09-13-2011, 07:35 AM
243) A 65 year old man with a long history of COPD and history of metastatic colon cancer presents with complaints of increasingly severe shortness of breath that occurred at rest today. He reports that his symptoms are much more severe than his usual baseline. On examination , he is afebrile and tachypneic. Blood pressure is normal. Chest exam reveals occassional rhonchii. EKG shows sinus tachycardia. Arterial blood gases are obtained on the room air and show Ph : 7.45 Po2 40 PCo2 50 and Bicarbonate of 36. Chest X-ray shows changes of emphysema. His home medications include ipratropium and albuterol inhalers. He is placed on 4 liters oxygen by nasal cannula.
Which of the following is the most appropriate next step?
A) Intravenos corticosteroids
B) Intubation
C) Spiral CT scan and empiric Low molecular weight heparin
D) Non invasive positive pressure ventilation
E) Bed-side Spirometry
Which of the following is the most appropriate next step?
A) Intravenos corticosteroids
B) Intubation
C) Spiral CT scan and empiric Low molecular weight heparin
D) Non invasive positive pressure ventilation
E) Bed-side Spirometry