Also known as: Heart attack
Dr. Reese's father Robert Haywood suffers a STEMI (ST-elevation myocardial infarction) requiring emergency cardiac catheterization with stent placement and balloon pump insertion. He is placed on the transplant list due to his low ejection fraction and ischemic cardiomyopathy.
Also known as: CHF
Robert Haywood has known history of heart failure and ischemic cardiomyopathy. After his STEMI, his low ejection fraction places him at highest status on the transplant list, requiring ICU care until a heart becomes available.
Also known as: SVT
Robert Haywood presents with irregular heartbeat, atrial fibrillation progressing to SVT with rapid ventricular rate of 210 and hypotension, requiring cardioversion to restore sinus rhythm.
Also known as: Stage 4 lung cancer
Henry Lee presents with metastatic stage four non-small-cell lung cancer that has spread throughout his body. He stopped chemotherapy last month and has chosen comfort care only with DNR/DNI orders. He develops respiratory failure and dies at the end of the episode, reuniting with his estranged son.
Also known as: Fluid around the lungs
Henry Lee has a history of recurrent malignant pleural effusions from his metastatic lung cancer that require repeated drainage, though he refuses further procedures.
Also known as: Second-degree burns
Carter Singleton, Ms. Goodwin's godson, suffers 22% second-degree burns while attempting to help his friend Bo during a house fire caused by butane hash oil production. He requires pain management and wound care.
Also known as: Second-degree burns
Bo Williams suffers catastrophic 85% third-degree burns in a butane hash oil explosion. His chest is so severely burned it cannot expand, requiring emergency escharotomy. Despite heroic efforts, he develops PEA arrest and dies.
Also known as: Heart injury from chest trauma
Bruce Hammond, 34, suffers blunt trauma to the chest from a high-speed car accident resulting in hemothorax, sternal fracture, and ruptured atrial appendage requiring emergency median sternotomy. Surgery is complicated by a retained foreign body requiring reoperation.
Also known as: Intersex condition, DSD (disorder of sexual development)
Nine-year-old Emma is discovered to have 17-beta HSD3 deficiency, a genetic disorder causing her to have XY chromosomes and undescended testes despite appearing phenotypically female. The diagnosis creates significant ethical conflict regarding surgical treatment and gender autonomy.
Also known as: Twisted testicle
Emma presents with abdominal pain that is discovered to be testicular torsion of an undescended testis. The condition requires urgent surgical correction within 6-8 hours to prevent testicular death, but creates ethical dilemma about whether to remove the testes given her intersex condition.