Part 19: 7: Footfalls of Terror
Chapter 3-7: Footfalls of Terror
Sidney: I was worried when I heard about the attack. I'm glad you both made it out safely.
Derek: It's all thanks to Dr. Meyers.
Sidney: Ha ha, she's definitely the toughest woman in medicine today. You should ask her about some of her adventures on the police force, sometime!
Cybil: Ah, Chief... Derek's going to take you seriously.
Sidney: He'd have good reason to. ...Oh, that's right, there was one other message I received. Dr. Stiles, Caduceus International has requested your presence as part of of the research team headed to the Delphi facility in Africa.
Derek: They asked for me? That seems like a mistake...
Sidney: Don't be modest. We've all seen what you're capable of. You have experience treating GUILT, and you diffused a bomb. Langston Miller, Director of Caduceus Europe, was impressed. And the rest of the committee voted unanimously. You should be proud.
Derek: Yeah, but... I've never left the country before.
Sidney: You don't have much choice; I already accepted on your behalf.
Cybil: Give up, Stiles. Once Sidney decides on something, there's no arguing with him. Looks like you're going to Africa.
Cybil: I guess he's always been difficult. That's what Greg told me, anyway. I remember him telling me about the arguments they'd get into as kids. The only reason Sidney went to school overseas was supposedly because everyone told him not to.
Derek: Dr. Kasal could be stubborn sometimes, but never anything like that.
Cybil: At any rate, have fun in Africa. As long as your partner's reliable, I know you'll do fine.
Derek: Partner?
I wish I could forget Angie that easy.
End of Chapter 3-7
Chapter 3-8:Caduceus on a Plane
Note: Yes, that name is exactly what you think it is. In Under the Knife, it was called "Miracle at 9,800 ft."
Note that the arrow exits the screen on the upper left... which doesn't seem to correspond to Africa, even if we take Japan as the vantage point. Stopover, up isn't north, or bad piloting? Don't decide, because you'll end up thinking about it more than Atlus did.
Angie: I mean, three transfers and 33 hours of total transfer time? Wow.
Derek: At least you're used to it. I've never even been to Mexico, and I don't like flying.
Angie: Remember to drink plenty of fluids, and get up periodically to stretch your legs. It wouldn't look very good for a doctor to get sent to the hospital for blood clots. It'll be hot in Africa, too. Try not to get heat stroke.
Derek: I hope getting vaccinated for the endemic diseases was enough.
We interrupt this episode of "What to do if you go to Africa" to bring you something interesting.
"Attention please. Is there a doctor on the plane? I repeat, are there any doctors on this flight? One of the passengers is sick, and we don't know how to treat him. If you have any medical training, please notify a flight attendant!"
Well, you didn't think they would pass up the chance for that cliché, did you?
Angie: Doctor!
Derek: So much for sleeping on the plane.
Chi here is named after another Scrubs actor, John C. McGinley, who plays Dr. Perry Cox.
Edema is a build-up of fluids beneath the skin. This patient has it in his lungs, which makes it pulmonary edema. This is caused either by some injury to the lungs, or the heart failing to drain fluid.
Angie: It looks like respiratory failure. From what his wife explained, he'd been suffering from edema of the lungs. He was prescribed medication, which stabilized his condition. They were given permission to return home, but stress from traveling may have aggravated his symptoms. I'd recommend an immediate lobectomy to drain the pleural fluids.
Derek: We're going to perform surgery in mid-flight?
Angie: The captain has allowed us use of the crew's cabin. Sterilized gowns and operation tools have been provided, as well.
Derek: We really don't have a choice...
Angie: Once we land, he can receive more permanent treatment, but for now, we have one objective:
-Drain pleural fluid from inside the patient's lungs.
Use ultrasound to find where fluid has accumulated, and drain it.
Derek: Understood. Let's hurry.
OPERATION VIDEO
Gamevee
Viddler
I'm actually very thankful for a filler operation after the last few, and knowing what's ahead. This was the final "normal" operation of the original game.
Before the operation, Angie warns us of today's gimmick: turbulence. We'll get to that.
Packets of fluid appear every little while in one of a few set places. Treating them is a simple scan-cut-drain-gel maneuver. Just don't leave them around too long.
Even after you do the incision, you want to hurry in fixing the problem. Polyps will form if you don't drain the fluid. This wouldn't normally be an issue, except...
It doesn't come across well in a still, but every ~20 seconds the plane will start shaking. You get a fair amount of warning before it happens, but while the shaking is in effect, you cannot do ANYTHING. If you do, you'll get a miss and the patient will take quite a bit of damage.
In UtK you were actually allowed five misses without penalty. The idea was that you'd work right down to the wire to finish with enough time left on the clock for the S. In SO, the no-miss clause is back, so you need to be fast AND careful.
To make up for this, you're allowed a Healing Touch. You can use it when vitals get low, so you can raise them and still keep up with the drainage. The time requirements for XS are steep, so this is a valuable resource.
With all that in mind, it's just a matter of keeping it up until you get enough fluid drained.
Angie: Tch, don't let it get to your head, Dr. Stiles!
And that's the end of a nice, easy, relaxing operation.
The time and jolt requirements are pretty much the same thing, and dealing with the spots quickly, without getting caught in the middle of one, will prevent the inflammation requirement from ever being an issue.
drat, but I am good.
Angie: I contacted a hospital near Rubora. We can take him there when we land.
Derek: Doctors really are on call 24/7, aren't they?
End of Chapter 3-8