Also known as: Collapsed lung
Male patient impaled by Christmas candy cane decoration during windstorm presented with decreased breath sounds on the right side and small pneumothorax, discovered during trauma evaluation.
Also known as: Impalement injury
Patient impaled by large Christmas candy cane decoration that passed through chest and abdomen. Surgery revealed the cane passed anterior to the pericardium, only small hole in diaphragm, missed heart completely, and caused only serosal tears to bowel.
Also known as: Gunshot wound to the head
Young woman struck by flying selfie stick during windstorm that penetrated her skull. Initially lucid and talking, but the stick was tamponading her vertebral artery. Removal caused uncontrollable hemorrhage, brain stem herniation with fixed dilated pupils, and brain death. Became organ donor.
Also known as: Cuts
Female patient injured by broken glass door during windstorm, sustained approximately 50 pieces of glass embedded in her body. Required cleaning and stitching with concern for thoracoabdominal injury, but ultimately no major damage to fascia.
Also known as: Fluid around the lungs
Patient with end-stage peritoneal cancer experiencing worsening shortness of breath and labored respiration due to pleural effusions, requiring pleurocentesis. Later becomes transplant recipient.
Patient with advanced peritoneal cancer receives emergency multi-organ transplant (heart and lungs) from brain-dead donor during windstorm. High-risk surgery due to extensive prior damage to her body and risk of catastrophic bleeding, clotting, or stroke.
Also known as: Blocked intestine
Pediatric patient in clinic with abdominal pain and vomiting, with electrolyte imbalances suggesting small bowel obstruction. Required NG tube placement and admission to pediatrics.
Also known as: Head laceration
Adolescent patient (foster child) walked to hospital after being hit by tree branch during windstorm. Required stitches, CT scan, and toxicology screen. Patient is a known drug addict seeking to get clean.
Also known as: Heroin addiction
Adolescent foster child who had been missing for three days returns to hospital after being injured, admitting to being high and expressing desire to get clean.
Also known as: Alcoholism
Recovering alcoholic who destroyed a bar in anger following sponsor's death, was arrested, and is struggling without meetings or a new sponsor. Benched from patient care while undergoing inquiry.
Also known as: Spinal cancer
Advanced chondrosarcoma on the spine, revealed at episode's end as the VIP patient Meredith treated in Los Angeles. Described as 'big and bad' with serious prognosis. Jackson and Richard do not yet know.
Also known as: Unplanned pregnancy
Teddy reveals to Owen during surgery that she is pregnant with his baby, a revelation she has been withholding. The pregnancy becomes a significant emotional plot point affecting multiple characters.