Code Black — CBS

Season 3, Episode 6

10 medical diagnoses portrayed

Also known as: Torn shoulder artery

HemorrhageLoss of distal pulseRisk of limb loss

A 29-year-old female hotshot firefighter suffers a chainsaw injury to her upper shoulder causing a torn axillary artery. She requires emergency surgery to repair the artery and save her arm, with complications arising when compression fails to control bleeding.

Code Black — S03E06Patient: Bridget Kozelek

Inhalation injurymajor

Also known as: Smoke inhalation

Airway edemaRespiratory distress

Bridget experiences delayed airway swelling from smoke and burn exposure, requiring emergency intubation to protect her airway before it closes completely.

Code Black — S03E06Patient: Bridget Kozelek

Third-degree burnsupporting

Also known as: Full-thickness burns

Eschar constrictionRespiratory compromiseDeath

A male patient arrives with full-thickness burns covering approximately 95% of total body surface area. The burn eschar constricts his chest wall preventing breathing, requiring escharotomy. He ultimately dies despite resuscitation attempts.

Code Black — S03E06

Compartment syndromemajor

Also known as: Cast too tight

Loss of distal pulseTissue necrosisRisk of limb loss

Terrence develops compartment syndrome in his leg from a tibial plateau fracture, with swelling cutting off circulation. He loses sensation and distal pulse, requiring emergency fasciotomy to relieve pressure and save the limb.

Code Black — S03E06Patient: Terrence White

Tibial plateau fracturesupporting

Also known as: Knee fracture

Compartment syndrome

Terrence sustains a tibial plateau fracture during the wildfire evacuation, which leads to compartment syndrome requiring surgical intervention.

Code Black — S03E06Patient: Terrence White

Smoke inhalation injurysupporting

Also known as: Smoke inhalation

WheezingRespiratory distressAirway edema

Terrence experiences labored breathing from fire exposure and smoke inhalation, requiring oxygen therapy and continuous nebulizer treatments with steroids.

Code Black — S03E06Patient: Terrence White

Myelodysplastic syndromemajor

Also known as: Blood cancer

AnemiaFatigueEasy bruising

Dr. Stoval, a former physician, is in end-stage myelodysplasia with low hemoglobin count and bone marrow failure. He refuses further treatment and has a DNR order, desiring to die with dignity. He experiences a cardiac arrest during the episode.

Code Black — S03E06Patient: Dr. David Stoval

Cardiac arrestsupporting

Also known as: Heart stopped

Dr. Stoval experiences cardiac arrest in the emergency department. Ariel performs CPR despite his DNR order, successfully resuscitating him, which becomes a significant ethical and legal issue.

Code Black — S03E06Patient: Dr. David Stoval

Closed head injurysupporting

Also known as: Head laceration

Loss of consciousness

Terrence fell and hit his head during the wildfire evacuation, losing consciousness briefly before his son went missing.

Code Black — S03E06Patient: Terrence White

Smoke inhalation injurysupporting

Also known as: Smoke inhalation

Caleb, a 9-year-old boy lost in the wildfire, experiences smoke inhalation but is rescued and treated successfully with minimal complications.

Code Black — S03E06Patient: Caleb