[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
with gaining more other-species surgical experience.
You are being too harsh with yourself, Conway said, then added thoughtfully,
At the same time, I m very glad that the hospital discourages visits from
patients relatives. The postoperative talk with the patient, especially in a
case like this one, is bad enough.
If the prospect causes you serious mental distress, Edanelt said quickly, I
would willingly relieve you of it.
Thank you, no, Conway said, feeling tempted. It is supposed to be my job.
He was, after all, the acting Diagnostician-in-Charge.
Page 67
ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.html
Of course, said Edanelt. Presumably the replacements are immediately
available?
Patient Eighteen terminated a few minutes ago, Conway said. The absorption
and food-processing organs are intact, and there are three usable limbs.
Thornnastor will let you have more as and when you need them. This was one
accident which left us with no shortage of spare parts.
As he finished speaking, Conway attached himself to the operating frame beside
Edanelt and began discussing the special problems which would be encountered
with this case, and in particular the necessity for performing three major
operations concurrently.
Because of the nature of FROB-Ten s injuries there was less than fifty percent
of the patient s absorption system functioning, and that situation was being
maintained with difficulty and with no certainty that there would not be
further deterioration within the next few hours. The absorption mechanism
could be used to assimilate the anesthetic or food, but not both, so it was
essential that the patient s period under anesthesia be as short as possible.
And while the limb replacements were relatively simple microsurgical
procedures, removing the damaged organ from Ten and the healthy one from the
deceased Eighteen was going to be tricky and only fractionally less difficult
than resiting the donor organ in the receiving patient.
The organs of absorption of the physiological classification FROB were unique
among the warm-blooded oxygen-breathing lifeforms known to the Galactic
Federation-even though, properly speaking, the Hudlars did not breathe.
Situated under the skin of each flank, the organs were large semicircular and
extraordinarily complex structures covering more than one-sixth of the body
area and separated along their upper edges by the spinal column. The organs
were integral with the skin, which was pitted in those areas by several
thousands of tiny slits whose opening and closure was controlled by a network
of voluntary muscles, and extended deeply into the body to a depth which
varied between nine and sixteen inches.
Serving as it did the functions of both stomach and lungs, the combination of
nutrition and air which was the dense, souplike atmosphere of Hudlar was taken
in by the two large organs, and in a remarkably short period of time, the
usable content of the gaseous liquid and solid mixture was abstracted and the
residue passed into a single smaller and biologically less complex organ sited
on the underside where the wastes were evacuated as a milky liquid.
The two hearts, situated in tandem between the organs of absorption and
protected by the central vertebrae, circulated the blood at a rate and
pressure which had made the early attempts at Hudlar surgery extremely
hazardous for the patients. Now, however, much FROB surgical experience had
been amassed since the planet s inception into the Federation, and what was
more important, a Hudlar was very hard to kill.
Unless, as in this case, it was more than half-dead already.
The team s one big advantage was that all of the procedures, the multiple
replacements of limbs and organs of absorption, would be open surgery. There
would be no delving and cutting and suturing in tiny, restricted interorgan
spaces. More than one surgeon could enter the operative field when required,
and
Conway knew with certainty that the operating frame around FROB-Ten would
shortly be the busiest place in the hospital.
Edanelt was giving final directions regarding the presentation of the patient
to its nurses when Conway left to visit FROB-Forty-three. He was beginning to
feel that he was in the way again, a feeling to which he had become
increasingly accustomed as his growing seniority in recent years had
necessitated greater delegation of authority and responsibility. But he knew
that Edanelt, as one of the hospital s foremost Senior Physicians, was itself
too responsible a Doctor to hesitate about calling for Conway s assistance
should it get into trouble.
Page 68
ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.html
A superficial examination of FROB-Forty-three would have suggested that there
was not very much wrong with the patient. All six of the limbs were present
and clearly in an undamaged condition, the porous tegument covering its organs
of absorption was intact, and it was apparent that the cranial casing and
spine had retained their structural integrity in spite of this particular
Hudlar having been in a section of the wrecked accommodation module which had
sustained
the heaviest casualties. The case notes made brief mention of the fact that it
had been shielded by the body of another FROB who had little chance of
survival.
But the sacrifice on the part of Forty-three s companion-in all probability
its life-mate-could have been wasted. Just inside the midlimb on the right
underside there was a pressure cap and temporary dressing which concealed the
opening of a deep, punctured wound made by a length of bar metal which had
penetrated the tegument like a blunt spear. It had torn the side of the
womb-the patient had been in Hudlar female mode at the time of the
accident-and while it had missed the major blood vessels in the area, it had
stopped within a fraction of an inch of the rearmost heart.
The fetus seemed to be in good condition in spite of the metal bar having
passed within a few inches of its spine. While the heart itself had not been
damaged, the blunt end of the metal bar had pinched off the circulation to the
heart muscles on that side to the point where irreversible deterioration had
taken place. Cardiac activity was being maintained by the life-support system,
but even with that assistance the heart was in imminent danger of arrest, and
replacement was strongly indicated. Conway sighed, foreseeing yet another
emotionally painful postoperative experience for himself.
A replacement is available from Eighteen, he said to Hossantir, the
Tralthan Senior in charge of Forty-three s surgery. We are already taking its
absorption organ and all of its undamaged limbs, so donating a heart as well
should not worry it.
Hossantir turned one of its four eyes to regard Conway and said, Since
Eighteen and Forty-three were life-mates, you are almost certainly correct.
I didn t know that, Conway said uncomfortably, sensing an implied criticism
of his flippancy by the Tralthan whose species, unlike the Hudlars, held their
recently deceased in high reverence. He went on. How will you proceed?
Hossantir s intention was to leave the section of metal bar still present in
the wound in place. It had been cut where it passed beneath the skin by the
rescuers to facilitate movement of the casualty, but they had wisely not
removed the entire bar in case they might complicate the injuries. Since the
inner end of the bar was performing a useful function in controlling some of
the deeper hemorrhaging, the prior suturing of the tear in the womb would mean
that the instruments necessary for the later heart replacement procedure would [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
zanotowane.pl doc.pisz.pl pdf.pisz.pl akte20.pev.pl
with gaining more other-species surgical experience.
You are being too harsh with yourself, Conway said, then added thoughtfully,
At the same time, I m very glad that the hospital discourages visits from
patients relatives. The postoperative talk with the patient, especially in a
case like this one, is bad enough.
If the prospect causes you serious mental distress, Edanelt said quickly, I
would willingly relieve you of it.
Thank you, no, Conway said, feeling tempted. It is supposed to be my job.
He was, after all, the acting Diagnostician-in-Charge.
Page 67
ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.html
Of course, said Edanelt. Presumably the replacements are immediately
available?
Patient Eighteen terminated a few minutes ago, Conway said. The absorption
and food-processing organs are intact, and there are three usable limbs.
Thornnastor will let you have more as and when you need them. This was one
accident which left us with no shortage of spare parts.
As he finished speaking, Conway attached himself to the operating frame beside
Edanelt and began discussing the special problems which would be encountered
with this case, and in particular the necessity for performing three major
operations concurrently.
Because of the nature of FROB-Ten s injuries there was less than fifty percent
of the patient s absorption system functioning, and that situation was being
maintained with difficulty and with no certainty that there would not be
further deterioration within the next few hours. The absorption mechanism
could be used to assimilate the anesthetic or food, but not both, so it was
essential that the patient s period under anesthesia be as short as possible.
And while the limb replacements were relatively simple microsurgical
procedures, removing the damaged organ from Ten and the healthy one from the
deceased Eighteen was going to be tricky and only fractionally less difficult
than resiting the donor organ in the receiving patient.
The organs of absorption of the physiological classification FROB were unique
among the warm-blooded oxygen-breathing lifeforms known to the Galactic
Federation-even though, properly speaking, the Hudlars did not breathe.
Situated under the skin of each flank, the organs were large semicircular and
extraordinarily complex structures covering more than one-sixth of the body
area and separated along their upper edges by the spinal column. The organs
were integral with the skin, which was pitted in those areas by several
thousands of tiny slits whose opening and closure was controlled by a network
of voluntary muscles, and extended deeply into the body to a depth which
varied between nine and sixteen inches.
Serving as it did the functions of both stomach and lungs, the combination of
nutrition and air which was the dense, souplike atmosphere of Hudlar was taken
in by the two large organs, and in a remarkably short period of time, the
usable content of the gaseous liquid and solid mixture was abstracted and the
residue passed into a single smaller and biologically less complex organ sited
on the underside where the wastes were evacuated as a milky liquid.
The two hearts, situated in tandem between the organs of absorption and
protected by the central vertebrae, circulated the blood at a rate and
pressure which had made the early attempts at Hudlar surgery extremely
hazardous for the patients. Now, however, much FROB surgical experience had
been amassed since the planet s inception into the Federation, and what was
more important, a Hudlar was very hard to kill.
Unless, as in this case, it was more than half-dead already.
The team s one big advantage was that all of the procedures, the multiple
replacements of limbs and organs of absorption, would be open surgery. There
would be no delving and cutting and suturing in tiny, restricted interorgan
spaces. More than one surgeon could enter the operative field when required,
and
Conway knew with certainty that the operating frame around FROB-Ten would
shortly be the busiest place in the hospital.
Edanelt was giving final directions regarding the presentation of the patient
to its nurses when Conway left to visit FROB-Forty-three. He was beginning to
feel that he was in the way again, a feeling to which he had become
increasingly accustomed as his growing seniority in recent years had
necessitated greater delegation of authority and responsibility. But he knew
that Edanelt, as one of the hospital s foremost Senior Physicians, was itself
too responsible a Doctor to hesitate about calling for Conway s assistance
should it get into trouble.
Page 68
ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.html
A superficial examination of FROB-Forty-three would have suggested that there
was not very much wrong with the patient. All six of the limbs were present
and clearly in an undamaged condition, the porous tegument covering its organs
of absorption was intact, and it was apparent that the cranial casing and
spine had retained their structural integrity in spite of this particular
Hudlar having been in a section of the wrecked accommodation module which had
sustained
the heaviest casualties. The case notes made brief mention of the fact that it
had been shielded by the body of another FROB who had little chance of
survival.
But the sacrifice on the part of Forty-three s companion-in all probability
its life-mate-could have been wasted. Just inside the midlimb on the right
underside there was a pressure cap and temporary dressing which concealed the
opening of a deep, punctured wound made by a length of bar metal which had
penetrated the tegument like a blunt spear. It had torn the side of the
womb-the patient had been in Hudlar female mode at the time of the
accident-and while it had missed the major blood vessels in the area, it had
stopped within a fraction of an inch of the rearmost heart.
The fetus seemed to be in good condition in spite of the metal bar having
passed within a few inches of its spine. While the heart itself had not been
damaged, the blunt end of the metal bar had pinched off the circulation to the
heart muscles on that side to the point where irreversible deterioration had
taken place. Cardiac activity was being maintained by the life-support system,
but even with that assistance the heart was in imminent danger of arrest, and
replacement was strongly indicated. Conway sighed, foreseeing yet another
emotionally painful postoperative experience for himself.
A replacement is available from Eighteen, he said to Hossantir, the
Tralthan Senior in charge of Forty-three s surgery. We are already taking its
absorption organ and all of its undamaged limbs, so donating a heart as well
should not worry it.
Hossantir turned one of its four eyes to regard Conway and said, Since
Eighteen and Forty-three were life-mates, you are almost certainly correct.
I didn t know that, Conway said uncomfortably, sensing an implied criticism
of his flippancy by the Tralthan whose species, unlike the Hudlars, held their
recently deceased in high reverence. He went on. How will you proceed?
Hossantir s intention was to leave the section of metal bar still present in
the wound in place. It had been cut where it passed beneath the skin by the
rescuers to facilitate movement of the casualty, but they had wisely not
removed the entire bar in case they might complicate the injuries. Since the
inner end of the bar was performing a useful function in controlling some of
the deeper hemorrhaging, the prior suturing of the tear in the womb would mean
that the instruments necessary for the later heart replacement procedure would [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]