Also known as: TCA poisoning
Meg, the mother of Sarah and ex-partner of Tony Gates, overdoses on amitriptyline (a tricyclic antidepressant) mixed with alcohol and alprazolam. She goes into cardiac arrest and despite prolonged resuscitation efforts, she dies in the ER.
Also known as: Third-degree burn
Mr. Owens, Sam's neighbor, suffers severe burns to his face, chest, and arms from an apartment fire. He also has significant airway swelling requiring difficult intubation using ultrasound-guided technique to visualize bubbles in the trachea.
Also known as: Smoke inhalation
Mr. Owens has smoke inhalation with singed nasal hairs and progressive airway swelling requiring emergent intubation to prevent complete airway closure.
Also known as: PFO, hole in the heart
Curtis Ames' missed diagnosis that drives the episode's conflict. His patent foramen ovale (congenital heart defect) was not detected by Luka, leading to a stroke when a central line was placed. This is the medical error that destroyed Curtis's life and motivates his revenge plot.
Also known as: Brain attack
Curtis Ames suffered a stroke that resulted in permanent loss of function in his left arm. This occurred due to the undiagnosed patent foramen ovale allowing a paradoxical embolism when a central line was placed. The stroke devastated his life, costing him his career, marriage, and home.
Also known as: Mini-stroke
Curtis experienced transient numbness twice before his stroke, which were TIAs (mini-strokes). Luka failed to recognize these warning signs and attribute them to the cardiac cause, which Curtis confronts him about during their hostage situation.