An 87-year-old male patient presents with septic cholangitis requiring decompression surgery. He develops complications including sepsis, renal failure requiring dialysis, and hypotension requiring vasopressor support.
Also known as: Honey poisoning in babies
Infant Sun presents with lethargy, poor feeding, and constipation. Doug Ross performs a sedated spinal tap using propofol (creating controversy). Investigation reveals the 6-year-old sister Sky had been feeding the baby honey from her spoon, causing botulism from ingested spores.
Also known as: Reactive arthritis
A 30-year-old male presents with dysuria, conjunctivitis, and joint pain at knee and ankle following diarrheal illness in Mexico. Lucy correctly identifies the classic triad of Reiter's syndrome after Carter initially misdiagnoses it as chlamydia.
Also known as: Tubal pregnancy
A woman presents with severe right lower quadrant pain and positive pregnancy test suggesting possible ectopic pregnancy. However, ultrasound reveals a normal 15-week intrauterine pregnancy. The patient was fabricating pain to get an ultrasound to determine fetal sex for potential sex-selective abortion.
Also known as: Magnesium overdose
A post-surgical patient with asthma exacerbation receives a lethal dose of magnesium (20 grams instead of 2 grams) due to medical error by exhausted intern Elizabeth Corday. Patient suffers cardiac arrest with pulseless electrical activity, requiring CPR, calcium gluconate, atropine, and temporary pacing. Creates major liability issue and professional consequences for Corday and Benton.
Also known as: Severe asthma attack
Post-operative patient returns with severe asthma exacerbation requiring continuous albuterol, IV corticosteroids, and magnesium therapy. The asthma treatment leads to the magnesium overdose incident.
Also known as: Post-op infection
Patient returns one day after femoral-popliteal bypass surgery with infection at the surgical site, requiring readmission.
Also known as: Knife in the heart
Trauma patient with stab wound to left chest and injury to left ventricle arrives in cardiac arrest. Kerry Weaver performs emergency resuscitative thoracotomy using the new sternal saw, repairs the cardiac injury with sutures, and successfully resuscitates the patient in under two minutes as part of a clinical study.
Also known as: Self-drilling a hole in the skull
Man allows friend to drill hole in his skull as pseudoscientific procedure to increase brain blood volume. Paramedics called but patient refuses hospital transport. Mark Greene examines him in the field, confirms the dura was not penetrated, and provides antibiotics and wound care supplies.
Also known as: Deafness
Peter Benton's son Reece has profound hearing loss. Peter consults with cochlear implant surgeon Dr. Kotlowitz to learn about treatment options, facing difficult decisions about whether to pursue implant surgery despite controversy in the deaf community.