Code Black — CBS

Season 1, Episode 9

11 medical diagnoses portrayed

Also known as: Rebar impalement

Cardiac arrestHemorrhagic shockCardiac injury

Father in a home invasion stabbed in the chest with a knife that narrowly missed his heart. The knife injury damaged his spleen, lung, and liver requiring emergency surgery with massive transfusion (30+ units of blood).

Code Black — S01E09Patient: Frank Irving

Hip dislocationmajor

Also known as: Dislocated hip

Vascular compromise

17-year-old son who jumped from a second story window to escape home invasion, sustaining a hip dislocation that compromised blood flow to his leg requiring emergent reduction.

Code Black — S01E09Patient: Pete Irving

Lacerationsupporting

Also known as: Cut

Seizure secondary to anoxic brain injury from strangulation

Mother in home invasion with 15cm full-thickness laceration to her right arm involving muscle, later discovered to have petechiae indicating strangulation and sexual assault.

Code Black — S01E09Patient: Karen Irving

Anoxic brain injurymajor

Also known as: Brain damage from lack of oxygen

Seizure disorder

Karen develops seizures from anoxic brain injury sustained during strangulation by her attacker, revealed through petechiae around her eyes.

Code Black — S01E09Patient: Karen Irving

Peritonsillar abscessmajor

Also known as: Throat abscess

Vocal cord swellingCarotid artery puncture during drainage

Broadway performer playing Mufasa in The Lion King develops a large peritonsillar abscess requiring delicate drainage procedure near the carotid artery, threatening his voice and career before an important presidential performance.

Code Black — S01E09Patient: Lawrence Falls

Cocaine-induced myocardial infarctionmajor

Also known as: Heart attack from cocaine

Cardiac arrestSeizure disorder

Groom-to-be who swallowed cocaine in a condom (body packing) develops heart attack and seizure when the package leaks, requiring emergency endoscopy while intoxicated from alcohol consumption at airport.

Code Black — S01E09Patient: Aaron

Septic shockmajor

Also known as: Life-threatening infection

Severe sepsisRespiratory failureMulti-organ failure

68-year-old man with metastatic melanoma and dementia develops septic shock from pneumonia after chemotherapy, ultimately leading to DNR decision and compassionate end-of-life care with his son present.

Code Black — S01E09Patient: Edwin Mercer

Metastatic melanomasupporting

Also known as: Skin cancer that has spread

Immunosuppression from chemotherapyCardiomyopathy

Underlying cancer in elderly patient with dementia that has weakened his heart and immune system, contributing to his terminal decline from sepsis.

Code Black — S01E09Patient: Edwin Mercer

Dementiasupporting

Also known as: Alzheimer's disease

AgitationDisorientation

Progressive dementia in cancer patient requiring constant care from his 18-year-old son, complicating end-of-life decision making.

Code Black — S01E09Patient: Edwin Mercer

Abdominal traumasupporting

Also known as: Firework impalement

Hemorrhagic shockInferior epigastric artery bleedingVascular injury

Patient with firework rocket container impaled in abdomen causing bleeding from inferior epigastric artery and liver perforation concern, with added danger of still-live explosive device.

Code Black — S01E09

Alcohol intoxicationsupporting

Also known as: Alcohol poisoning

Unconsciousness

Groom and friends become severely intoxicated at airport, leading to removal from flight and masking cocaine toxicity symptoms.

Code Black — S01E09Patient: Aaron