Original subtitles

BASED ON THE WEBTOON SERIES

THE TRAUMA CODE: HEROES ON CALL

No, I really can't! I mean it!

I really can't do this!

What are you doing?

Dr. Baek, you're not jumping, are you?

- See you later. - Save me!

- Help! - Dr. Baek!

Are you sure he's a doctor?

Why is no one stopping him?

There's a gap!

Dr. Baek, you'll die! Please don't!

Take me with you.

This is frustrating!

I'm scared.

I'm terrified!

Take me with you! Please!

Who are you?

He's a doctor. Dr. Baek Kang-hyuk.

- Stethoscope! - Yes, sir!

- Quick! - Here.

No breath sounds in the upper lobe of the right lung.

What does that mean?

It's a pneumothorax!

There are no breath sounds at all!

- It's a tension pneumothorax! - Then what's next?

A puncture!

The air in the lung must come out.

Hold tight!

Dr. Baek!

He's still unconscious!

If the air in the lung was the cause--

He should have started coughing by now.

His pupils are not responding, Dr. Baek.

He has a brain hemorrhage. Papilledema!

Sorry?

We must relieve the intracranial pressure!

That calls for a decompression. But we can't do that here!

- What is the patient's condition? - Let's hurry and get him in the air.

The chopper can't stay forever!

Let's secure the patient.

Raising the hoist.

Get ready.

I'm opening his skull in the helicopter.

Pardon?

His skull!

Right. What?

We're gonna take his lid off!

Okay?

What?

Get a grip.

Don't let the height get to you.

Think only of the patient.

Yes, sir.

Get started.

Shave it real close.

Just a moment, Dr. Baek.

Are you serious?

We're 15 minutes from the hospital.

Once we land, 15 minutes before surgery can start.

Unless we open his skull now,

this helicopter will become a hearse.

Let's steady his breathing first. We'll go with incision, not intubation.

Mr. An, get the Ambu bag, please.

Okay, I've got it.

He's practically glowing.

You wanted a close shave.

That was a compliment.

It's time.

Disinfect and pull the scalp.

Yes, sir.

But Dr. Baek,

can you really do this?

A decompression in a helicopter?

I've done it in worse conditions.

Where?

Afghanistan.

We've managed to pull off anesthesia and fasciotomy, but how do we make a hole?

- What? You didn't bring a hand drill? - Pardon?

A hand…

I doubt you'll find one in a trauma kit.

What's that for?

- Pour it on. - Sorry?

- Sir? - Pour the disinfectant.

Yes, sir.

What…

What are you thinking?

Stop babbling and hold tight.

The hole must be precise.

Stop, Dr. Baek! This can't be right.

There must be some other way.

All right, here goes.

Tea just tastes better in this teacup.

What on earth?

Earthquake!

It's an earthquake!

Wow, he actually airlifted a patient.

I've never seen anything like this.

I've seen it around ten times.

This is my fifth year here.

Ten times?

Yes, when Dr. Kwon was here.

We lost three patients during landing.

Really? How come?

This isn't a real heliport after all.

Each second counts for trauma patients, but the landing drags on.

It drives us insane.

We're good. You can disembark now.

One, two, three.

- Let's go straight to the OR. - Okay.

- Mr. An, please check the patient in. - Okay.

- Anus! - Yes, sir!

Press the gauze tight. Never let go!

Okay, I won't let go.

Let's go!

One, two!

Let's go.

Dr. Baek. I can't get hold of the anesthesiologist.

What?

- What's going on? - He's still not answering?

I know his morning shift isn't up yet.

That asshole must be out of his freaking mind.

NURSE KIM SEONG-YUN EMERGENCY ROOM, HNUH

Ten minutes.

Ten more minutes. Hold out for just ten minutes.

Okay, ten minutes.

I'll clock out on the dot.

- Okay, just ten more minutes. - So he wants to get off at 12.

What would be the best possible way to kill this jerk?

Killing him can wait. Anesthesia comes first.

I'll look for him.

Forget it. I don't need that piece of trash.

Call someone else.

No one is available right now except Dr. Hwang Seon-u.

How about the one we had for the thoracotomy this morning?

Park… Gyeong-won?

No, he's out of the question.

- How come? - He's a fourth-year.

Whatever. Just call him.

Oh, really now?

Fourth-years preparing for their exams are exempt from shifts or duties.

It's a big ask to bring him in.

Can we afford to be polite right now?

All that grace and class won't save a single patient.

Call him right away. Should I do it?

NURSE CHEON JANG-MI

Resident Park Gyeong-won of anesthesiology.

This is Dr. Baek Kang-hyuk from trauma surgery.

I need you to come down right now.

What is this about?

Emergency surgery.

Hello?

I can't hear anything. Hello?

I can't hear anything.

Are you insane?

Hello, this is Nurse Cheon Jang-mi from trauma surgery.

We can't get ahold of Dr. Hwang Seon-u.

What about the other doctors on call?

The office tells us to wait for another hour or so.

But the patient is in a really critical condition.

All right, then.

Thank you.

THE ROLE OF AN ANESTHESIOLOGIST IN TRAUMA SURGERY

Dr. Baek, the patient's BP!

Push two amps of dexamethasone. Go all in with mannitol.

- Yes, sir. - Get me a C-line.

Yes, sir.

I'll get the ultrasound ready.

I can't get a pulse.

Are you going in? I'll get the ultrasound.

He will die waiting.

We have no BP reading. You might hit his artery. Let me.

Hey, Anus.

Watch closely.

Okay, the blood color confirms I've hit the mark.

When treating major trauma patients,

you must consider their actual condition more than textbook knowledge.

Otherwise, you could end up losing a life that might have been saved.

Like you almost did.

For anesthetics, remifentanil and ketamine will do.

The surgery will relieve the intracranial pressure. As for the BP,

use inotropics if it gets too low.

And the heart

will be okay.

No.

It's not okay.

My heart is pounding.

What magic will he perform this time?

Let's get started.

Yes, Doctor.

What a nutcase!

Calling a helicopter on his first day?

Doc!

Doc, did you see the helicopter? That Baek Kang-hyuk dude…

What's with all the fuss?

I heard it too.

He transported the patient himself by helicopter, along with Yang Jae-won.

That nutcase must be trying to bring this place down and--

What? With Yang Jae-won?

He is on call for the Trauma Team today.

Apparently they're in surgery together right now.

Yang Jae-won got in a helicopter?

With Baek Kang-hyuk?

And surgery even?

I have a bad feeling about this.

Baek Kang-hyuk can't possibly have his eye on my protégé, can he?

- Hold on. - No, there's no way.

He wouldn't dare steal from the chief of general surgery.

- The director wants me. - It's a possibility.

Yang Jae-won is indeed impressive.

Thank you.

HANKUK NATIONAL UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL SCHOLARSHIP PRESENTATION CEREMONY

ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE SCHOLARSHIP

Scholarships every semester at Hankuk National University.

The undisputed valedictorian!

No way I'm losing him!

I already called dibs!

Doc?

What do you mean by that?

Who did what now?

The person who introduced Dr. Baek to Minister Kang

was Director Oh of Chilseong Hospital.

I got blindsided with my eyes wide open.

At any rate, I'm worried.

They say Dr. Baek has exceptional skills.

I hear he saves patients on the brink of death.

He'll be pouring money into treatment!

The more patients he saves, the more money we'll bleed!

That must be the whole point of Oh's dirty trick!

I did get the minister's recommendation.

Plus, I had no good reason to reject him.

So I thought I should meet him.

My plan was to hammer down his salary and then scrap the whole thing.

He's handsome.

Mr. Baek Kang-hyuk?

Yes.

I will accept the attending position.

Just like that?

In a heartbeat?

I've always had my heart set on your hospital.

Even so,

let me go through the terms--

What terms? Salary?

Man, who cares about the pittance?

These shoes, this suit, this watch…

I can get these things with my own money.

For me, the white coat is not about making a living.

It's a sense of duty.

Aren't you a nice guy, rich and all?

With a sense of duty on top.

But you're a rude brat.

Just what you'd expect from a Muhan graduate.

Typical behavior of a lower-tier graduate.

They never keep their heads down. It gets on my nerves.

Director.

When the next assessment comes around,

you could just let him go.

What are you saying?

Forget it. I'm sorry.

The next assessment is too far off.

We should get rid of him as soon as possible.

UNKNOWN MALE INTRACRANIAL DECOMPRESSION

Scalpel.

This is insane.

He doesn't hesitate at all.

Army.

Hand drill.

Wow, look.

Look at him with the drill.

EVD.

Seriously, is he for real?

That's the head done.

The lungs are next.

UNKNOWN MALE INTRACRANIAL DECOMPRESSION

PARTIAL LUNG RESECTION

First, cut the artery in the right lower lobe.

This reduces blood loss.

Next, cut the bronchus to prevent air from leaking into the damaged region.

Finish up with the vein.

This allows the right lower lobe to come off with ease.

The cause of pain is then removed.

All done.

- Send this to the specimen lab. - Yes, sir.

- Anus. - Yes?

Let's close the chest.

Just two hours in,

he finished an intracranial decompression and a partial lung resection.

Hey!

Sending out the specimen.

- Are you smitten? - Sorry?

You seem completely taken with my surgical skills.

Not even. I just thought…

you're not half bad.

What would you know?

What are you doing next year? No one studies colorectal for two years.

Aren't you being too dismissive? What's wrong with colorectal anyway?

You're the one with a dismissive attitude.

Muddling through in a cushy department, hoping things will somehow work out.

Isn't that your little plot?

No, it's not.

Right?

Let me introduce you to a good specialty. There happens to be an opening too.

A fellow trauma surgeon.

Trauma surgery?

What's with the reaction?

- I'm not saying no, but-- - It's settled, then.

It's just so sudden, that's all. Please don't get me wrong.

Why can't you do it?

Give me a logical, well-structured answer.

Well, I…

I don't exactly have a reason not to,

but it's a major life decision, so--

Give me a proper answer in three seconds, or I'll take it as a yes.

My advisor expects me to become a second-year colorectal fellow next year.

- I couldn't possibly-- - What a load of bullshit.

It's your life. You call the shots.

That's…

Do you think your advisor will look out for you?

Or help you become an attending?

Why are you so loyal to that advisor of yours?

Am I asking for too much?

Did I ask you to set up a blind date for me? No.

Join me and I will teach you.

My pass!

Here it is, Dr. Baek.

Sure.

For you, it's a guaranteed win.

Of all the potential mentors out there, I am the best.

That might be the case…

Absolutely not! My advisor--

Enough of that damn advisor.

So, your advisor has the final say, huh?

Where are you going?

Who did this?

Who put all this in front of my office?

Who left Baek Kang-hyuk's stuff here?

Man, honestly!

It's his first day, and I already can't stand him.

I can't believe this!

I'm the head of general surgery after all.

He hasn't even visited me from right next door.

You mean me?

What are you doing?

I'm paying you a visit from right next door.

Well, even so,

you just let yourself in?

It's an urgent matter. Please take a seat.

But this is my room.

Don't tell me what to--

Do you prefer to stand?

Well, do as you wish.

Whatever.

Unbelievable.

All right, what's so urgent?

I believe there is a fellow on your team by the name of Yang Jae-won.

Yes, there is.

He's my favorite student, a true protégé of mine.

I thought I'd try my hand at teaching him.

Do they not teach manners at Muhan University?

Look, Dr. Baek.

He is my fellow. Mine!

Come on. Don't be so petty about this.

The way I see it,

it's his call at the end of the day.

Wait.

Are you saying he would ditch me and choose trauma surgery?

We have a long history,

and plenty more to come.

Don't tell me you're worried

that he'll end up ditching and humiliating you?

Not at all.

In that case,

let's leave the choice up to him.

Deal?

Deal.

Let's meet at four o'clock and talk this over, the three of us.

I feel cheated somehow.

Take the offer.

Don't take the offer.

Take it.

Don't take it.

Take it.

Don't take it.

It's a sign from above. I'm folding.

Hey there!

Our very own Dr. Yang Jae-dong.

What are you doing here?

Our dear Dr. Yang Jae-dong, coveted by the trauma surgery department.

That being said,

something seems off.

Why is your face telling me that you're considering the offer?

Listen.

Just yesterday, I would've turned down such an offer.

- Yeah? - But…

Hey, I keep having strange thoughts.

I wonder if I would become like Dr. Baek if I went into trauma surgery.

No way! Not in a million years!

Why not?

You rode on a helicopter today.

Not only that,

you rappelled from it.

Can you really keep doing that?

Man, that's impossible.

Jae-won.

Do you have a sense of duty or something?

- A sense of duty? - Yeah.

Next question.

Are you a maniac?

No, I'm as ordinary as they come.

Exactly.

Only maniacs with a sense of duty make it in trauma surgery.

Case in point,

Dr. Baek.

See you later.

Maniacs with a sense of duty…

Oh my goodness, you're right.

You have a way with words.

- Thanks. Bye now. - Hey.

Dr. Baek, thank you for the offer, but I'm committed to colorectal surgery.

Look at this kid.

Four o'clock. My office.

Hey, Gangster.

- Good to see you, boss. - What?

Since you call me "Gangster," I should treat you like a boss.

You wore your white coat today. Now you look like a real doctor.

Stuff it.

Just tell me how to win someone over.

Win someone over?

I saw how you won that anesthesiologist over earlier.

That's not what happened. I simply asked for a favor.

Potato, potahto.

Give me some tips already.

Why should I?

Yang Jae-won.

How would you like to work with him?

Who?

You heard me.

Dr. Yang Jae-won?

Actually, all the nurses in our team have a soft spot for him.

I'm sure they do. He is such a soft-hearted pushover.

Here's the problem.

He said no. He's playing hard to get.

What a shame.

Hey, Gangster.

You've lasted here for five years.

I bet you wouldn't want to see the Trauma Team disappear.

We're in the same boat.

Wouldn't it be nice to have one more person on board?

- Yes? - One more person.

Could we have a minute?

No.

You still don't get it.

Like I said,

Dr. Yang is a compassionate soul.

Try a more humane approach.

That's not easy. Inhumanity is my forte.

Compassion…

Give me an example.

Why did you want to become a doctor?

Me? Because of my father.

That's perfect!

Sit down with him and have a good chat about it.

You want me to sell a sob story.

I wouldn't put it that way.

I'm saying you should have a conversation with him.

All personal relationships begin with a conversation, don't they?

You have no time to waste!

It seems like Dr. Han is already on it!

What?

I called Dr. Yang earlier about an ICU patient,

and he was rushing off to see Dr. Han.

What?

Damn it.

This teacup.

It's a Goryeo celadon.

Maybe it's because it's a masterpiece, but it just makes tea taste better.

Go ahead. Take a sip.

That's hot.

Dr. Yang, we're both graduates of Hankuk National University, aren't we?

In short, we have a certain pedigree.

You should follow my lead and enjoy a smooth ride all the way.

If you had to struggle from scratch under that Muhan graduate

who has no background, I would be disheartened.

- Dr. Han. - Yes?

If this is about Dr. Baek's offer,

I am sorry.

I asked to see you today for something else.

When my mentor gave me this teacup,

he said that one day I'd find my own protégé to pass it on to.

Today, the teacup finds its new owner.

Me, sir?

You, sir.

- What the… - Dr. Baek.

What are you doing?

- What do you need that for? - That…

No! Please don't!

Have you lost your mind?! What do you think you're doing?!

This should be a three-way meeting.

We said the three of us would meet at four o'clock and discuss it together.

But

it's only 3:20 right now.

Why wait until then? Let's speed things up and decide now!

I'd love that.

Fine. Take a seat.

How insolent.

Hey, Anus.

Sir?

Is it gonna be colorectal surgery or trauma surgery?

The thing is…

Colorectal surgery, no doubt.

I've already taught him all the basics.

He'll start writing papers next year and become an attending one day.

An attending?

Do you really believe him?

He's saying you owe him two years of grunt work

for making you a specialist.

Why do you put such a barbaric spin on things?

Do you even have a position that you can hand him?

You can't just be handed an attending position.

You need to be prepared when the opportunity arises.

That's exactly what I'm trying to say.

Even I can prepare him for such things.

Once I take him under my wing, let's see…

In about five years, he'll be an eighth of the doctor that I am.

Five years?

I wonder why such a talented man

ended up going to Muhan University.

Your degree means nothing in the OR.

Dr. Baek, come clean.

Why are you here?

You're here to shed the label of being a lowly Muhan graduate

and polish your résumé!

- Calm down, sir. - "Polish my résumé"?!

- Are you done?! - Stop it!

"Polish my résumé"?!

I'm not done talking!

You started talking smack first.

You keep jabbing at me with all your talk of skills.

But I have something you'll never have.

An impressive résumé.

A medical degree from Hankuk National University.

- Go on. - Subspecialty in colorectal surgery.

- And? - Subspecialty in colonoscopy.

Colorectal specialist certified by the Ministry of Health.

Specialist in colorectal medicine.

Lifetime member of the Korean Surgical Society.

Member of the Colorectal Research Society, Columbia University.

MUHAN UNIVERSITY GRADUATE FIRST ATTENDING SURGEON ROLE

Will he choose Han Yu-rim's credentials or Baek Kang-hyuk's skills?

Dr. Yang is facing quite a dilemma. He has to pick one.

So if all goes well, he will be working with us.

Let's not get our hopes up.

I mean, it's no contest.

A head surgeon has more clout than a newly appointed attending.

Right?

If I had to guess, Dr. Baek will end up fighting tooth and nail all on his own

like Dr. Kwon did.

Shall we bet on it?

Winner gets 10,000 won?

You know,

the number of plaques I've received from societies alone equals my age.

Jae-won, if you commit yourself to your work,

you might reach great heights like me.

You don't have a single picture taken with a patient.

What was that?

Is it hard to choose?

Yes, sir.

Why?

To be honest,

I'm not confident about trauma surgery.

You're not confident.

Yang Jae-won.

It's time to make a decision.

Colorectal or trauma?

Me or Baek Kang-hyuk?

I think, Dr. Han…

It's me, isn't it?

- I-- - Never mind.

Never mind.

You can't save lives by weighing up all the odds like that.

Your hesitation would cost patients their lives.

Don't worry about him.

- Where are you going? - Wait, sir!

Yang Jae-won!

Just a moment!

Dr. Baek.

The thing is…

What I meant was…

I was wondering what I could do as a trauma surgeon.

Isn't it obvious?

You'll go through what happened today over and over again.

Then, eventually,

you'll be able to save lives all on your own.

Are all those people…

Are they all patients you saved?

Rania.

Severe brain damage from the bombing required eight hours of surgery.

The bombs kept falling, and we were running low on blood.

Good job.

It was a tough battle for the little girl.

Did she live?

Her dream is to become a doctor.

That old man over there is Masoud.

He refused to be seen by any other doctor.

I don't trust him. Bring me a Muslim doctor.

Goodness, you're a stubborn one, old man.

Keep quiet or your BP will drop.

What are you doing?

Finally, some peace and quiet.

He insisted on me becoming his son-in-law.

He wanted you to be part of his family.

Dr. Yang is a compassionate soul.

Try a more humane approach.

You…

Why did you want to become a doctor?

Perhaps…

you wanted to save lives, like me.

Yang Jae-won!

Dr. Yang.

I would give you this.

Why can't you see how I feel? I want you to have this!

Dr. Han.

I think this teacup

belongs to someone else.

This is a celadon from the Goryeo dynasty.

Haven't you heard of Goryeo celadons?

Sir…

I choose trauma surgery!

No, you've got it all wrong.

Fellows don't get to choose the specialty they want.

- They must do as they're told. - Hey!

You said his decision would be final.

- But… - All right, let's get to work.

Wait a second!

- Wait! - I'm sorry, sir!

- Yang Jae-won! - I'm sorry!

- I wish you the best, sir! - Yang Jae-won!

Let go of me. Hands off!

- How dare you? - What's wrong with you?

That teacup looks like a knockoff anyway.

Nonsense. You have no clue!

I'm pretty good with these things.

Goryeo celadons

aren't decorated this way.

You should get it checked in Insa-dong.

What do you know?

A knockoff?

A knockoff?!

Yang Jae-won.

That ungrateful bastard.

I doted on him dearly as a fellow alumnus.

He dares to betray me?

He dares to ditch me?

Me?!

Yang Jae-won!

Me?

WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEND THE EMAIL? YES

What is this?

What on earth?

What does it say?

All right, tell me! Spit it out!

Take deep breaths. Do you remember Lamaze breathing?

Get to the point. I don't have time.

Hey!

The fellows are freaking out

about an email from Dr. Han.

A group email.

What about the group email?

From now on… Here. Just see for yourself.

- All right, let me see. - I can't bring myself to say it.

"Starting today,

all Trauma Team on-call duties are assigned to Yang Jae-won."

ALL TRAUMA TEAM ON-CALL DUTIES ARE ASSIGNED TO YANG JAE-WON

Listen.

Go and beg like your life depends on it.

I can't do it! I won't do it!

All these on-call shifts will be the death of you!

TRAUMA TEAM: YANG JAE-WON, YANG JAE-WON, YANG JAE-WON, YANG JAE-WON, YANG JAE-WON

It's a death sentence.

Yes, Dr. Baek?

What's the matter? Did someone die?

- Are you crying? - No.

But my funeral is coming up soon.

Dr. Han Yu-rim has assigned me to all on-call duties for the Trauma Team.

What about it? In trauma surgery, you're on call every day.

In Korea, one specialist must handle

all trauma patients, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

Hey.

Don't tell me you didn't know what you were signing up for.

You don't seem to know your place yet.

Hey, Anus!

Yes… Dr. Baek.

Those on-call duties,

I won't let you work them all by yourself.

I can't let you go around killing people.

Actually, this works in our favor.

You'll be on call anyway.

Thanks to that email, the entire hospital knows

that we are busting our tails.

The best kind of hard work is the kind everyone acknowledges.

Come on. It's time to check on the ICU.

But sir,

why did you choose me of all people?

It's simple.

You're a good runner.

Every time I saw you, you were running.

Running to save a patient.

I will make sure

you don't regret choosing me.

I'm going to make sure you regret choosing trauma surgery.

By the way, Dr. Baek,

didn't you go to Syria with IMAFP?

What? Why do you ask?

But you mentioned Afghanistan when we were in the helicopter.

Hey, never mind that. Just reply to Dr. Han's email already.

Dear Dr. Han. This is Yang Jae-won.

Dr. Baek has asked me to pass on a message.

He says the teacup is an authentic Goryeo celadon.

Baek Kang-hyuk!

"Trauma Center." Sounds great!

- Anus, you just follow my lead. - Yes, sir.

A round of applause!

I love money.

I wonder if Dr. Yang will last, though.

I know.

Double or nothing?

Deal.

That day, a deep conviction nestled in my heart.

If I continue following Dr. Baek and walk in his footsteps as I am now,

one day I will become a doctor who saves lives just like him.

Both the Trauma Center and my career as a doctor

are now at the starting line.

Subtitle translation by: Helen Cho