Also known as: Heroin addiction
Holland is a recurring patient who returns to the ED after another opioid overdose, having misjudged her dose. This case becomes the catalyst for Max's hospital-wide initiative to combat the opioid epidemic by licensing all ED staff to prescribe suboxone and ultimately confronting pharmaceutical companies.
Also known as: Heart attack
Joe presents with altered mental state and diaphoresis initially misdiagnosed as alcohol withdrawal, then suffers a heart attack during treatment. During cardiac catheterization, he experiences progressive arterial vasospasm where multiple coronary arteries constrict as each is opened with stents.
Also known as: The bends
Joe's multiple symptoms including vasospasm, delirium, and muscle breakdown are ultimately diagnosed as decompression sickness from secret scuba diving lessons he was taking to surprise his wife. The condition required hyperbaric chamber treatment and caused his cardiac emergency.
Also known as: Rhabdo
Joe's test results show extremely high creatinine kinase levels indicating his muscles are breaking down, which has already damaged his kidneys. This is part of his decompression sickness presentation.
Also known as: Joint infection
Fatima, a patient in Dr. Castro's cancer trial, develops aggressive arthritis in her left wrist caused by an enterobacter infection, which then leads to thiamine deficiency and delirium. Initially suspected to be a side effect of the trial drug, it's ultimately diagnosed as an infection.
Also known as: Vitamin B1 deficiency
Fatima's enterobacter infection leads to thiamine deficiency, which causes her delirium and altered mental state that initially raised concerns about the experimental cancer drug she's receiving.
Also known as: Broken wrist
A patient who fell in Times Square with a radial and ulna fracture is turned away from the ED because the hospital is closed for opioid training and she has a stable, isolated injury.