Your patient is a 15-year-old asthmatic who has been having difficulty breathing for 45 minutes, but does not have his Xopenex inhaler with him. Capnography shows an ETCO₂ of 45 mmHg. What is the best way to interpret this finding? A) This is a normal ETCO₂, indicating that this is a mild asthma attack. B) The patient's ETCO₂ first dropped as he began to hyperventilate but now is rising again and may continue to rise to dangerous levels. C) This is a high ETCO_2, and the patient requires immediate ventilatory assistance to prevent respiratory arrest. D) This is a low ETCO₂, indicating that the patient is hyperventilating, and thus in the early stages of an asthma attack.

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The Answer of Your patient is a 15-year-old asthmatic who has been having difficulty breathing for 45 minutes, but does not have his Xopenex inhaler with him. Capnography shows an ETCO₂ of 45 mmHg. What is the best way to interpret this finding? A) This is a normal ETCO₂, indicating that this is a mild asthma attack. B) The patient's ETCO₂ first dropped as he began to hyperventilate but now is rising again and may continue to rise to dangerous levels. C) This is a high ETCO_2, and the patient requires immediate ventilatory assistance to prevent respiratory arrest. D) This is a low ETCO₂, indicating that the patient is hyperventilating, and thus in the early stages of an asthma attack.

Your Patient Is a 15-Year-Old Asthmatic Who Has Been Having