Chapter 1

After 30 years of service, I have performed a huge number of standard procedures. For years, I haven't encountered any anomalies, I have never seen anything like this in my life. And I need help.

The only way I can explain the turn of events this week is by sharing my discharge summary with you. Maybe there is a medical professional here who can help.

I admitted a young patient a few days ago. I was told he/she had symptoms of a hernia. A routine surgery was scheduled.

In the next few paragraphs , I will transcribe the original discharge summary for you. The internal department and the colleagues who performed the surgery with me discarded the postoperative diagnosis due to "minor disagreements". So it never made it to the patient, or the head of the clinic. I saved a copy for myself so I would have something to catalogue this event. All personal information about the patient has been redacted.

Discharge Summary and Epicrisis:

Admission: Patient admitted for planned, routine laparoscopic inguinal hernia surgery under day surgery.

Patient ID: [Redacted]

Medical Record/Protocol Number: [Redacted]

Patient Name: [Redacted]

Date of Birth: [Redacted]

Residential Address: [Redacted]

Date and Time of Admission: [Redacted]

Date and Time of Surgery: [Redacted]

Date and Time of Discharge: [Redacted]

Diagnoses:

Referral Diagnosis: (ICD-10): K40.9

Hernia inguinalis unilateralis

Postoperative Diagnosis (ICD-10): K40.9/Q24.8

Herniorrhaphia laparoscopica.

Megacardia/Organum intraabdominalis incognita

(Successful hernia operation /

Unexplained organ anomaly in the abdominal cavity)

Vital Signs:

Vital Parameters (Patient Monitor): BP 122/80 mmHg, Pulse 68/min (sinus rhythm), SpO2 99%.

Abdominal and Inguinal Ultrasound (Pre-op): Confirmed hernia measuring 2 cm in diameter

Vital monitors in the OR (ECG and pulse oximetry) display a perfect sinus rhythm of 68/min and blood pressure of 120/80 mmHg.

Laboratory Findings and ECG:

All parameters within ideal reference ranges. Patient classified as ASA I (completely healthy patient).

Surgical Report:

Procedure Name: Laparoscopic hernioplasty using the TAPP method (hernia repair with mesh)

Surgeon: Dr. Phillip [Redacted surname],

Specialist in General Surgery

Anesthesia: General Endotracheal Anesthesia (GETA)

Description of Surgical Procedure:

After establishing pneumoperitoneum (inflation of the abdominal cavity with gas) and placing a laparoscopic camera through the umbilicus, the inguinal canal was successfully accessed. The inguinal hernia was routinely resected and a synthetic mesh was placed.

During inspection of the upper abdomen and checking the lower edge of the diaphragm, a drastic deviation from natural anatomy was observed.

The lead surgeon describes the following:

Through an opening in the diaphragm, instead of the heart being in its usual position, an enormous mass of tissue resembling a human heart about 25 cm in diameter (the size of a basketball) is located in the abdominal cavity. The anomaly displaces the liver and stomach.

The hypertrophic organ beats with abnormal loudness. Lead surgeon describes it as rhythmic continuous thunder. The mass was moving asymmetrically almost mimicking a walking cycle of a human. It had an unusual odor described as "diluted mucus". It was moving slightly towards the camera as if aware of it's presence. Ribs above the heart cavity were missing but the patient reported no signs of pain or discomfort around the abdominal area. Due to the high risk of fatal hemorrhage, the mass was neither touched nor incised. The abdominal cavity was irrigated. The patient should've been proclaimed deceased if suffering from a drastic deviation of human anatomy but all vitals post operation are normal and the patient survived the minor intervention without issue.

Discharge Status:

The hernia operation proceeded without surgical complications. The patient is discharged home 6 hours post-procedure in stable condition.

BP at Discharge: 120/80 mmHg

Pulse at Discharge: 70/min

This is the end of the discharge summary.

During the later half of the procedure the assistant surgeon took over the procedure as I was peacefully dismissed due to "attempting to experiment on a healthy patient" and even my original discharge summary was slightly tampered with until finally dismissed.

I was in utter disbelief when I first saw it. It wasn't the camera that was playing tricks, everybody else would've seen it I can assume..

The anesthesiologist claims there were no anomalies, as does the assistant surgeon, the medical student on rotation refrained from making any comment on the event. I have no proof, but I saw it with my two eyes that have never failed me..never..for 30 years.

I can't stop thinking about it after hearing that awful thumping. It felt I was being hit by neverending waves that threatened to throw me off my feet any second. That awful noise just kept getting louder and louder. I had a feeling at any moment that thing could jump out of it's flesh cocoon and attack me…it felt the camera..it was aware somehow like a sentient parasite of some kind.

My colleagues have been avoiding me since that incident. No one dares to ask questions howeve, because of my position as head surgeon close to retirement. They're subtly suggesting I see a psychiatrist by passively asking how I've been lately and if everything is okay at home. I feel like a complete lunatic.

Has anyone ever seen anything like this before?

Medical professionals, please weigh in in the comments, it would really help my situation.

A note: I have no history of paranoid schizophrenia in my family lineage. Have never experienced hallucinations of any kind, no history of dementia, and I have never taken hallucinogenic drugs.