You are working in a rural ED, and an older woman from a local assisted care facility arrives via ambulance in obvious respiratory distress. EMS is able to tell you that she is currently being treated for pneumonia. The patient is on a nonrebreather mask, and vital signs on arrival are BP 110/50 mm Hg, HR 120 bpm, RR 40/min, T 98.6°F (37°C), and SpO2 86%. The patient’s emergent portable chest X-ray is shown below. Which of the following is the most appropriate next step in this patient’s care?
- Frantically look through the assisted care documents for do-not-resuscitate paperwork
- Place a chest tube on the left side
- Place a chest tube on the right side
- Start noninvasive or mechanical ventilation
FOR THE RIGHT ANSWER CLICK ON THE ROSH REVIEW LOGO BELOW
References:
- Dixon A. Mucous plug with left lung collapse . Radiopaedia website. Accessed October 19, 2022.
- Friesen B. Left upper lobe collapse due to mucous plugging . Radiopaedia website. Accessed October 19, 2022.
Post Peer Reviewed By: Salim R. Rezaie, MD (Twitter: @srrezaie)
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