Also known as: Mito
A 13-year-old girl presents with bronchospasm and respiratory distress. Her father insists she has mitochondrial disease (Mito), but the diagnosis is questioned when no muscle biopsy is found in her extensive medical records. The case becomes central to the episode as doctors suspect the diagnosis may be incorrect.
Also known as: Munchausen syndrome by proxy
Doctors suspect Michelle's symptoms and illness may be a conversion disorder driven by her relationship with her father, who needs her to be sick to cope with his grief over his wife's death. The hospital files a charge of medical child abuse with DCFS, and Michelle is taken into state custody for investigation.
Also known as: Severe airway narrowing
Michelle presents with acute bronchospasm and respiratory distress requiring emergency intervention. Dr. Manning nearly performs a cricothyroidotomy before the patient spontaneously improves when her father steps out of the room.
Also known as: Colorectal cancer
A Navy veteran presents with abdominal pain and dark blood in stool for three months. CT scan reveals a large mass partially obstructing his right colon. He develops a massive lower GI bleed requiring emergency surgery and possible colectomy. The case highlights delays in VA healthcare system.
Also known as: Tick-borne disease
A college student presents with apparent intoxication, fever, swollen knee, and seizure. After ruling out alcohol intoxication and drug use, doctors diagnose Lyme disease from a tick bite during field trips, explaining her symptoms including hyponatremia and knee swelling.
Also known as: Low sodium
The college student has low sodium levels contributing to her seizure and altered mental status, ultimately found to be secondary to Lyme disease.
Also known as: Hole in the diaphragm
A patient stabbed by his wife with scissors has a penetrating injury causing a hole in his diaphragm, requiring surgical repair.
Also known as: Blood clot in the lung
A Saudi prince arrives for cardiac surgery with Dr. Downey to remove a pulmonary thrombus via pulmonary thromboendarterectomy with full bypass and hemodilution.