Also known as: AIP
16-year-old patient presenting with severe abdominal pain and psychotic hallucinations. Initially misdiagnosed as psychological, later confirmed as AIP - a genetic metabolic disorder triggered by dietary changes (low carbohydrate diet for prom). The diagnosis also revealed her father's undiagnosed AIP, explaining his heroin addiction as self-medication.
Also known as: DVT
Patient presented with leg swelling and pain from a blood clot. Complicated by history of head trauma making standard blood thinners dangerous due to bleeding risk. Later threw a pulmonary embolism requiring critical intervention. Case centered on treatment controversy between Dr. Halstead and Dr. Perrington.
Also known as: Blood clot in lung
Blood clot traveled from patient's leg to his lung, causing acute respiratory distress requiring emergency intubation. Central to the conflict about whether to use thrombolytic therapy given patient's history of head trauma.
32-week pregnant surrogate presenting with contractions and cervical bleeding. Diagnosed with pre-eclampsia with HELLP syndrome requiring emergency delivery despite being 8 weeks premature. Patient initially refused delivery due to financial contract terms requiring full-term delivery for payment, creating ethical dilemma.
Also known as: Abruption
Placenta separating from uterine wall, part of the pre-eclampsia presentation requiring immediate delivery.
Also known as: Heroin addiction
Patient's father is a recovering heroin addict, which influenced the daughter's refusal of pain medication. Later revealed to be self-medicating undiagnosed acute intermittent porphyria.
Also known as: Old brain bleed
Old hygromas from previous head trauma seen on CT scan, indicating increased risk of intracranial hemorrhage with blood thinners, central to treatment decision-making.