Also known as: Gas poisoning
A good Samaritan who rescued children from an apartment explosion develops carbon monoxide poisoning with confabulation and hallucinations. His condition initially mimics heroic invulnerability but is revealed to be toxic exposure requiring hyperbaric oxygen treatment.
Also known as: Spinal cord damage
Norman presents with a T-10 subluxation fracture and inability to move his legs. A central conflict emerges between Carter advocating hyperbaric treatment and Neela pushing for immediate surgery. The paralysis is ultimately revealed to be from an air embolus rather than permanent cord damage.
Also known as: Air bubbles in blood vessels
Blast injury forces air from lungs into bloodstream, causing an embolus that lodges in the spinal cord and causes temporary paralysis. Hyperbaric treatment successfully shrinks the embolus, restoring function.
Also known as: Liver injury
A mother injured in an apartment explosion develops a grade-two liver laceration with uncontrolled bleeding. Despite an emergent bedside exploratory laparotomy to control hemorrhage, she dies from blood loss.
Also known as: Blood and air in chest cavity
Annie Dixon has bleeding and air in her left lung from the blast injury, requiring chest tube placement.
Also known as: Perforated eardrum
Blast injury causes ear drum rupture, noted as a common first injury in explosion victims.
Also known as: Lung bruising
Annie Dixon has pulmonary contusions from the blast, contributing to her respiratory compromise.
Also known as: Broken wrist
A 12-year-old boy from the explosion has an open radial fracture requiring surgery.
Also known as: Trampled
An 8-year-old girl presents with a crush injury to the leg from the explosion.
Also known as: Third-degree burn
One of the children from the explosion has minor burns.
Also known as: COPD
Sam's mother has end-stage emphysema and decompensates on a flight, requiring hospitalization.
Also known as: Lung infection
Sam's mother develops right-middle lobe pneumonia requiring IV antibiotics.
Also known as: Alzheimer's disease
Sam's mother shows significant cognitive decline and doesn't recognize Sam, representing the deterioration of their relationship and her mother's mental state.
Also known as: Kidney failure
Carter reveals he is on dialysis after losing one kidney to a stabbing years ago and the other to amyloidosis from schistosomiasis contracted in Africa. He needs a kidney transplant and has returned to get on the transplant list.
Also known as: Dialysis shunt problem
Carter's dialysis shunt was recently revised and is oozing blood, requiring repair.
Also known as: Heart failure
Lucy's mother is hospitalized with severe heart failure awaiting a heart transplant, mentioned as being on a ventricular assist device for over a week.