Also known as: Impalement near aorta
A 26-year-old male patient with ulcerative colitis died when Dr. Schmitt avulsed the inferior mesenteric artery (IMA) off the aorta during an ileostomy takedown surgery. The patient bled to death, and this complication is the central focus of the episode's M&M conference.
Also known as: IBD
The underlying condition that necessitated the ileostomy takedown surgery during which the fatal complication occurred.
Also known as: Abdominal hernia
A patient case assigned to Meredith Grey for surgical repair while the M&M conference was taking place.
Also known as: Hernia in groin
A 45-year-old man with a right-sided direct inguinal hernia causing five months of pain, booked for an open repair performed by Nick Marsh.
A 26-year-old woman with chronic back and pelvic pain, dyspareunia, and severe menstrual pain. Initially misdiagnosed as degenerative disc disease and treated with epidural injections. Dr. DeLuca and Dr. Wilson diagnose endometriosis with lesions on the uterosacral ligament explaining her symptoms.
Also known as: Herniated disc
Initially thought to be the cause of Francesca's back pain, but the pain was actually due to endometriosis. She had been treated with epidural injections that failed to relieve symptoms.
Also known as: Slipped disk
A second-grade teacher with knee pain and foot drop. Dr. Lincoln initially attributed her symptoms to obesity and osteoarthritis, but Dr. Perez correctly identified foot drop indicating spinal disc herniation requiring discectomy.
Also known as: Arthritis
X-rays showed minimal osteoarthritic changes in Lila's knee, which was initially thought to be the primary cause of her pain, but the true cause was spinal disc herniation.