A 67-year-old male is unconscious, is sitting in a chair, and has agonal respirations. His wife states that he was up all night with difficulty breathing and chest discomfort but would not go to the hospital. Physical examination reveals pink, frothy sputum in the airway; cold, diaphoretic skin; and rales audible without a stethoscope. HR = 108, BP = 74 mmHg by palpation, RR = 4, SaO₂ = 82%. The monitor shows sinus tachycardia. Which of the following is the highest priority when treating this patient?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The patient is displaying signs of severe respiratory distress and heart failure, indicated by difficulty breathing, chest discomfort, pink frothy sputum (indicative of pulmonary edema), and very low respiratory rate (RR = 4). The highest priority is securing the airway to ensure adequate oxygenation, hence intubation is the correct choice.

A 67-Year-Old Male Is Unconscious, Is Sitting in a Chair