Also known as: Broken neck with paralysis
Elgin suffers a cervical cord injury after a car crashes into the Chicago River, resulting in paralysis of arms and legs. He requires emergency steroids, Gardner-Wells tongs, and ultimately thoracotomy when he codes from internal bleeding.
Also known as: Brain bleed
Dr. Pratt presents with lucid interval after head trauma from the car crash, then develops a blown pupil indicating epidural bleed from torn middle meningeal artery. Requires emergency intubation, mannitol, and neurosurgical intervention with ICP monitor placement.
Also known as: GSW
Dr. Chen sustains a gunshot wound to the left leg during the road rage incident, with decreased pedal pulses suggesting arterial injury. Requires angiogram and compartment pressure monitoring.
Also known as: Broken breastbone
Dr. Chen also sustains a probable sternal fracture from the car crash with pleuritic chest pain and decreased oxygen saturation, requiring monitoring for cardiac tamponade.
Also known as: Torn aorta
Elgin develops ruptured proximal aorta during resuscitation, leading to massive bleeding (3 liters in chest) and ultimately death despite emergency thoracotomy and transfusion of 8 units of blood.
Also known as: Throat cancer with bleeding
Patient with history of tonsil cancer after multiple surgeries and radiation presents with uncontrolled oral bleeding. Declines intubation and transfusion per advance directive, receives palliative nebulized epinephrine and morphine, ultimately bleeds to death.
Also known as: Honey poisoning in babies
Infant tests positive for botulism toxin after being fed honey, causing muscle paralysis requiring mechanical ventilation and tube feedings for expected month-long recovery.
Also known as: Dislocated hip
Patient from auto versus utility pole accident presents with dislocated hip requiring closed reduction with morphine sedation.