Code Black — CBS

Season 2, Episode 9

10 medical diagnoses portrayed

Also known as: GSW

Hemorrhagic shockExpanding hematomaFemoral artery injury

Officer shot in the thigh with an unexploded 20mm ordinance lodged near her femoral artery, requiring extremely delicate extraction due to blast risk. The bullet severed her femoral artery during extraction, causing massive hemorrhage requiring emergency vascular repair.

Code Black — S02E09Patient: Fiona Burnside

Gunshot wound to abdomenmajor

Also known as: GSW to abdomen

Compartment syndromeAcidosis

Officer with through-and-through gunshot wound to the mid abdomen and superficial neck wound. Developed abdominal compartment syndrome requiring emergency decompressive laparotomy, then taken to OR for definitive repair.

Code Black — S02E09Patient: Eric Hawkins

Gunshot wound to pelvismajor

Also known as: GSW to the pelvis with massive bleeding

Hemorrhagic shockCardiac arrestMassive hemorrhage

Officer with large caliber gunshot wound causing massive pelvic trauma and arterial bleeding. Lost approximately 3 liters of blood, went into cardiac arrest from exsanguination, and died despite resuscitation attempts.

Code Black — S02E09Patient: Tony Hall

Pulmonary embolismmajor

Also known as: Blood clot in lung

Cardiac arrestDeath

Patient with lupus presented with syncope and worsening renal status, found to have a large pulmonary embolism. Required emergency surgery but arrested and died during the procedure despite resuscitation attempts.

Code Black — S02E09Patient: Julia Clark

Systemic lupus erythematosus with renal involvementsupporting

Also known as: Lupus

Pulmonary embolismRenal failure requiring dialysis

Patient with 8-year history of lupus presented with syncope and worsening kidney function requiring dialysis. The autoimmune condition predisposed her to developing the fatal pulmonary embolism.

Code Black — S02E09Patient: Julia Clark

Mediastinal masssupporting

Also known as: Chest mass

DyspneaPleural effusion

Magician presented with shortness of breath, found to have a mediastinal chest mass with pleural effusion. Initially presumed to be cancer with 99% likelihood, but biopsy revealed it was benign.

Code Black — S02E09Patient: Johnny Prentiss

Nasal fracturesupporting

Also known as: Broken nose

Newlywed woman with blunt facial trauma and suspected nasal fracture after her husband fell on her in the shower on their wedding night.

Code Black — S02E09Patient: Karen

Aortic dissectionsupporting

Also known as: Tear in the aorta

Cardiac arrest

Newlywed man who fell in shower presented with head trauma, then developed hypotension and chest pain. CT revealed aortic pathology (dissection, tear, or dilation) requiring emergency intervention. Likely precipitated by use of erectile dysfunction medication.

Code Black — S02E09Patient: Xander

Closed head injurysupporting

Also known as: Head laceration

Newlywed man with head trauma and forehead laceration after fainting and falling in the shower.

Code Black — S02E09Patient: Xander

Abdominal compartment syndromesupporting

Also known as: Pressure buildup in the belly

AcidosisOrgan ischemia

Officer with abdominal GSW developed compartment syndrome where swollen abdominal tissue was strangulating his organs and causing acid buildup in the blood. Required emergency decompressive laparotomy.

Code Black — S02E09Patient: Eric Hawkins