Fan City Military Hospital.

Early in the morning, Zhang Zhong, the director of the General Surgery Department, gathered the doctors in his department. They were preparing to observe and learn from Director Zheng’s laparoscopic appendectomy.

The doctors at the Military Hospital held a great deal of respect and admiration for Director Zheng. However, this time Director Zheng had brought along Wu Ting, a figure of recent online controversy, which gave these doctors other ideas.

Zhang Zhong was also very curious what kind of ability and charisma this Wu Ting possessed to make Director Zheng promote him so enthusiastically.

From Director Zheng’s attitude, Zhang Zhong understood perfectly. Bringing Wu Ting to the Military Hospital for "special training" was all about boosting his influence and increasing his support within Fan City’s medical community.

Zhang Zhong was well-prepared for this. He had specifically followed Director Zheng’s request and selected several patients for the demonstration and exchange with Director Zheng and Wu Ting.

Zhang Zhong also gave Director Zheng a grand reception. Banners and large LED screens all displayed messages welcoming the expert from City First Hospital for this academic exchange.

When Wu Ting and Director Zheng arrived, he led his subordinate doctors to greet them from a distance.

Zhang Zhong was in his forties and had a very scholarly and refined air about him. Upon seeing Director Zheng and Wu Ting, he stepped forward warmly to shake their hands.

"Director Zheng, welcome to our department for this exchange."

After exchanging pleasantries with Director Zheng, Zhang Zhong turned to shake Wu Ting’s hand with a look that was part curiosity, part kindness.

"Dr. Wu, you’ve been quite the hot topic in our Fan City medical circles lately. It’s impressive for a young man to have such influence. However, you must still focus on solidifying your medical skills and not be affected by outside noise. You have a long career ahead of you; the future is bright."

Zhang Zhong waved his hand and led Director Zheng directly to the conference room. They would first get a comprehensive overview of the upcoming patients and take some time to formulate the surgical plans.

During a lull in the discussion, Zhang Zhong casually tested Wu Ting’s fundamentals.

"Dr. Wu, take a look at these preoperative preparations. Is there anything else that needs to be added or improved?"

Seeing Zhang Zhong make his move, Director Zheng remained silent, quietly observing Wu Ting’s reaction.

Wu Ting carefully leafed through the documents and answered with calm composure:

"Director Zhang’s team has already done a very thorough and detailed job with the preoperative work. The routine blood, urine, and stool tests, ECG, coagulation function, and blood electrolytes have all been completed..."

"The patients’ systemic internal diseases have also been assessed and treated..."

"The patients have also been scheduled for preoperative fasting from food and drink in the morning..."

Listening to Wu Ting’s clear thought process and solid grasp of the fundamentals, both Zhang Zhong and Zheng Duqing were very satisfied.

Wu Ting continued to read and think.

"Director Zhang, I see that patient number five is an emergency case and their condition has persisted for over three days. Has an abdominal B-scan ultrasound been performed to check for a wrapped appendix or an abscess...?"

Wu Ting had spotted a few minor issues.

A resident under Director Zhang immediately replied:

"Dr. Wu, the examination has been scheduled. The results will be back a bit later. This patient is further down the schedule, so we’ll have the results in time for the surgery."

Wu Ting nodded, setting down the documents with the air of a seasoned physician.

"Then there are no other problems. We can proceed with the routine umbilical cleaning for the patient and arrange for anesthesia according to the surgical schedule..."

Hearing Wu Ting’s instructions, delivered as if he were the one in charge and eager to start the surgery, both Director Zheng and Director Zhang couldn’t help but smile.

"Did you hear Dr. Wu? Go make the arrangements."

Zhang Zhong’s first impression of Wu Ting was quite good.

"Let’s begin the first surgery then."

To be on the safe side, Director Zheng planned to be the lead surgeon for the first operation, with Wu Ting assisting by holding the camera.

A laparoscopic appendectomy generally requires a lead surgeon, an assistant, and a scrub nurse to work in coordination.

For the operating room layout, the lead surgeon, the camera assistant, and the scrub nurse stood on the patient’s left side, while the monitor was placed on the patient’s right.

Most junior doctors start by holding the camera. The so-called "camera holder" is the assistant who helps the lead surgeon with observation.

Participating in surgery as a camera holder is also the best way for a young physician to observe and learn the procedure. If you can master holding the camera, you’ve essentially mastered the surgery.

Holding the camera well is easier said than done.

Soon, the first surgery began.

Director Zheng was the lead surgeon, with Wu Ting standing by his side, holding the camera.

In the observation room, Zhang Zhong was watching with his team of doctors.

For these doctors, the main purpose was to learn from Director Zheng’s surgical techniques. Of course, some also wanted to see just what level the much-hyped Dr. Wu was truly at.

Holding the camera is a very easy way to gauge a doctor’s mastery of laparoscopic techniques.

"In a moment, everyone can observe Wu Ting’s camera work. Let’s learn from each other."

"According to my understanding of holding the camera, there are three stages. I call them: Fidelity, Expressiveness, and Elegance!"

"The so-called ’Fidelity’ is the first stage. This is the ability to hold the camera correctly, accurately display the surgical field, and follow the movement of the lead surgeon’s instruments. At this point, the lead surgeon still needs to give the camera assistant commands—forward, back, left, right, up, down—and the assistant is usually half a beat behind. This is the stage most of you junior doctors are at."

"The so-called ’Expressiveness’ is the second level. At this stage, the assistant is familiar with the camera’s characteristics and can smoothly adjust the focus, field of view, and camera angle, working in sync with the lead surgeon and matching their rhythm."

"This requires the camera holder to understand the basic knowledge, structure, and parameter settings of the laparoscope and its equipment. They must participate in the surgical coordination as if they were a specialist in endoscopic surgery. Reaching this stage means they are basically qualified and competent."

"They can also manage the camera and light source, and can handle simpler surgeries with fewer steps and an unobstructed surgical site."

"And the third stage is ’Elegance.’ A camera assistant at this stage is already intimately familiar with laparoscopic techniques, the anatomy of the surgical site, and the procedure’s flow and details. They can essentially become the lead surgeon’s eyes, anticipating the surgeon’s needs and staying one step ahead of the operation."

"At this point, the lead surgeon won’t need to give the camera assistant any commands regarding the field of view or direction throughout the entire procedure."

"As they say, the best camera assistant is one the lead surgeon forgets is even there."

"This is the kind of camera holder every lead surgeon dreams of. They can even enhance the lead surgeon’s performance. A sharp-eyed camera holder can help the surgeon spot minor problems during the operation, inform them in time, and even guide the surgeon’s actions."

"Of course, such a camera assistant is a rare find. You might only see them in the top departments in places like Qinghe City or Xianglin City. Besides, a doctor at that level would have long since been leading surgeries on their own. Why would they still be assisting someone else?"

Zhang Zhong was just educating the junior doctors, giving them an ultimate goal to strive for.

...

While Zhang Zhong was lecturing on the three stages of a camera assistant, on the operating table, Director Zheng and Wu Ting had already begun the surgery.

He was also curious to see what level Wu Ting could reach. ’If he could achieve the ’Expressiveness’ stage, that would already be outstanding.’

Director Zheng was using the conventional, classic three-port technique: a trocar around the umbilicus as the main operating port, a port 3cm below the intersection of the umbilical line and the left midclavicular line as the observation port, and a trocar 2cm superior and to the left of the pubic symphysis as the auxiliary operating port.

After completing the preliminary work, Director Zheng was about to start directing and instructing Wu Ting on holding the camera.

However, before he could give a single command, Wu Ting had already skillfully begun operating in anticipation.

"Hmm?"

Director Zheng hadn’t expected Wu Ting to be so proficient. He swallowed the words that were on the tip of his tongue and instinctively began to operate, following Wu Ting’s lead.

Wu Ting centered the view on the tip of Director Zheng’s instrument in the main operating port, using the auxiliary port on the left for secondary reference, and began the exploration...

’What a strong sense of direction and visual composition!’

’Wu Ting’s camera work is incredible. Not just the lead surgeon, but even the first assistant, and everyone in front of the monitor can see the surgeon’s actions clearly. The anatomical structures are sharp and magnified...’

’This is textbook camera recording. Afterward, it will be easy for everyone to study, reflect, and summarize. It can significantly shorten the learning curve for beginners and gives all the observers an immersive, first-person experience from the surgeon’s perspective!’

With his keen eye, Zhang Zhong immediately recognized Wu Ting’s talent and skill.

’His control over the camera, such exquisite and detailed local maneuvering...’

’During cauterization, he pulls back slightly to avoid splatter from moisture and fat... When the instrument holding the retractor in the auxiliary port is released, the camera promptly retreats. What a superb grasp of the bigger picture...’

Zhang Zhong couldn’t help but rise to his feet to get a better look. This kind of camera assistant was the ultimate prize every lead surgeon dreamed of!

Over at the operating table, Director Zheng was feeling exceptionally relaxed today. Wu Ting was always one step ahead, providing the most suitable camera angle just before he needed to make a move.

’This is so smooth...’

Director Zheng completely forgot about Wu Ting’s presence, becoming fully immersed in the surgery.

In the observation room, all the junior doctors finally understood what Director Zhang meant by the third stage: Elegance!

Zhang Zhong suddenly recalled how Director Zheng had solemnly asked him to give Wu Ting "special training," claiming he was just a beginner and asking for his opinions.

’Special training? And he wanted my opinion? This is just him showing off his top-tier assistant!’

Watching Zheng Duqing perform at a level beyond his usual standard, Zhang Zhong felt a pang of jealousy. A great assistant really could boost the lead surgeon’s capabilities.