Also known as: Heart tumor
A firefighter presents with a large tumor on the wall of his heart requiring complex surgery. The team performs an autotransplantation (removing the heart entirely to excise the tumor, then reimplanting it) and must reconstruct the atrial chambers using porcine bladder tissue when tumor excision destroys too much heart tissue.
An 18-year-old woman undergoes elective breast reconstruction surgery for tuberous breast deformity using saline implants. She experiences cardiac arrest during surgery and develops a blood clot in the artery of Percheron causing coma, requiring emergency neurosurgical intervention.
Also known as: Blood clot in brain artery
During breast reconstruction surgery, the patient develops a rare blood clot in the artery of Percheron (supplying the thalamus), causing loss of consciousness and coma. The team performs emergency stent retrieval to remove the clot and restore blood flow to prevent permanent brain damage.
Also known as: V-tach
The breast reconstruction patient develops ventricular tachycardia (dangerous heart rhythm) during surgery requiring emergency defibrillation. This complication leads to the discovery of her underlying arterial thrombosis.
Also known as: Blood clotting disorder
During the cardiac tumor surgery, the patient develops a bleeding disorder from prolonged cardiopulmonary bypass, causing hemorrhage at cannulation sites and requiring blood products (platelets and fresh frozen plasma) to manage.