An asthmatic patient in severe distress with wheezing and dyspnea is admitted to the emergency department and started on albuterol via small-volume jet nebulizer. Which of the following approaches would you recommend to assess this therapy for this patient?
1) Perform arterial blood gas analysis.
2) Continuously monitor the SpO₂.
3) Assess breath sounds and vital signs before and after each treatment.
4) Measure peak expiratory flow rate or forced expiratory volume in 1 sec before and after each treatment.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

All the approaches listed are valid methods to assess the effectiveness of albuterol therapy in an asthmatic patient. Arterial blood gas analysis can help determine the severity of the asthma attack and the effectiveness of treatment. Continuous monitoring of oxygen saturation (SpO2) provides real-time information on the patient's oxygenation status. Assessing breath sounds and vital signs before and after each treatment can help determine the clinical response to the therapy. Measuring peak expiratory flow rate or forced expiratory volume in 1 second before and after treatment can provide objective data on the improvement in airway obstruction.

An Asthmatic Patient in Severe Distress with Wheezing and Dyspnea