Also known as: Lung infection
Mark's father presents with fever, cough, and respiratory symptoms. Diagnosed with post-obstruction pneumonia and treated with IV antibiotics (cefotaxime). He is kept in the ER for monitoring and Mark arranges to continue his care at home.
Also known as: Blood cancer
Young patient who had been in remission for 8 months presents after a car accident. CBC reveals white blood count of 60,000 with 50% blasts, indicating relapse. She needs reinduction chemotherapy and a bone marrow transplant, but her half-sister's mother refuses to allow testing for donor compatibility.
Also known as: Asthma attack
Elderly woman presents with severe asthma exacerbation after taking her husband's propranolol (contraindicated in asthma) because she couldn't afford her own medications. She develops tachycardia, hypoxemia (pulse ox 91%), and requires continuous breathing treatments and ICU admission.
Also known as: Brain infection
Young patient presents with fever, vomiting, and headache, concerning for meningitis. Lucy performs a lumbar puncture (traumatic tap after patient becomes agitated). LP results rule out meningitis. He develops abnormal labs showing elevated BUN/creatinine and low potassium, requiring further treatment.
Also known as: Kidney failure
After ruling out meningitis, patient's labs reveal elevated BUN and creatinine with low potassium, indicating acute renal failure. He requires saline bolus and electrolyte repletion.
Also known as: Fainting
Elderly man visiting his wife in ICU suddenly loses consciousness and falls, sustaining head trauma with occipital scalp laceration. Workup includes head CT, cardiac enzymes, and EKG (no ST changes, ruling out MI). He also has chronic anemia, dehydration, and hypokalemia.
Also known as: Head laceration
Patient sustains blunt head trauma with scalp laceration after syncopal episode. Receives head CT and C-spine imaging as part of trauma workup.
Also known as: Lung infection
Elderly nursing home patient with advanced dementia presents with pneumonia and low oxygen levels. She has a feeding tube and poor quality of life. The family faces difficult decisions about mechanical ventilation versus comfort care. Dr. Greene counsels the family that pneumonia can be a peaceful way to die.
Also known as: PTSD
Carter continues to struggle with PTSD following his stabbing, experiencing insomnia (unable to sleep, staying up until 2am), intrusive thoughts about the attack, and guilt over missing warning signs with Paul Sobriki. He meets with Dr. DeRaad for therapy and discusses his ongoing psychological recovery.