BCEN Respiratory Emergencies Flashcards

A patient presents with sudden pleuritic chest pain, dyspnea, and absent breath sounds on the left. What is the most likely diagnosis?

Answer: Pneumothorax

Absent breath sounds with acute pleuritic pain and dyspnea are classic signs of pneumothorax, especially spontaneous in tall young patients.

What is the immediate treatment for a tension pneumothorax?

Answer: Needle decompression at 2nd ICS midclavicular line

Tension pneumothorax is a clinical emergency requiring immediate needle decompression without waiting for imaging.

Which ABG pattern is most consistent with acute respiratory failure (Type 1)?

Answer: pH 7.48, PaCO2 30, PaO2 55

Type 1 (hypoxemic) respiratory failure is characterized by low PaO2 with normal or low PaCO2 due to ventilation-perfusion mismatch.

A patient with a known history of asthma presents with severe wheezing, accessory muscle use, and SpO2 of 88%. What is the priority intervention?

Answer: Nebulized albuterol and supplemental oxygen

Short-acting beta-2 agonists like albuterol combined with supplemental oxygen are the first-line treatment for acute asthma exacerbations.

Which sign indicates impending respiratory arrest in a patient with severe asthma exacerbation?

Answer: Silent chest with markedly decreased air movement

A 'silent chest' indicates near-complete airway obstruction with no air movement, a pre-arrest finding requiring immediate intervention.

What is the most common cause of community-acquired pneumonia in adults in the US?

Answer: Streptococcus pneumoniae

Streptococcus pneumoniae (pneumococcus) remains the most frequent bacterial cause of community-acquired pneumonia in US adults.