Also known as: Brain cyst with tissue, teeth, and hair
Ellie presents with what appears to be a migraine but is found to have a dermoid cyst deep in her brain wrapped around major arteries. The cyst causes seizures and temporary retrograde memory loss, becoming central to the emotional storyline about her relationship with two men.
Also known as: Ruptured triple-A
Carl, a ballet master presenting with back pain, has an undetected suprarenal aortic aneurysm that ruptures during discharge. Despite surgical intervention with a Y-shaped vein graft, he develops DIC and dies, driving the episode's theme about medical errors and Dr. Wolke's first patient experience.
Also known as: Cracked vertebra
Initially diagnosed as the cause of Carl's back pain before the more serious aortic aneurysm is discovered post-rupture.
Also known as: Seizure
Ellie experiences a seizure in the ER caused by the dermoid cyst, requiring immediate airway management and Ativan.
Also known as: Memory loss
Temporary memory loss caused by fat leaking from the dermoid cyst, with risk of permanent memory loss from surgery. This becomes central to the emotional resolution of whether she remembers her affair.
Also known as: Brain swelling
Increased intracranial pressure from the dermoid cyst requiring urgent intervention to prevent permanent brain damage.
Also known as: Severe high blood pressure
Female patient with blood pressure over 200/110 who is actually having an active stroke, not just hypertension, requiring immediate IV TPA treatment.
Also known as: Stroke
Right vertebral artery occlusion causing acute stroke in a patient on estrogen and who smokes, diagnosed by tongue deviation and treated with IV TPA.
Also known as: Liver failure
Carl develops jaundice and liver failure from a secondary celiac artery aneurysm caused by increased pressure after repair of the first aneurysm.
Also known as: DIC
Carl develops DIC during the Y-graft surgery, bleeding uncontrollably from multiple sites, leading to cardiac arrest and death despite resuscitation efforts.