Also known as: SVT
Young girl presents with narrow complex tachycardia at rate 200, hypotensive and pulseless, requiring cardioversion. She develops V-fib before converting to normal sinus rhythm. She is admitted to Cardiology for ongoing management.
Also known as: TB
Undocumented immigrant presents with chronic cough and is diagnosed with active tuberculosis. She initially refuses isolation and testing due to immigration fears. Eventually returns with her family for evaluation and treatment after Dr. Greene's emotional confrontation.
Also known as: Electrical injury
Electric company worker falls 20 feet from utility pole with high-current burns and circumferential third-degree burns to upper extremities. Carter performs his first central line on this patient under Doug's supervision.
Also known as: Ruptured spleen
Intoxicated MVA rollover patient with rigid abdomen concerning for splenic injury and internal bleeding. Requires diagnostic peritoneal lavage and develops femoral artery hemorrhage requiring vascular surgery and angiogram.
Also known as: Collapsed lung
12-year-old boy hit by delivery truck after running red light on bicycle. Presents with tension pneumothorax requiring chest tube, then develops cardiac tamponade requiring pericardiocentesis. Critical trauma case requiring emergency thoracic surgery.
Also known as: Blood around the heart
Same 12-year-old trauma patient develops cardiac tamponade (distant heart sounds, dilated neck veins, falling BP) requiring emergency pericardiocentesis to drain blood from pericardial sac. Life-threatening complication of his blunt chest trauma.
Also known as: Lost central line wire
Deb Chen attempts a central line on a heroin user without proper supervision and loses the guide wire into the patient's vascular system, requiring emergency fluoroscopy and catheterization lab to retrieve it. Major medical error subplot that leads to her decision to quit medicine.
Also known as: Pregnancy-induced high blood pressure with seizure
This is the case Mark Greene presents at M&M conference. Patient died during delivery from unrecognized preeclampsia complicated by placental abruption and shoulder dystocia. Greene missed diagnostic signs and used forceps inappropriately on macrosomic baby. This case drives the episode's emotional arc about medical mistakes and responsibility.
Also known as: Alzheimer's disease
Benton's mother is being transferred to a nursing home (Melville Home) because she requires constant care. She is confused about time and circumstances, requiring 24-hour supervision. Emotional subplot about Benton placing his mother in long-term care.