Also known as: Failed kidney transplant
A transplant surgeon presents 5 weeks post-kidney transplant with abdominal pain. Initially suspected rejection, but ultrasound and biopsy are normal. Labs show elevated creatinine and proteinuria. Ultimately diagnosed with renal vein thrombosis requiring emergency embolectomy.
Also known as: Blood clot in kidney vein
The transplant surgeon developed a clot in his renal vein, likely from prolonged standing during surgery or plane travel post-transplant. The clot was initially missed on ultrasound due to low venous flow but eventually detected, requiring emergency surgical intervention to save the transplanted kidney.
Also known as: TEN
A rabbi with recurrent diverticulitis develops severe toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN) as a reaction to prescribed antibiotics. His skin separates from itself in a life-threatening condition. He has a SCORTEN score of 5, indicating very poor prognosis. Despite treatment in the burn unit, he dies before his wife arrives.
Rabbi Eli had recurrent diverticulitis treated with antibiotics three times by Dr. Bailey. The antibiotics he was prescribed for his third episode triggered the fatal toxic epidermal necrolysis reaction.
Also known as: CHF
Mentioned in backstory as the reason Nick became a transplant surgeon. His mother died from heart failure while waiting for a heart transplant when he was 15 years old.
Also known as: Liver scarring
Patient who waited six years for a liver transplant. Nick Marsh performed her liver recovery surgery, returning to work early from his own transplant recovery specifically to do this case. Surgery was reported as successful.