A Life (A Life ~愛しき人~)

2006 Winter

2016 Seattle

Okay, so put on the pacing wire and then two drainage tubes.

Keep her above pressure.

Yes, Sir.

Mayo. -Yes.

2016 Tokyo

Danjo Memorial Hospital

Good morning.

Good morning.

Sakura-chan, how do you feel?

I'm hungry.

You're hungry?

That means you're okay. You can eat anything.

Pediatrics surgeon Danjo Mifuyu

Even pudding? -Yes.

Let's change your gauze before that, okay?

Dr. Mifuyu, the meeting has begun.

Okay.

Due to a thorough shortening of number of days in the hospital medicine department,

the increasing hospital income has been improving.

By strengthening the personnel and facilities of neurosurgery and cardiovascular surgery,

Director Danjo Toranosuke

Neurosurgeon/Deputy Director Danjo Masao

the number of patients have increased dramatically.

However, the reason why the profit is still sluggish is due to deficit from pediatrics and obstetrics.

Deputy Director. -Yes?

Have you forgotten that pediatrics was our starting point?

But as I've reported many times

the overall number of patients and drugs are small, hence the profit...

Isn't it your role to find a solution for that?

Head of Cardiovascular Surgery Department Hamura Keigo

Cardiovascular Surgery Department Surgeon Igawa Sota

That's why the reduction of pediatrics and obstetrics is imperative.

I won't allow any reduction.

But considering the excessive working hours and the risks our hospital has to bear...

This is a hospital for patients!

Yes.

I'm sorry, I'll redo the plan.

Director, are you okay?

Dad?

I'm just tired.

You should rest. -Like hell I will!

Sure you're okay?

Everyone, I'm sorry.

That was shocking. Since when did both of them had such bad relationship?

Well, even if it's a sense of obligation as a son-in-law, I suppose each of them has their own way of thinking.

It may sound inappropriate since you're here due to your connection with the Director but

you see, the Director has an old way of thinking.

That's right.

Just remember not to react at times like that.

Okay.

It's important.

Surgical Nurse Shibata Yuki

Dr. Igawa, you're also going to be involved in the hospital management in the future.

Understood.

Morning.

Hm?

I'm hungry.

Dinner will be ready soon.

O~kay!

I'm home. -Ah...welcome back.

Masao-san, dinner will be ready soon.

Ah sorry, I've eaten. -Eh...really?

Welcome home! -I'm home.

Come here.

Read me a picture book.

Sure. "Ao-kun and Kiro-chan". Oh wait.

Got a call.

Hello?

What? Okay, got it. I'm coming now.

Father lost consciousness and collapsed.

Let's go now.

Dad.

Director has regained consciousness.

Ah...Dad.

It's most probably aortic valve stenosis.

Aortic Valve Stenosis

The calcification is strong and VT has appeared.

Can it be healed?

Surgery is difficult at his age. The annulus is too small.

What about other treatments?

Only by using the beta blocker to reduce the burden of the heart.

What about surgery with Nicks or Manouguian technique?

Artificial Valve 21mm

Annulus 18mm

No, the annulus is 18mm in the Director's case. The 21mm artificial valve can't enter.

Then, can't we do both together?

The surgery is too complicated.

Considering the Director's age and cardiac function, his life is at risk.

I'm sorry...

But another 6 months at best.

What?

I see.

Dr. Hamura has considered all possible treatments...

But it can't be healed, right?

I would like to see Dr. Okita.

Eh?

Okita...

The Okita in Seattle.

Why?

But to ask him to come all the way...

It has to be him.

Dr. Okita?

Is the Director avoiding me because I came with your recommendation?

Why would he avoid you just because I recommended you?

Ah...sorry.

I searched Okita Kazuaki but I can't find any research paper from him.

Isn't that because he didn't write any? -Eh? A doctor who doesn't write research paper is coming?

I heard he was a doctor here 10 years ago.

He won't get any chance for surgery if he stayed in Japan.

So the Director introduced him to a hospital in Seattle.

Opportunity depends on ourselves, right? Saying that is just an excuse.

That's because Dr. Igawa has connections.

He won't understand. -Having connection is great, isn't it?

Besides, Dr. Okita graduated from Nippo University. -Ah...then that can't be helped.

He's also the Deputy Director's childhood friend.

Eh?

Anyway everyone, let's give him a warm welcome.

Yes.

Excuse me.

Please take care of this.

Here.

Shibata-san, please enjoy this with all the surgical nurses.

Souvenir from Kobe academic societies. -Thank you.

Here.

It's a famous confection by the way.

Sorry for not being thrilled.

That's what's good about you, Shibata-san. Right?

Yes. You're great.

Excuse me.

Surgeon Okita Kazuaki

Wait a minute.

Okay.

Hello?

Ah, now...

Sorry. Are you okay?

I'm sorry.

Got it.

It's okay, I got this.

Kazu, long time no see. -Ah...thanks.

Where's Dr. Danjo? -That way.

Excuse me.

Director, Dr. Okita's here.

You're here.

Long time no see.

I heard about your success from Professor Kidman. -No, it's thanks to you.

No, you made it this far due to your ability.

Must be tough, isn't it? -Well, I went through stuffs...

Um, I'm Igawa- -Is it okay to check you now?

Excuse me.

Let's do the surgery immediately.

Surgery?

Dad can be healed?

Yeah.

It's going to be fine.

Please.

Subtitle by avanpiper Special thanks to furransu

Beloved

Episode 1

Hello.

This is the Director's heart.

Ascending aorta

About 4cm from the ascending aorta at the right coronary artery

Right coronary artery

the aim is 8mm spiral-shaped incision at the right coronary artery.

Right ventricle

We'll extend the incision at the right ventricle then join both aorta and the right ventricle.

Aortic annulus

Ventricular sectum

Next, the aortic annulus is incised together with the ventricular sectum.

By doing so, the annulus will be enlarged.

Dr. Okita, about the surgery...

It's the so-called Konno technique.

Konno technique

After the annulus pathway is open, we'll attach a prosthetic valve and artificial blood vessel.

Then the size of the annulus can be enlarged by 3 times.

It can go up to 23mm.

But a heart surgery would be a burden to the Director at his age.

It'll be fine if we use del Nido. -Del Nido?

del Nido = Myocardial protective solution

Myocardial protective solution.

Is it licensed in Japan? -I often used it in America.

That's not the point.

I think it'd be wonderful if the surgery can be done using that solution.

Theoritically, there's no problem.

However...

I can't allow a dangerous unprecedented surgery on the Director.

There is a precedent.

Which hospital and doctor?

In Seattle by me.

Was it successful?

Yeah, the patient is a 75 year old Caucasian male.

He had the surgery 3 years ago

and joined the triathlon again this year.

How much experience do you have?

One case. -One?!

What do you think?

Tough, isn't it? -It's tough.

He'll die without the surgery.