17 year old girl presents to ER complaining of chest tightness and dyspnea
She was mowing the lawn when symptoms developed. She describes a prodrome of rhinorrhea and tearing that began soon after she went outside, followed by the chest symptoms.
She felt no better after going inside the house; it is now 1 hour later
What is your differential diagnosis based on the information you have now?
What other questions would you like to ask her now?
Now what do you think about her history?
What studies would you initiate now while preparing your interventions?
What therapies would you initiate immediately while waiting results of the lab studies?
What is her A-a gradient?
What is happening now? Why is she more dyspneic and why are her extremities cold? Why is her color changing and why is she confused? What do her blood gases mean?
What interventions should be initiated now?
Now what should be done and what can the patient expect?
What instructions and medications should this patient go home with? What should the chronic pharmacological management of her asthma be?
What steps can she take to prevent future attacks?
Sample Solution