Also known as: False pregnancy, hysterical pregnancy
Coco, a schizophrenic woman, presents believing she is in labor but is found to have urinary retention (2200cc in bladder). She actually is pregnant in first trimester but was psychotic from stopping her antipsychotic medication.
Also known as: Schizoaffective disorder
Coco stopped taking risperidone when she discovered she was pregnant, leading to psychotic symptoms. She was given Haldol, raising concerns about fetal limb malformation.
Also known as: Severe allergic reaction
Four-year-old boy develops severe allergic reaction with hives, tongue swelling, and hypotension (BP 90/60) from Halloween makeup. Treated with epinephrine and Benadryl.
Also known as: Perforated intestine
Eleven-year-old with seat-belt contusion and abdominal pain from MVA. Absent bowel sounds lead to exploratory surgery revealing small bowel injury and unexpected discovery of testicular feminization syndrome.
Also known as: Testicular feminization
During exploratory surgery for trauma, an 11-year-old phenotypic female is discovered to have XY chromosomes and intra-abdominal testes. The testicles are removed due to malignancy risk. Patient and family must come to terms with this diagnosis.
Also known as: Rebar impalement
Trauma patient undergoes emergency thoracotomy with clamshell incision for cardiac injury. Right atrium is repaired, but massive blood loss occurs. The case drives discussion about using sternal saws in the ER.
Also known as: Liquid Ecstasy overdose, GHB overdose
Two medical students overdose on GHB (liquid Ecstasy) mixed with alcohol at a Halloween party. Willie suffers respiratory arrest and is intubated after aspirating vomit. Branch suffers full cardiac arrest requiring epinephrine resuscitation.
Also known as: Alcoholism
Recurrent patient seeking detox admission after drinking a quart of vodka. He leaves AMA initially, returns intoxicated, then elopes again from the hospital while awaiting detox bed placement.