Also known as: MS
Archer has MS and previously underwent spinal surgery for a fracture. The disease and subsequent medical bills drive him to attempt suicide, making this condition central to the episode's main storyline about medical debt and patient desperation.
Also known as: Broken vertebrae
Archer's spinal fracture from his MS required surgery, leading to catastrophic medical bills that trigger his suicide attempt. The fracture itself is referenced as the inciting event for his financial crisis.
Also known as: Suicide attempt
Archer attempts suicide due to overwhelming medical debt and feeling like a burden to his wife. His attempt results in an accidental self-inflicted g*nsh*t wound requiring emergency surgery.
Also known as: Stab wound
During his suicide attempt, Archer accidentally shoots himself in the abdomen when Adelaide tries to stop him. This requires emergency surgery to repair multiple bowel perforations.
Also known as: Perforated intestine
The g*nsh*t wound tears Archer's bowel to shreds requiring surgical repair. The surgery successfully repairs enough of the bowel that he won't need a colostomy bag.
Also known as: CHF
Bianca had severe heart failure five years ago requiring placement of a VAD. The VAD allowed her heart time to heal and repair itself, which is discovered when her VAD battery runs out and her heart continues beating on its own.
Also known as: VAD battery failure
Bianca's VAD battery runs out while she's at a remote clinic, creating a life-threatening emergency. A desperate race to get replacement batteries ensues, but her heart ultimately begins working on its own. The non-functioning VAD then requires surgical removal due to clot formation.
Also known as: Puff of smoke disease
Nadine was recently diagnosed with moyamoya disease and underwent cerebral bypass surgery. She comes to the ER after hitting her head, concerned about complications given her recent brain surgery and medical history.
Also known as: Head laceration
Nadine hits her head on an overhead shelf and comes to the ER for evaluation. Given her recent moyamoya surgery, she's appropriately cautious, but examination shows no serious injury.
Also known as: Silver poisoning
A patient presents with blue-tinged skin caused by over a year of taking unregulated colloidal silver supplements. The condition is permanent but the underlying cause of his symptoms is discovered to be ankylosing spondylitis.
Also known as: Bamboo spine
The blue patient's scans reveal ankylosing spondylitis causing his chronic pain and fatigue. This autoimmune disease with characteristic bamboo spine is the actual cause of his symptoms that led him to take silver supplements.