Code Black — CBS

Season 3, Episode 5

8 medical diagnoses portrayed

Also known as: SVT

Altered mental statusLoss of consciousnessPotential cardiac arrest

The pilot/mother experiences a cardiac arrhythmia with heart rate of 180 bpm while flying, causing her to lose consciousness. The daughter must perform a makeshift defibrillation using laptop charger wires to restart her heart.

Code Black — S03E05Patient: Elizabeth

ST-elevation myocardial infarctionmajor

Also known as: STEMI

Cardiac arrestNeed for cardiac catheterization

After the emergency landing, the pilot is diagnosed with a STEMI requiring immediate catheterization lab intervention.

Code Black — S03E05Patient: Elizabeth

Hemorrhagic shockmajor

Also known as: Shock from blood loss

Abdominal bleedingAortic injuryRenal artery involvement

The young girl from the plane crash develops massive internal bleeding from blunt trauma, with free fluid in all four quadrants requiring emergency surgery in the ER when ORs are full.

Code Black — S03E05Patient: Ruby

Gastric perforationmajor

Also known as: Perforated stomach

PeritonitisFree fluid in abdomen

Ruby sustains a gastric tear from the plane crash, causing peritonitis and free fluid throughout her abdomen requiring exploratory laparotomy.

Code Black — S03E05Patient: Ruby

Gunshot wound to chestmajor

Also known as: GSW to chest

HemothoraxArterial bleedingHemorrhagic shock

Woman shot in the chest during armed robbery of marijuana dispensary, bleeder on hilum of left lung requiring field stabilization and transfusion before hospital transport.

Code Black — S03E05Patient: Maya

Gunshot wound to thighsupporting

Also known as: GSW

HemorrhageHypovolemia from blood donation

Armed robbery suspect sustains through-and-through gunshot wound to thigh, then passes out while being forced to donate blood to his wounded girlfriend.

Code Black — S03E05

Perforated appendicitissupporting

Also known as: Ruptured appendix

Bowel perforationSepsisPeritonitisFecal contamination of abdomen

Patient requires emergency appendectomy but appendix perforates during surgery, causing sepsis and requiring conversion from laparoscopic to open procedure.

Code Black — S03E05Patient: Mr. Barnes

Chronic obstructive pulmonary diseasesupporting

Also known as: COPD

HypoxiaLow oxygen saturationSyncope

Female patient presents after passing out at work with history of COPD and low oxygen saturations.

Code Black — S03E05