Season 13, Episode 22

Also known as: Life-threatening infection

A physicist develops septic shock from gram-positive cocci bacteremia that progresses to bowel perforation. The case highlights tension between ER and ICU approaches to early sepsis recognition and goal-directed resuscitation.

Also known as: Perforated colon from diverticular disease

The septic patient is found to have a perforated diverticulum causing intra-abdominal infection, requiring emergency surgery and resulting in significant blood loss.

Also known as: AVM

A woman who fell down stairs is discovered to have a frontal lobe AVM causing personality and mood changes. The AVM is successfully treated with endovascular embolization using cyanoacrylate glue.

Also known as: Head laceration

Patient presents after falling down 15-foot flight of stairs with altered mental status, scalp laceration, and seizures requiring intubation. CT reveals frontal lobe bleed.

Also known as: V-tach

Post-operative septic patient develops ventricular tachycardia and loses pulse, requiring multiple rounds of defibrillation and CPR with eventual successful resuscitation.

Also known as: SVT

A patient mentioned in passing who needed slowing down from SVT while waiting for evaluation.

Also known as: Stomach outlet blockage

Infant with dilated stomach showing caterpillar sign on imaging, consistent with pyloric stenosis. Ultrasound ordered for confirmation.

Also known as: Perforated stomach ulcer

Patient mentioned requiring sixth unit of blood for a perforated ulcer and becoming hypotensive during CT scan.

Also known as: Intestines outside body at birth

Infant with previous gastroschisis repair presents with acute bowel obstruction requiring surgical intervention for adhesions.

Also known as: Collapsed lung

Patient requiring chest tube placement for pneumothorax mentioned in the ER.

Also known as: Heart attack

Patient cited by Dr. Moretti as an example of ER failures - developed MI while waiting seven hours in the ER without being triaged.

Also known as: Kidney failure

Patient cited as ER failure who waited 12 hours with renal failure, then arrested from hyperkalemia before receiving treatment.

Also known as: Blood clot in lung

Patient who died from pulmonary embolism after spending three days in the ER without DVT prophylaxis, cited as an example of systemic ER problems.

Also known as: DIC

Septic patient develops DIC during surgery, contributing to significant blood loss requiring transfusion.