Cardiothoracic Surgery (3)

“Jugular venous distention….”

Jung Jae-sang checked the patient's neck and hurriedly pressed the stethoscope to his chest.

His brow crumpled like paper.

“Heart sounds are diminished! I can barely hear them! Get me an echo(* cardiac ultrasound) now! Hurry!”

His shout shattered the silence in the thoracic surgery ICU.

The nurses moved on reflex.

Amid the bedlam of nurses hauling over carts, squeezing out gel, and putting the defibrillator on charge standby, Jung Jae-sang grabbed the on-call phone and hit the speed dial.

“Yes, Professor. This is Jung Jae-sang, second-year thoracic surgery resident. Sorry. I'm calling about the vitals crashing on patient Jung Hae-woon in Bed 8.”

He poured out his report in a voice on the verge of collapse.

“Systolic is 50 and CVP(* central venous pressure) is 22. On auscultation, heart sounds are diminished and the jugular veins are distended. It looks like delayed massive bleeding has broken out around the pericardium and the inferior pulmonary vein area, where there were severe adhesions during surgery. Yes, yes. Clinically, tamponade is strongly suspected. Yes. Please come quickly. I'll prep for an emergency puncture first. I'll get ready!”...