The patient didn't know whether to laugh or cry. Good heavens, now he was a package.

"Actually, this is to maintain rigor in the diagnostic process. If I say something and he just takes my word for it, what if other symptoms were misleading me? He needs to make his own judgment based on your specific situation," Liu Banxia continued.

"This is about being responsible to you, and to ourselves. If I misjudged something and he followed my lead without checking, you're the one whose treatment would be delayed."

"Alright, Doctor Xu, he's all yours. I need to get back to the main hall. I've been in orthopedics all afternoon, and my stomach is growling."

With that, Liu Banxia left the cardiology consultation room.

"Doctor, can I ask something? That doctor just now said he's a general surgeon. Why was he seeing patients in orthopedics?" the patient asked curiously.

"Oh, him," Xu Guosheng said with a smile. "He has very solid medical skills. He's also our emergency center's troubleshooter. Pediatrics, orthopedics, general surgery, internal medicine – he can handle them all."

"Wow, he's that skilled? And he speaks quite humorously too," the patient remarked with admiration.

"You won't find another one like him in our entire hospital. Forget our hospital; you won't find a second one in all of Binhai City. If he's in a good mood, he can even make patients laugh on the operating table," Xu Guosheng said.

"And you don't have to worry about it affecting the surgery. Many patients under local anesthesia are naturally anxious during the procedure."

"A bit of conversation, a little chat, and the surgery is over before they know it. When patients are in a better mood, their postoperative recovery is often much better too. He's even taken photos with many patients in the operating room."

"Alright, I've reviewed the case file and the CT films. My assessment isn't much different from President Liu's. His notes here recommend a Holter monitor and an echocardiogram. Is that what you were thinking too?"

The patient nodded eagerly.

"Okay then, I'll write up the order forms," Xu Guosheng said.

"The echocardiogram results will be ready right away. The Holter monitor records a 24-hour dynamic ECG, so those results will be available after this time tomorrow."

"Does that mean I need to be hospitalized?" the patient asked.

"No need. You can take the monitor home after paying a deposit. Just go about your normal life. After the monitoring period, as long as the device isn't damaged by human error, the deposit will be refunded to you," Xu Guosheng explained.

The patient felt relieved. That was no problem; this machine was to help diagnose him, so of course, he wouldn't dare break it.

Although he had come in quite early, the diagnosis wasn't complete even now. Still, he felt today's visit was very worthwhile. He didn't know how it would have been if he'd gone to another hospital for the same tests, but he was certainly very satisfied with his experience today. Especially that previous doctor. Even though he sometimes rambled a bit, his explanations were easy to understand and really got his attention. Not like other doctors who often used jargon only they understood, leaving him completely in the dark. Or those who deliberately said frightening things to scare you into a pile of tests.

It was only when he was paying the bill that he realized he'd forgotten to ask Liu Banxia's name. He glanced at the notice board, and there, in a prominent position, was that doctor's photo.

Liu Banxia. He would remember that name. Next time he, or anyone in his family, had a health issue, coming here to find this Dr. Liu would be a good choice. His test recommendations were sound; he ordered them because they were necessary, not just for the sake of ordering tests.

Actually, treating this patient was a very minor matter.

Generally, in a tertiary hospital, cardiogenic dizziness would be considered in such cases. But the impression left on this particular patient was different.

This is also a way of building a reputation. It's not just about successfully performing major, impressive surgeries.

Achievements like that mostly circulate within the medical community. The kind of reputation built through word-of-mouth from patients is what's most tangible and valuable.