Also known as: Blood around the heart
Flight attendant Shenaz suffers cardiac tamponade from blunt force trauma during the plane crash, requiring pericardiocentesis to drain fluid compressing her heart.
Also known as: Tear in the aorta
Shenaz develops a dissecting aortic aneurysm as a complication of her trauma, with blood pooling between arterial wall layers and risk of rupture, requiring emergency surgical intervention.
Also known as: Antifreeze poisoning
Copilot Eva Schafer absorbs antifreeze through her open abdominal wound when the plane crashes, causing inability to clot blood. Treated with Fomepizole as an antidote.
Also known as: Lacerated bile duct
The antifreeze causes a chemical burn that scars the copilot's bile duct shut, causing bile to back up into the liver and causing organ failure. Requires resection of liver tissue and bile duct reconstruction.
Also known as: Blood infection
Copilot Eva Schafer becomes septic during surgery with falling blood pressure and dropping temperature, requiring broad-spectrum antibiotics and vasopressors.
Also known as: Manic depression
Captain Dane Starks reveals he has bipolar disorder and was having a manic episode during the flight. He is on lithium and antipsychotic medication but fears his condition caused the crash. Central to the investigation and his catatonic presentation.
Also known as: Trauma response
Captain Starks is catatonic following the plane crash, unable to speak or respond, with normal brain imaging. Iggy diagnoses him with acute trauma/stress reaction rather than physical injury.
Also known as: Ventilator dependence
Dr. Kapoor remains on a ventilator recovering from COVID-19, with delayed extubation due to propofol shortage requiring switch to fentanyl. Represents ongoing pandemic impact and drives Max's quest to obtain propofol.
Also known as: Weakened heart muscle from viral infection
Dr. Kapoor awakens from ventilator to learn that COVID-19 has caused extensive damage to his heart and surrounding muscle, requiring a new mitral valve with uncertain prognosis even with the best surgeon.