ER — NBC

Season 13, Episode 17

11 medical diagnoses portrayed

Also known as: Dislocated hip

Mother in the Paxon family car accident presents with hip fixed in flexion and dislocated. Successfully reduced after sedation.

ER — S13E17Patient: Devin Paxon

Hypothermiamajor

Also known as: Cold exposure

Cardiac arrestVentricular fibrillationBradycardia

Father trapped in car for 48 hours during blizzard develops severe hypothermia (84 degrees), bradycardia, and refractory V-fib arrest requiring open thoracotomy with warm saline lavage for rapid rewarming.

ER — S13E17Patient: Julius Paxon

Hypothermiamajor

Also known as: Cold exposure

Ventricular tachycardiaFrostbite

14-year-old boy who left crashed car to seek help develops severe hypothermia (core temp 86 degrees) with runs of V-tach and frostbite requiring bypass and ICU admission. Will lose three frostbitten toes.

ER — S13E17Patient: Spencer Paxon

Dehydrationsupporting

Also known as: Severe dehydration

10-year-old daughter from car accident presents dehydrated and hypothermic but alert with scalp laceration and low BP (85 systolic).

ER — S13E17Patient: Charlotte Paxon

Gunshot wound to chestmajor

Also known as: GSW to chest

PneumothoraxCardiac tamponade

42-year-old gang member with single GSW to left chest causing pneumothorax requiring chest tube, later develops cardiac tamponade requiring subxiphoid pericardial window. Initially confesses to shooting to protect his son.

ER — S13E17Patient: Mario Dunston

Gunshot wound to headmajor

Also known as: GSW

Brain stem herniationCardiac arrest

17-year-old gang member shot in right temple with no exit wound. Develops multiple hematomas causing uncal herniation with brain stem compression. Dies despite resuscitation attempts.

ER — S13E17Patient: Donnie Moore

Concussionsupporting

Also known as: Mild traumatic brain injury

17-year-old son of Mario Dunston found unconscious at bottom of stairs. CT clear, mild concussion. Eventually confesses to shooting both his father and Donnie Moore.

ER — S13E17Patient: Junior Dunston

Pneumothoraxsupporting

Also known as: Collapsed lung

Complication of gunshot wound to chest requiring chest tube placement with 200cc initial output.

ER — S13E17Patient: Mario Dunston

Cardiac tamponadesupporting

Also known as: Blood around the heart

Delayed complication of GSW with muffled heart sounds and dropping BP requiring subxiphoid pericardial window to drain blood from pericardial sac.

ER — S13E17Patient: Mario Dunston

Ventricular fibrillationsupporting

Also known as: V-fib

Life-threatening cardiac arrhythmia secondary to severe hypothermia, refractory to standard defibrillation requiring open thoracotomy for rewarming.

ER — S13E17Patient: Julius Paxon

Frostbitesupporting

Also known as: Frostbite

Severe frostbite to toes from prolonged cold exposure. Three toes not salvageable and will require amputation.

ER — S13E17Patient: Spencer Paxon