Code Black — CBS

Season 1, Episode 7

12 medical diagnoses portrayed

Also known as: Leg amputation

Hemorrhagic shockExsanguination

Patient with bilateral leg amputations from vehicle collision at street festival arrives with massive blood loss and goes into hemorrhagic shock, ultimately dying in the ER despite aggressive resuscitation.

Code Black — S01E07

Cervical spine fracturemajor

Also known as: Broken neck

Spinal cord compressionSpinal shockRisk of permanent paralysis

Man pushed someone out of the way during the street festival accident and sustained cervical spine fractures. Develops spinal shock requiring emergency neurosurgery, with his wife initially refusing consent due to his extramarital affair.

Code Black — S01E07Patient: John Harris

Orbital compartment syndromesupporting

Also known as: Blood behind the eye

Retrobulbar hemorrhageOptic nerve compressionRisk of permanent vision loss

Military pilot-in-training from the street festival accident develops retrobulbar hemorrhage requiring emergency lateral canthotomy to decompress the optic nerve and preserve vision.

Code Black — S01E07Patient: Veronica Franco

Femur fracturesupporting

Also known as: Broken thigh bone

Surgical risk due to advanced age and emphysema

83-year-old woman sustains fractured femur in the street festival accident. Despite high surgical risk due to age and emphysema, she chooses surgery to preserve ability to walk.

Code Black — S01E07Patient: Dorothy

Cystic fibrosismajor

Also known as: CF

Recurrent pneumoniaEmpyemaMucus plug with bronchial obstructionSepsisMalnutrition

Young boy previously misdiagnosed with asthma is diagnosed with cystic fibrosis after presenting with pneumonia, empyema, failure to thrive, and positive sweat test. Develops septic shock during hospitalization requiring aggressive intervention.

Code Black — S01E07Patient: Pablo

Empyemasupporting

Also known as: Pus in chest cavity

Respiratory distress

Pablo presents with infected fluid collection in his lung requiring drainage, which leads to the diagnosis of underlying cystic fibrosis.

Code Black — S01E07Patient: Pablo

Seizure disordermajor

Also known as: Seizure

Motor vehicle accidentPsychogenic amnesia

Driver with known seizure disorder has suspended license but apparently has a seizure while driving, causing her to plow through a street festival killing four people and injuring many others.

Code Black — S01E07Patient: Nancy Smith

Dissociative amnesiamajor

Also known as: Memory loss

Severe psychological trauma

Following the seizure and mass casualty accident, the driver develops complete amnesia of the event, a protective psychological mechanism. When she learns what happened, she attempts suicide by jumping from the hospital ramp.

Code Black — S01E07Patient: Nancy Smith

Priapismsupporting

Also known as: Prolonged erection

Risk of permanent erectile dysfunctionTissue damage

45-year-old male presents with priapism lasting five hours after taking erectile dysfunction medication. Requires multiple interventions including injection and aspiration.

Code Black — S01E07Patient: Rick Biddenger

Multiple traumamajor

Also known as: Major injuries from car accident

Multiple organ injuryDeath

After jumping from the hospital ramp, the driver sustains severe polytrauma with internal bleeding, pelvic fractures, and cardiopulmonary arrest, ultimately dying from her injuries.

Code Black — S01E07Patient: Nancy Smith

Septic shocksupporting

Also known as: Life-threatening infection

HypotensionFeverMulti-organ dysfunction

Pablo develops septic shock from his pulmonary infection secondary to cystic fibrosis, with hypotension and fever requiring aggressive fluid resuscitation and antibiotics.

Code Black — S01E07Patient: Pablo

Pneumothoraxsupporting

Also known as: Collapsed lung

John Harris has a chest tube placed for pneumothorax following his trauma from being struck by the vehicle.

Code Black — S01E07Patient: John Harris