Also known as: ALD
Ricky is an end-stage ALD patient with severe pain, increased seizures, and contractures. Doug arranges for home PCA (patient-controlled analgesia) with Dilaudid so the mother can keep him at home during his final days rather than admitting him to the hospital.
Also known as: Heart attack
35-year-old male presents with chest pain, nausea, and diaphoresis. Found to have extremely high cholesterol (465) and possible familial hypercholesterolemia, putting him at risk for early heart attack. Patient is adopted with no known family medical history.
Also known as: Blood clot in lung
Traveling woman with a van full of dogs presents with cough and shortness of breath. Carol suspects PE based on risk factors (smoking, prolonged sitting while driving from Albuquerque). V/Q scan confirms small blood clots have traveled from legs to lungs, requiring anticoagulation and admission.
Also known as: Hodgkin's disease
Medical student discovers enlarged lymph nodes during a patient/doctor training exercise. Carter performs a neck biopsy that reveals Hodgkin's lymphoma. Mark reassures the student that it is very treatable with radiation therapy and has a high survival rate.
Also known as: ED
Hospital janitor who panics during back examination requests Viagra. Mark discovers healed burns and trauma-related impotence, likely from pelvic injury causing vascular damage. Mark recommends urologist consultation for possible vascular bypass surgery.