Also known as: Ruptured triple-A
Professional MMA fighter presents with a 6-centimeter abdominal aortic aneurysm that ruptures during hospitalization, requiring emergency surgical repair with graft placement.
Also known as: Bamboo spine
MMA fighter has severe spinal fusion (T4-L1) from ankylosing spondylitis with an unstable L2 fracture, requiring posterior stabilization and fusion surgery.
Also known as: Severe spinal nerve compression
Patient develops cauda equina syndrome during surgery when her aneurysm ruptures, causing compression of spinal nerve roots and requiring intraoperative wake-up test to prevent permanent paralysis.
Also known as: TB
Kitchen worker was misdiagnosed with metastatic lung cancer but actually has tuberculosis affecting lungs, spine, and adrenal glands. The misdiagnosis led him to desperately seek cancer drugs and take hospital staff hostage before attempting suicide.
Also known as: Neck laceration
Patient self-inflicts a neck wound with a box cutter, lacerating his internal jugular vein (but missing the carotid artery), requiring emergency vascular surgery.
Patient on antidepressant patch presents with headache, tachycardia, and elevated blood pressure from consuming cheese while on MAO inhibitor medication.