Also known as: Aortic stenosis
85-year-old man presents with syncope and is diagnosed with critical aortic stenosis requiring valve replacement surgery. The episode centers on Carter's conflict about whether Ruby should undergo high-risk open-heart surgery given his age and multiple comorbidities, ultimately advising against it despite the patient initially wanting to proceed.
Also known as: CHF
Ruby has chronic CHF as an underlying condition contributing to his overall poor surgical candidacy. His ejection fraction is only 45% and he shows signs of volume overload.
Also known as: GSW to chest
Husband shot in the chest by his wife during a domestic violence incident. He presents with collapsed lung requiring chest tube insertion.
Also known as: Knife wound
Wife stabbed by husband during domestic violence altercation before she shot him. She is intoxicated and agitated but stable.
Also known as: Neck injury
14-year-old boy crashes headfirst into retaining wall while street luging at high speed, sustaining traumatic C-spine injury with cord compression and hand numbness.
Also known as: Lung infection
72-year-old homeless woman presents with cough, low-grade fever, and right middle lobe infiltrate. She's a panhandler who had been seen the previous week for facial contusions and returns with this new condition.
Also known as: Antihistamine overdose
Patient presents with classic anticholinergic syndrome from snorting antihistamines: delirium, tachycardia, hyperthermia, and mydriasis. Used as a teaching case showing 'mad as a hatter, red as a beet, dry as a bone' presentation.
Also known as: Kidney failure
Ruby has elevated creatinine at 2.3, indicating renal insufficiency, which is one of several factors making him a poor surgical candidate for valve replacement.
Also known as: COPD
Ruby has history of COPD with FEV1 of only 53%, contributing to his poor pulmonary function and high surgical risk.