Free Web NovelChapter 2254: Chapter 2254: The Culprit Has Been Found
We’ve discussed before what a fistula is. A tracheal fistula is a fistula that forms an abnormal channel by connecting one end to the trachea and the other end to another part of the body. In adults, the most common is pleural, known as bronchopleural fistula. The cause of this condition is usually traced back to pulmonary infections such as tuberculous empyema and lung abscess.
The two doctor-teachers heard the student’s suspicion about the diagnosis of this fistula and immediately turned their attention back to the child.
The child’s respiratory rate is acceptable, not yet reaching a critical situation like rapid suffocation. The wet rales indicate infection but no high fever. If it were a lung abscess, a high fever would be expected. Heart rate is around 120, not off the charts. This child’s condition constantly presents a certain eerie feeling. It’s hard to say the child’s illness is very serious when vital signs don’t hit a red alert. Yet declaring the child healthy is difficult because of the presence of pulmonary wet rales. No wonder the two teachers have been struggling with whether it’s residual amniotic fluid aspiration into the lungs or milk choking.
Bronchopleural fistula? Taking an X-ray might uncover hidden fistula? Given Student Xie’s consistently outstanding performance, Doctor Peng advocated for attention once again: "Take an X-ray, take an X-ray."
"What she said was probably not what you’re thinking," Doctor Wang said.
Neonatologists likely react faster than obstetricians.
A colleague said "No," which made Doctor Peng look at Doctor Wang and the student for a while, suddenly realizing: "Swollen belly."
The teachers finally remembered the main reason for standing here researching was the child’s father’s comment about the child’s "swollen belly." The teachers momentarily forgot about it due to how inconspicuous the symptom is.
Xie Wanying persistently pursued the issue because she was relatively acquainted with the child’s family, understanding the temperament of the child’s father, Hu Hao. Hu Hao’s character is not great, but after all, he is a college graduate with decent exam scores and intelligence; the chances of him babbling nonsense about such matters are very low.
If the child’s father is not oversensitive, perhaps the symptom of the child’s swollen belly holds true. Common causes for a child’s swollen belly usually include what? Abdominal distention signifies an accumulation of gas or liquid inside? If it’s ascites, it might be congenital liver and biliary disease in the infant? If neither gas nor liquid, and there’s a palpable mass, it might indicate a solid tumor in the abdomen?
An abdominal touch examination is necessary. Doctor Wang’s hand goes over the child’s abdomen again. The child’s condition is progressing, and this time Doctor Wang feels the gas-like symptoms identified by Student Xie, also noticing the child drooling more and spitting.
"That’s right," Doctor Wang said, looking serious.
"Congenital," Doctor Peng echoed his colleague’s statement, sighing deeply.
The two had spent half a day arguing over a concern that someone had inadvertently caused the trouble, only to find it was a congenital disease.
Congenital diseases among newborns account for two or three percent of the total newborn population, which is not a low proportion. Generally, as the child arrives, relevant symptoms appear. If symptoms are too mild to identify, constrained by medical technology and other factors, they might not be promptly discovered and diagnosed after birth, carrying the disease into later years or even death. This clinical proportion is also not low.
These matters may not be readily understood by the patient’s family.
Most family members, upon hearing their child was born with an illness, will hurriedly question doctors: By what you’re saying, were the prenatal tests a waste?
