Also known as: DTs
Chuck Gleason, a 42-year-old frequent flier with chronic alcoholism, presents with a fractured tibia and quickly progresses into severe delirium tremens with hallucinations, seizures, and eventually a life-threatening esophageal variceal rupture requiring emergency intubation. His case drives a central ethical debate about whether to give him alcohol to ease his suffering.
Also known as: Broken leg
Chuck Gleason's fractured left tibia from a fall is his initial presenting injury, requiring orthopedic evaluation but becomes secondary to his alcohol withdrawal complications.
Also known as: Bleeding vessels in throat
Chuck's chronic alcoholic cirrhosis leads to ruptured esophageal varices causing life-threatening bleeding during his withdrawal, requiring emergency intubation and placement of a Minnesota tube to control hemorrhage.
Also known as: Liver scarring
Chuck's extensive medical history includes alcoholic cirrhosis, which is described as contributing to his esophageal variceal rupture during his delirium tremens episode.
Also known as: Heart attack
Frank McCormick presents with a STEMI (ST-elevation myocardial infarction) requiring emergency intervention. His case becomes the episode's central ethical conflict when he and his wife refuse blood products due to their Jehovah's Witness faith.
Also known as: Blocked arteries
Frank has severe three-vessel coronary artery disease requiring coronary artery bypass grafting. The surgeons attempt a high-risk off-pump procedure to respect his religious beliefs but ultimately must use the heart-lung machine to save his life.
Also known as: Broken heart syndrome
Dr. Natalie Manning experiences stress-induced cardiomyopathy after losing her wedding ring, manifesting with chest pain and shortness of breath. The episode reveals this is connected to her ongoing grief over her late husband Jeff.
Also known as: Confusion
Rose Wechsler, 83, presents from a nursing home with acute confusion and agitation, initially thought to be nursing home delirium from dehydration and neglect, but later found to have an infectious cause.
Also known as: The clap
Two elderly nursing home residents are diagnosed with gonorrhea after presenting with fever, delirium, and other symptoms. The diagnosis reveals they share a sexually active partner at their facility, challenging assumptions about sexuality in older adults.
Also known as: Liver tumor
Dr. Downey mentions his liver mass is not shrinking and requires another ablation procedure. This is revealed casually during a conversation about patient autonomy, showing his ongoing cancer battle.