Also known as: Brain tumor
Erica undergoes an experimental 90-second surgery to remove an aggressive brain tumor that has infiltrated major blood vessels. The surgery involves bypassing blood flow with vascular balloons, with the risk of stroke if the procedure takes longer than 90 seconds.
Also known as: Manic depression
Corinne is diagnosed with bipolar disorder after years of misdiagnosis and instability. She presents with hypomanic symptoms (pressured speech, high energy, expansive thoughts) followed by severe depression and suicidal ideation. Her untreated condition led to two decades of homelessness, drug abuse, and prostitution.
Also known as: CHF
Gloria, a heart transplant recipient who became pregnant through IVF, develops congestive heart failure due to stopping her immunosuppressant medications to protect her baby. She presents with sudden onset dyspnea and tachycardia, progressing to critical condition during labor.
Also known as: Heart transplant rejection
Gloria's donor heart begins rejecting after she stops taking immunosuppressant drugs during pregnancy. This leads to respiratory distress and ultimately catastrophic complications during emergency delivery.
Also known as: Tear in the aorta
During emergency cesarean delivery, Gloria suffers a catastrophic aortic dissection requiring emergency thoracotomy. Sam performs open-chest surgery to attempt to save her life.
Also known as: Early labor
Gloria goes into precipitous labor at 30 weeks gestation while in respiratory distress from heart failure. The emergency delivery occurs while she is in critical condition.