Medical Diagnoses in Grey's Anatomy: A Comprehensive Review of Medical Conditions in Season 16
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Season 16 of Grey’s Anatomy brought significant changes to the hospital's roster and tackled pressing real-world healthcare issues. From the "medical divorce" required to afford life-saving surgery to the devastating impact of the broken foster care system on mental health, the writers didn't shy away from social commentary. Medically, the season featured rare toxicities, complex pediatric reconstructions, and the dramatic conclusion to the mystery of Richard Webber's deteriorating health.
Below is a comprehensive, episode-by-episode review of the medical cases, diagnoses, and treatments presented in Season 16.
Content ⁉️
Episode 1
Fat Embolism Syndrome (FES)
Jai Prishna. A climber suffered major orthopedic trauma, including an open femur fracture. Post-operatively, he became unresponsive with radiological signs of watershed infarcts (stroke-like damage). Diagnosis: Given his young age, doctors theorized Fat Embolism Syndrome, where fat from the bone marrow enters the bloodstream and lodges in the brain. This was confirmed by a telltale petechial rash under his arm. Treatment: An experimental protocol reversed his neurological status, allowing him to wake up with good cognitive function.
Other Medical Conditions Discussed
Brachial Plexus Injury: Sustained by the patient's wife while saving him.
Watershed Infarcts: Brain tissue death due to low blood flow, mimicking a stroke.
Episode 2
Leriche Syndrome (Aortoiliac Occlusive Disease)
Wade Foltz. A 55-year-old smoker presented with hip weakness (claudication) and erectile dysfunction. He was diagnosed with Leriche Syndrome, a blockage of the distal aorta. Treatment: An axillary bi-femoral bypass was performed to reroute blood from the armpit to the legs. The surgery was complicated by bleeding at the anastomosis site but was ultimately successful.
Papillary Thyroid Cancer and Healthcare Access
Robin. A patient on Meredith's community service crew had a neck lump but couldn't afford a specialist. Dr. Avery performed a biopsy in the parking lot, diagnosing Papillary Thyroid Cancer. While treatable with surgery, the case highlighted the financial barriers to care in the US system.
Cardiac Tamponade
Reid. A scooter accident victim developed cardiac tamponade from a rib fracture puncturing the heart. He required an emergency thoracotomy and defibrillation.
Other Medical Conditions Discussed
Steam Burn: Infected burn from a dry cleaner's iron.
Diverticulitis: Mentioned as the cause for prior sigmoid resection.
Episode 3
ALPPS Procedure for Liver Metastasis
Shirley Gregory. A patient underwent the rare, two-stage ALPPS procedure to treat liver tumors. Complication: During the first stage, severe venous bleeding occurred. Dr. Karev performed a total vascular exclusion (clamping the IVC) to repair the hepatic vein and save the patient.
Guide Wire Complication during PCI
Bertram Hollister. During a routine Percutaneous Coronary Intervention (PCI) to place a stent, a guide wire slipped and was lost in the patient's right atrium. It was successfully retrieved using a snare in the cath lab.
Other Medical Conditions Discussed
Brachiocephalic Artery Dissection: A vascular injury treated with endovascular stenting.
Portal Hypertension: Cited as a cause for bleeding during liver surgery.
Episode 4
Craniosynostosis Repair
Clervie Martin. A child with Craniosynostosis (premature fusion of skull bones) required complex reconstructive surgery. Dr. Avery removed and reshaped the skull bone to allow the brain room to grow.
Aortic Root Injury from Falling Stowaway
Alicia Chen. A patient struck by a body falling from a plane suffered massive trauma, including a widened mediastinum. She was diagnosed with an aortic root injury and coronary artery dissection. Despite emergency surgery, the aorta ruptured, and she died.
Perimenopause and Pregnancy
Dr. Miranda Bailey. Dr. Bailey experienced hot flashes and mood swings, suspecting perimenopause. Blood work revealed she was indeed perimenopausal but also unexpectedly pregnant.
Other Medical Conditions Discussed
Air Embolism: Occurred during a laparoscopic appendectomy.
Coronary Artery Dissection: A fatal complication in the trauma patient.
Episode 5
VP Shunt Malfunction
Zola Grey. Zola presented with headaches and vomiting. Imaging confirmed enlarged ventricles due to a malfunction of her VP shunt (placed for spina bifida). Dr. Koracick performed a laparoscopic revision, restoring shunt patency.
Carbon Monoxide Poisoning
Carly Davis. A patient with accidental CO poisoning was treated in the hyperbaric chamber. Complication: The high-oxygen therapy caused her blood sugar to drop, leading to a hypoglycemic seizure, which was managed by correcting her glucose levels.
Other Medical Conditions Discussed
Hydrocephalus: The underlying condition requiring the VP shunt.
Hypoglycemic Seizure: A side effect of hyperbaric treatment.
Episode 6
Xeroderma Pigmentosum (XP)
Mary Rose Hawkins-Garrett. A child with Xeroderma Pigmentosum, a genetic inability to repair UV damage, suffered severe burns after brief sun exposure. The burns became infected, requiring surgical debridement.
Pancreatic Head Severance
Austin Goodrich. A Halloween reveller fell on a fake ax, sustaining blunt trauma that severed the head of his pancreas. This injury necessitated a Whipple procedure (pancreaticoduodenectomy).
Iatrogenic Hyperkalemia
ICU Patients. Multiple patients went into cardiac arrest due to hyperkalemia. The cause was traced to a malfunctioning medical fridge that froze blood products, causing hemolysis (bursting red blood cells) and releasing massive amounts of potassium into the transfusions.
Other Medical Conditions Discussed
Jaundice: Observed in patients receiving the bad blood.
Episode 7
Biatrial Myxoma and Heparin Resistance
Sabrina (Sabi). Maggie’s cousin presented with a massive biatrial myxoma (heart tumor) obstructing blood flow. Complication: During surgery, Sabi was found to be heparin-resistant, meaning her blood clotted despite anticoagulation. The clots clogged the bypass machine, leading to fatal complications.
Other Medical Conditions Discussed
Medical Abortion: A trauma patient terminated a pregnancy after using herbal remedies caused a fall.
Episode 8
Hypertensive Intracerebral Hemorrhage
Dr. Paul Castello. The doctor on the medical commission collapsed with a seizure. He was diagnosed with a massive hypertensive intracerebral hemorrhage. Despite Dr. Shepherd evacuating the hematoma via craniotomy, he re-bled and died.
Other Medical Conditions Discussed
Alzheimer's Disease: Referenced regarding a discontinued clinical trial.
Episode 9
Migrating Gallstone
Jamie Caldwell. A teenager presented with a painful chest wall mass, initially suspected to be cancer. Dr. Grey diagnosed a migrating gallstone spilled during a cholecystectomy two years prior. The body had pushed the foreign object to the posterior chest wall.
Other Medical Conditions Discussed
Congenital Aortic Stenosis: A heart defect requiring multiple valve replacements.
Testicular Lymphoma: A diagnosis refused treatment by a patient.
Episode 10
Broken-Heart Syndrome (Takotsubo Cardiomyopathy)
Dr. Levi Schmitt. Following a car crashing into Joe’s Bar, Dr. Schmitt collapsed with chest pain. It was diagnosed as Broken-Heart Syndrome, a stress-induced cardiomyopathy mimicking a heart attack.
Infrarenal IVC Injury
Dr. Taryn Helm. Dr. Helm suffered complex trauma including an infrarenal IVC injury and retrohepatic hematoma. Surgeons placed an IVC filter and performed a sternotomy to clamp the vessel and repair the tear.
Other Medical Conditions Discussed
Temporal Lobe Contusion: Exacerbated PTSD in a patient.
Type III Le Fort Fracture: A severe facial fracture with a CSF leak.
Episode 11
Vaping-Associated Lung Injury (EVALI)
Kai. A teen vaper presented with "lungs of a 60-year-old smoker" and esophageal bleeding. Treatment: Initial coiling failed due to the tissue damage. He required a partial lung resection to save his life, ending his competitive swimming career.
Other Medical Conditions Discussed
Catfish Toxin: A patient swallowed a fish causing minor toxicity.
Cardiac Tamponade: An emergency requiring aspiration.
Episode 12
End-Stage Heart Failure
Great Uncle Saul. The episode touches on palliative care for a relative in end-stage heart failure, focusing on comfort rather than cure.
Other Medical Conditions Discussed
Leprosy/TB/HIV: Discussed as asymptomatic carrier states.
Episode 13
Stage IV Colorectal Cancer
Irene Sholman. A patient with intestinal obstruction was found to have metastatic colorectal cancer. Due to extensive spread, surgery was deemed futile, and she transitioned to palliative care.
Diagnostic Mystery (Still's Disease - Part 1)
Suzanne Britland. A patient with undiagnosed fevers and pericarditis baffled the team. Dr. Riley, a diagnostician, stopped all meds to let the symptoms flare, a risky move to identify the underlying cause.
Other Medical Conditions Discussed
Pericarditis: Fluid around the heart requiring drainage.
Brucellosis/Lyme: Ruled out infectious causes.
Episode 14
Still's Disease and Macrophage Activation Syndrome (MAS)
Suzanne Britland. Suzanne’s condition worsened with plummeting platelets and bleeding. A bone marrow biopsy revealed hemophagocytosis, confirming Macrophage Activation Syndrome (MAS), a complication of Adult-Onset Still's Disease. Treatment: High-dose steroids suppressed the immune system and saved her.
Other Medical Conditions Discussed
Bear Attack Trauma: Severe facial and chest injuries.
Episode 15
Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency
Elisa. A child with genetic Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency developed cirrhosis and required a liver transplant. Dr. DeLuca walked through a blizzard to retrieve the organ.
Carcinoma (Recurrent)
Tess Anderson. A patient impersonating a resident was revealed to have recurrent carcinoma, her fourth cancer diagnosis, seeking to live out her dream of being a surgeon before her next surgery.
Other Medical Conditions Discussed
Frostbite: Treated in patients exposed to the blizzard.
Episode 16
Malignant Neoplasm (Historical)
Izzie Stevens. The episode reveals that Izzie Stevens used the embryos frozen during her cancer treatment years ago. She is now a surgical oncologist raising twins, highlighting long-term cancer survivorship and fertility preservation.
Other Medical Conditions Discussed
Cecal Bascule: A rare form of volvulus mentioned as a surgical case.
Episode 17
Compartment Syndrome from Electrocution
Brad Spencer. A patient electrocuted on train tracks developed compartment syndrome in three limbs. He required immediate fasciotomies to relieve pressure and save the limbs.
Insulin Rationing and Fatal Trauma
Noelle Webb. A diabetic patient fell from a ladder due to dizziness caused by rationing insulin to save money. She suffered a shattered kidney and DIC, ultimately dying from the metabolic and traumatic insult.
Anterior Cerebral Artery Aneurysm
Griffin Ford. A tech billionaire convinced his failures were medical was diagnosed with a tiny anterior cerebral artery aneurysm, treated with watchful waiting.
Other Medical Conditions Discussed
DIC: Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation.
Episode 18
Traumatic Brain Injury and Focal Seizures
Kyle. A veteran with PTSD and aggression was found to have a TBI causing complex partial seizures. Treatment: Dr. Altman performed surgery to remove the gliosis (scar tissue) causing the seizures.
Human Trafficking Suspected
Cindy Wright. A teen with a hernia and UTI was suspected by Dr. DeLuca to be a victim of human trafficking. While his behavior was erratic (due to mania), his medical suspicion was later proven correct.
Other Medical Conditions Discussed
Abdominal Wall Sarcoma: A pro-bono surgery case.
Episode 19
Cobalt Poisoning (Richard Webber - Part 1)
Dr. Richard Webber. Dr. Webber exhibited erratic behavior, hallucinations, and memory loss during a presentation, mimicking stroke or dementia. This launched a major diagnostic investigation.
Iatrogenic Metastasis (Uterine Sarcoma)
Abigail Hayes (Flashback). Dr. Hayes revealed his wife died after a power morcellator used during a hysterectomy spread undetected uterine sarcoma cells throughout her abdomen.
Other Medical Conditions Discussed
Stroke: Initially suspected in Richard Webber.
Episode 20
Medulloblastoma with Spinal Metastasis
Guthrie Hamilton. A child with a brain tumor (medulloblastoma) that metastasized to the spine ("drop met") underwent complex surgery. Complication: He suffered an air embolism during the operation but was stabilized.
Lisfranc Injury and Musicophilia
Vera Katano. A patient with a foot fracture (Lisfranc injury) woke up from surgery singing uncontrollably. This was diagnosed as Musicophilia, a rare neurological phenomenon, which resolved on its own.
Other Medical Conditions Discussed
Rapidly Progressive Dementia: The working diagnosis for Richard Webber.
Episode 21
Cobalt Poisoning (Richard Webber - Part 2)
Dr. Richard Webber. After ruling out Alzheimer's, Dr. DeLuca connected Richard's symptoms to a metal-on-metal hip replacement. Diagnosis: Cobalt Poisoning from the degrading hip implant was causing neurotoxicity. Treatment: Immediate removal and replacement of the hip prosthesis resolved the toxicity.
Moebius Syndrome
Daya Burman. A teen with Moebius Syndrome (facial paralysis) underwent a bilateral gracilis transfer. Muscles from her legs were transplanted to her face to allow her to smile.
Other Medical Conditions Discussed
Penetrating Cardiac Injury: A baseball player struck by a splintered bat required surgery to remove wood from the pericardium.
🔖 Key Takeaways
🗝️ Healthcare System Critiques: The season heavily criticized the US healthcare system, featuring storylines on insulin rationing leading to death, "medical divorce" to avoid bankruptcy, and insurance fraud to cover pediatric cancer treatment.
🗝️ Diagnostic Mysteries: The arc of Richard Webber's cobalt poisoning served as the season's central medical mystery, highlighting the importance of thorough patient history.
🗝️ Vaping Dangers: The show took a firm stance on the vaping epidemic, graphically depicting the severe lung damage (EVALI) it can cause in adolescents.
🗝️ Surgical Innovation: Procedures like the ALPPS for liver tumors and Gracilis Transfer for facial paralysis showcased advanced reconstructive techniques.
🗝️ Genetic Conditions: Rare conditions like Xeroderma Pigmentosum and Moebius Syndrome were featured, educating viewers on genetic disorders.
Keywords: Grey's Anatomy Season 16
Grey's Anatomy Season 16
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