After being dispatched for a male patient experiencing dyspnea, you arrive to find the confused 67-year-old man sitting upright at his kitchen table in severe respiratory distress. You also note remarkable swelling to his lower legs and feet. He has an open airway, but cannot speak more than two to three words without attempting to breathe. His breathing is extremely labored, with inspiratory crackles heard upon auscultation. His skin is cool, diaphoretic, and dusky in color. A family member at the scene reports a history of hypertension, congestive heart failure, and angina, for which the patient takes nitroglycerin. The baseline vital signs are acceptable and the room-air pulse oximeter reading is 45%. What is your immediate action in caring for this patient?
A) Assist the patient with his nitroglycerin
B) Apply but do not turn on the AED
C) Apply continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP)
D) Obtain vital signs and give aspirin
C) Apply continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP)
Health Professions
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