300
A 70-year-old man presents to the emergency department with a 2-day history of fever, chills, cough, and right-sided pleuritic chest pain. On the day of admission, the patient’s family noted that he was more lethargic and dizzy and was falling frequently. The patient’s vital signs are:temperature, 101.5°F; heart rate 120 bpm; respiratory rate 30 breaths/min; blood pressure 70/35 mm Hg; and oxygen saturation as measured by pulse oximetry - 80% without oxygen supplementation. A chest radiograph shows a right lower lobe infiltrate. What is the first step in the initial management of this patient? (NOT SATA)
1. Antibiotic therapy
2. β-Blocker therapy to control heart rate
3. Intravenous (IV) fluid resuscitation
4. Supplemental oxygen and airway management
5. Vasopressor therapy with dopamine
The Correct answer is 4
Supplemental oxygen and airway management.
The initial evaluation of any critically ill patient in
shock should include assessing and establishing an
airway, evaluating breathing (which includes consideration of mechanical ventilator support), and
restoring adequate circulation. Adequate oxygenation should be ensured with a goal of achieving an
arterial oxygen saturation of 90% or greater.