Also known as: Aortic aneurysm
Patient presents with ruptured descending thoracic aortic aneurysm requiring emergency surgery. During the procedure, she develops carotid aneurysm rupture leading to massive internal bleeding and death. Post-mortem autopsy reveals she had Vascular Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, explaining the multiple aneurysms.
The underlying rare hereditary connective tissue disorder discovered during autopsy that caused the patient's multiple arterial aneurysms and death. Shaun tracks down her son to warn him he may have inherited the condition.
Also known as: Brain cyst
College student presents with amnesia, personality changes, and sleepwalking episodes. MRI reveals an arachnoid cyst compressing his hypothalamus, causing him to exhibit two distinct personalities - one awake and one asleep. The cyst is successfully drained to resolve symptoms.
Also known as: Gallstones
Minor background case mentioned as a simple gallbladder case requiring cholecystectomy. Used as a counterpoint to Shaun's obsession with the deceased patient.