Code Black — CBS

Season 1, Episode 18

14 medical diagnoses portrayed

Also known as: Blood in chest cavity

Senator Stringer sustained blast wounds to chest and abdomen from explosion, requiring chest tube placement for reduced breath sounds on left side.

Code Black — S01E18Patient: Senator Darren Stringer

Liver lacerationsupporting

Also known as: Liver injury

Intraperitoneal hemorrhage

Senator Stringer had free fluids indicating liver laceration from blast injury, requiring interventional radiology.

Code Black — S01E18Patient: Senator Darren Stringer

Intracardiac thrombusmajor

Also known as: Blood clot in heart

Cardiac arrestDeath

Anne Stringer, who has an H-VAD (heart ventricular assist device), developed a massive blood clot in her heart from trauma which led to her death despite no preventable errors.

Code Black — S01E18Patient: Anne Stringer

Sternal fracturesupporting

Also known as: Broken breastbone

Anne Stringer sustained isolated sternal trauma from CPR compressions mistakenly performed by Angus when he failed to recognize her H-VAD.

Code Black — S01E18Patient: Anne Stringer

Hemopneumothoraxsupporting

Also known as: Blood and air in chest cavity

Caroline Stringer had shrapnel injury to chest causing her to cough up blood, though scan was negative for pneumothorax.

Code Black — S01E18Patient: Caroline Stringer

Rib fracturesupporting

Also known as: Broken rib

Anne Stringer sustained significant rib fractures from the explosion requiring pain management and cessation of blood thinners.

Code Black — S01E18Patient: Anne Stringer

Pelvic fracturesupporting

Also known as: Broken pelvis

Anne Stringer sustained pelvis fractures from the explosion requiring pain management and cessation of blood thinners.

Code Black — S01E18Patient: Anne Stringer

Ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysmmajor

Also known as: Torn main artery

Hemorrhagic shockDeath

Governor Wesley suffered massive crush injuries including rupture of the abdominal aorta from ceiling collapse. Despite emergency surgery, he died from uncontrollable bleeding.

Code Black — S01E18Patient: Governor Hank Wesley

Respiratory failuresupporting

Also known as: Breathing failure

Governor Wesley required intubation for respiratory failure due to massive crush injuries from ceiling collapse.

Code Black — S01E18Patient: Governor Hank Wesley

Subdural hematomamajor

Also known as: Brain bleed

Increased intracranial pressureHerniation

Margaret Wesley developed blood in her brain from explosion trauma requiring emergent craniotomy. She survived surgery but her husband died.

Code Black — S01E18Patient: Margaret Wesley

Brain stem hemorrhagemajor

Also known as: Brain stem bleed

Seizure disorderHerniationDeath

Jose, a janitor injured in the explosion, developed a deep parenchymal brain-stem bleed with declining mental status. Neal chose to operate on Margaret Wesley instead, and Jose died without surgical intervention.

Code Black — S01E18Patient: Jose

Closed head injurysupporting

Also known as: Head laceration

Margaret Wesley sustained blunt trauma to head and chest from explosion initially presenting with altered consciousness.

Code Black — S01E18Patient: Margaret Wesley

Amphetamine use disordermajor

Also known as: Adderall abuse

Impaired judgmentTachycardiaDiaphoresisMydriasis

Angus is revealed to be abusing Adderall obtained through Heather's illegal prescriptions. His drug use contributes to medical errors and he agrees to get help by episode's end.

Code Black — S01E18Patient: Angus Leighton

Recurring storyline

Abdominal eviscerationsupporting

Also known as: Exposed intestines

Governor Wesley had eviscerated GI tract requiring extensive surgical repair during his ultimately fatal surgery.

Code Black — S01E18Patient: Governor Hank Wesley