ER — NBC

Season 13, Episode 23

9 medical diagnoses portrayed

Also known as: Cut

HemorrhageTendon damageArterial injury

Kyle, an Army veteran and translator, sustains a deep laceration through a glass coffee table with arterial injury and damage to the flexor carpi ulnaris tendon. He initially appears drug-seeking for pain medication but is actually experiencing severe PTSD.

ER — S13E23Patient: Kyle

Post-traumatic stress disordermajor

Also known as: PTSD

Substance use disorderSuicidal behaviorDrug overdose

Kyle suffers from severe PTSD from his service as a translator during Iraqi prisoner interrogations, where he witnessed torture. His untreated condition leads to drug-seeking behavior and ultimately a suicide attempt via medication overdose.

ER — S13E23Patient: Kyle

Drug overdosemajor

Also known as: Synthetic cannabinoid overdose

Toxic bradycardiaHypoxiaAspiration risk

Kyle breaks into the medication room and ingests multiple medications in a suicide attempt. He requires gastric lavage via Ewald tube and intubation for airway protection, developing toxic bradycardia from the overdose.

ER — S13E23Patient: Kyle

Substance use disordersupporting

Also known as: Heroin addiction

Tolerance to pain medicationsTreatment barriers

Kyle has a history of codeine addiction and is on a no-narcotic contract with the VA, complicating his pain management following his hand injury. His addiction history stems from inadequate pain management after military service injuries.

ER — S13E23Patient: Kyle

Adrenal insufficiencymajor

Also known as: Addison's disease

HypotensionShockNear death

Mrs. Calder presents with gastroenteritis symptoms but develops progressive hypotension resistant to multiple pressors. Eventually diagnosed with adrenal insufficiency caused by recent high-dose prednisone therapy that suppressed her adrenal glands. Responds to hydrocortisone.

ER — S13E23Patient: Mrs. Calder

Type 2 diabetes mellitussupporting

Also known as: Type 2 diabetes

GastroparesisNeuropathy

Mrs. Calder is a Type II diabetic on glyburide who presents with nausea and vomiting. Her diabetes complicates her presentation as diabetic neuropathy can mask abdominal symptoms.

ER — S13E23Patient: Mrs. Calder

Traumatic amputationmajor

Also known as: Leg amputation

Phantom painMobility impairmentPsychological trauma

Ray suffered bilateral lower extremity amputations after being struck by a car following Neela and Tony's wedding. He sustained severe crush injuries requiring amputation and is awaiting prosthetic fitting.

ER — S13E23Patient: Ray Barnett

Recurring storyline

Blunt traumasupporting

Also known as: Hit-and-run injuries

Loss of consciousnessAltered mental status

Man presents after allegedly falling off a roof with his brother-in-law, landing on another man's back. Later revealed to be an assault case involving a domestic dispute over a woman in an adult website business.

ER — S13E23Patient: Saltzman

Retinal detachmentsupporting

Also known as: Detached retina

Vision loss

One of Kyle's veteran friends mentions having a detached retina from a bar fight, along with chronic back pain from military service.

ER — S13E23Patient: Kyle's friend