THE PITT // CASEBOOK
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Thoracic Surgery Cases From THE PITT

4 cases 4 episodes · S01E03 – S02E14

All emergency department cases involving Thoracic 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
Silas Dunn being transported post-CT scan, shortly before his rapid clinical deterioration.
S01E06 Moderate
45 · Male

Silas Dunn

Right chest pain following a fall from an 8-foot ladder.

45-year-old male presents after falling approximately 8 feet (2.44 meters) from a ladder. He landed on his right chest on a carpeted floor. Wife called 911. Patient reports feeling 'a bit dizzy' just prior to the fall, prompting the team to investigate medical causes of syncope alongside the blunt trauma.

TraumaThoracic +2 more
Patient Wendell Stone in the ED on a nasal cannula. The background monitor displays tachycardia (HR 115) and significant hypoxia (SpO2 85%).
S01E04 Moderate
52 · Male

Wendell Stone

Isolated left chest trauma from a crush injury.

52-year-old male, chief rigger for a music festival, brought in by EMS after a speaker tower fell on his left side. EMS reports isolated trauma to the left chest with obvious multiple rib fractures. Received 50mcg of Fentanyl in the field.

TraumaThoracic +3 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