Surgery Cases From THE PITT

10 cases 6 episodes · S01E01 – S02E14

All emergency department cases involving Surgery from The Pitt, documented with medically accurate clinical timelines, diagnostic workups, and expert clinical pearls.

Patient presenting with American flag pole impaled in right chest.

S02E14 Brief

34 · Male

Barrett Dunkle

Penetrating chest trauma with retained foreign body

34-year-old male presents to the ED via EMS following a bar fight over a game of pool at a sports bar. He sustained a penetrating thoracic injury when an adversary impaled him in the right chest with an American flag pole. The object remains in situ. Patient is awake, alert, and combative on arrival.

TraumaThoracic Surgery +2 more

Patient arrived via EMS after a head-on MVC into a telephone pole.

S02E14 Moderate

53 · Male

Lyman Paine

Involved in a single-vehicle head-on collision into a telephone pole.

53-year-old male presents post single motor vehicle collision. He drove head-on into a telephone pole. Airbags deployed. He was unconscious at the scene but woke up during transport. There is no scent of alcohol; EMS suspects syncope, seizure, or falling asleep at the wheel. Initially stable upon ED arrival, he shortly develops progressive bilateral upper extremity paresthesia and impending respiratory failure.

TraumaNeurosurgery +2 more

Patient unresponsive on backboard after 20-foot fall.

S02E13 Complex

Adulte · Male

Orlando Diaz

Unresponsive after 20-foot fall.

Orlando Diaz is a patient who was previously admitted for Diabetic Ketoacidosis (DKA). He eloped Against Medical Advice (AMA) because he could not afford to miss a paycheck at his second job. Shortly after leaving, he fell approximately 20 feet at his worksite. He was found unresponsive by coworkers after failing to answer his radio and brought back to the ED by EMS.

TraumaNeurosurgery +2 more

Provider performing costovertebral angle (CVA) percussion on Mr. Green.

S02E09 Complex

Middle-aged · Male

Mr. Green

Left flank pain

Patient presents to the ED with left-sided flank pain that began at 10:00 p.m. the previous night. He has a history of kidney stones and states this episode feels exactly the same as prior occurrences. He notes his urine is 'a bit darker than normal' but denies fever or gross hematuria. He suspects he is dehydrated.

UrologyRenal Colic +7 more

Patient presenting with a framing nail embedded deeply in the left chest.

S01E03 Moderate

40s · Male

Hank

Penetrating trauma to the left chest (Nail gun injury).

Hank is a construction worker who arrived via EMS/triage after suffering a penetrating injury to his left chest from a framing nail gun. The injury occurred during a workplace 'melee' (scuffle) with his coworker, Joey, who initially pointed the nail gun at his head as a joke. Hank reports severe pain. Denies daily medications or allergies.

TraumaCardiology +4 more

Patient presenting to the ambulance bay with an abdominal GSW.

S01E02 Brief

Adult · Male

Alex

Abdominal Gunshot Wound (GSW)

Alex is a young adult male who presented to the ED ambulance bay as a 'drop-off' from a private vehicle. He complains of severe abdominal pain secondary to a gunshot wound (GSW). He has no known daily medications and no known allergies.

TraumaGeneral Surgery +3 more

Patient presenting with massive facial trauma and epistaxis after an e-scooter collision.

S01E02 Brief

23 · Male

Ben Kemper

Facial trauma, neck contusion, and hemoptysis following a high-mechanism e-scooter crash.

23-year-old male arrives via EMS after getting 'doored' while riding an e-scooter without a helmet. Mechanism of injury involves his neck striking the handlebar, followed by a face-plant onto the pavement. He complains of blood pooling in the back of his throat.

TraumaAirway Management +2 more

Facial trauma presenting with avulsion of maxillary central incisor (Tooth #8).

S01E01 Brief

30s · Male

Charlie

Facial trauma and missing tooth following a bar altercation.

Patient presents to the ED following a bar fight. He sustained blunt facial trauma resulting in the complete avulsion of tooth number eight. Patient was initially evaluated, deemed stable, and prepped for discharge before the unaccounted missing tooth was noted during morning rounds.

TraumaDental +2 more

Patient awaiting surgical consult for SBO.

S01E01 Moderate

40 · Male

Unknown

Abdominal pain, lack of bowel movements (Small Bowel Obstruction)

Patient presented overnight with symptoms suggestive of a small bowel obstruction (SBO). He has been boarding in the emergency department for over three hours waiting for a surgical consult. Initial conservative management with magnesium citrate to stimulate bowel activity failed.

GastroenterologyGeneral Surgery

Left shoulder with entry wound from 9mm gunshot.