Also known as: Head laceration
Male victim of head-on collision with depressed skull fracture and multiple internal injuries. Despite aggressive resuscitation attempts including pericardial window, patient is pronounced dead. His death becomes significant as his family must be notified.
Also known as: Liver scarring
Patient with end-stage liver disease from alcoholism is involved in motor vehicle collision. His cirrhotic liver bleeds uncontrollably during surgery. His son must decide whether to donate part of his liver while confronting his father's history of domestic violence and causing a fatal accident.
Also known as: Kidney injury from bus accident
Patient sustains significant abdominal injuries in motor vehicle collision requiring emergency exploratory laparotomy. The trauma compounds his pre-existing liver failure.
Also known as: Intimate partner violence
Patient presents with motor vehicle collision injuries but imaging reveals pattern of chronic abuse including multiple healed fractures of clavicle, humerus, and ribs, plus perinephric hematoma from recent beating. Her injuries complicate the ethical decision about her husband receiving their son's liver.
Also known as: Blocked intestine
Patient presents with bowel obstruction initially suspected to be drug packing. Imaging reveals ten Judy doll heads causing the obstruction. Requires emergent surgery to run the bowel and remove foreign bodies before necrosis develops. Case raises questions about pica versus psychiatric pathology.
Organ donor from outside hospital initially declared brain dead but found to have decerebrate posturing on exam. MRI reveals brain stem tumor causing symptoms. Derek performs surgery to remove tumor, saving patient who was nearly harvested for organs, highlighting the importance of proper brain death protocols.
Also known as: Unplanned pregnancy
Cristina continues to struggle with being pregnant after her breakup with Burke, experiencing emotional volatility that she attributes to hormones and feeling ruined by the pregnancy.