Code Black — CBS

Season 2, Episode 4

10 medical diagnoses portrayed

Also known as: Heart attack

Ventricular tachycardiaCardiac arrest

Elderly patient suffers a heart attack while trick-or-treating with his granddaughter. He goes into v-fib arrest in the ER requiring cardioversion and is taken to cath lab, but ultimately dies after 33 minutes of resuscitation attempts.

Code Black — S02E04Patient: Erica's grandfather

Retroperitoneal hemorrhagemajor

Also known as: Internal bleeding

Cardiac arrestHemorrhagic shock

Young boy trapped in collapsed theater suffers blunt abdominal trauma with Grey-Turner sign indicating retroperitoneal bleeding. Dr. Willis performs emergency R.E.B.O.A. procedure in ambulance to stabilize him for surgery.

Code Black — S02E04Patient: Ian

Rib fracturesupporting

Also known as: Broken rib

Compromised lung functionPneumothorax

Dr. Nolan sustains a displaced rib fracture compromising her lung function while trapped in the theater collapse. Dr. Willis manually reduces the rib in the field.

Code Black — S02E04Patient: Amanda Nolan

Smoke inhalation injurysupporting

Also known as: Smoke inhalation

Airway burn

Multiple patients from the haunted theater fire present with smoke inhalation injuries. One 23-year-old male with soot in mouth/nose and scattered wheezes requires intubation for suspected airway burn.

Code Black — S02E04

Methamphetamine intoxicationmajor

Also known as: Meth overdose

Hypertensive crisisViolent behaviorPsychosis

Patient presents with hand lacerations from punching windshield, found with two bags of meth, experiencing paranoid delusions about the devil chasing him with dangerously elevated blood pressure. Later becomes the active shooter in the waiting room.

Code Black — S02E04

Gunshot wound to chestmajor

Also known as: GSW to chest

Ventricular injuryBilateral hemothoraxCardiac arrestHemorrhagic shock

Dr. Piel is shot by the psychotic meth patient in the ER waiting room. Bullet enters left axilla, exits right anterior chest, injuring both the heart ventricle and lung hilum. Despite bilateral thoracotomy and attempted repair, she dies after massive blood loss.

Code Black — S02E04Patient: Charlotte Piel

Leg lacerationsupporting

Also known as: Deep cut

Hemorrhage

Same patient (Ian) trapped in theater also sustains leg laceration requiring makeshift tourniquet using Batman utility belt components under Dr. Willis's remote guidance.

Code Black — S02E04Patient: Ian

Thermal burnsupporting

Also known as: Third-degree burn

Airway compromise from hematoma

27-year-old actress from theater fire presents with burns to upper body. Develops hematoma compressing airway after failed central line attempt, requiring intubation.

Code Black — S02E04

Prolonged mechanical ventilationmajor

Also known as: On breathing machine

Risk of laryngeal stenosisRisk of hospital-acquired pneumonia

Mike has been intubated and on ventilator for three weeks following his earlier injury. Episode centers on conflict between doing tracheostomy versus extubating him. Angus successfully extubates Mike against surgical recommendation, and Mike begins breathing spontaneously.

Code Black — S02E04Patient: Mike Leighton

Recurring storyline

Hand lacerationsupporting

Also known as: Cut hand

Same meth patient who later becomes shooter initially presents with multiple hand lacerations from punching through windshield requiring glass removal and suturing.

Code Black — S02E04