Also known as: Inflamed appendix
A young female patient presents with abdominal pain, fever, and right lower quadrant pain. Dr. Roman initially misdiagnoses it as the flu, but Dr. Prentiss correctly identifies appendicitis and orders a CT scan and OR prep. This case serves as a teachable moment highlighting Dr. Roman's distraction and need for better medical focus.
Also known as: Collapsed lung
NYPD Officer Donnie Wallace is brought in with two gunshot wounds—one thoracic and one to the groin. The thoracic wound causes a pneumothorax with absent breath sounds on the left side and tracheal shift, requiring emergency chest tube placement. The thoracic cavity is also punctured and he develops a large pulmonary contusion.
Also known as: Severed femoral artery
The gunshot wound to Officer Wallace's groin tears through the femoral artery, causing severe hemorrhaging and dropping blood pressure. Dr. Prentiss performs emergency vascular surgery in the ER to repair the split artery before the patient can be moved to the OR.
Also known as: Broken bone with multiple fragments
A patient with a closed comminuted fracture to the left radius is mentioned in the opening 'previously on' recap and briefly referenced in the episode as part of routine patient care and teaching moments.
Also known as: Open bone fracture
A patient presents with a compound fracture of the left fibula requiring suturing and local anesthesia. This case is used to demonstrate Dr. Prentiss's demanding teaching style and the struggles of temp nurse Marta to keep up in the trauma bay.
Also known as: Alzheimer's disease
Gloria Akalitus is experiencing progressive memory problems, forgetting to schedule nurse shifts and failing to arrange security escort for a psych patient. Jackie and Eddie discuss possible causes including Alzheimer's, brain tumor, or liver toxicity. They attempt to secretly run blood tests during a mandatory drug screening to investigate her condition.