A client with a history of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) presents with sudden, severe dyspnea and extreme agitation. Assessment reveals absent breath sounds over the right lung field, jugular venous distention, and a trachea deviated to the left. The client's blood pressure is mm Hg, and the heart rate is bpm. A rapid arterial blood gas (ABG) analysis shows a pH of , of mm Hg, and of mEq/L. Which of the following is the priority nursing action?
- AAdminister a rapid isotonic intravenous fluid bolus to treat the underlying hypovolemic shock.
- Prepare the client for immediate needle thoracostomy and chest tube placement.Cevap
- CAdminister intravenous sodium bicarbonate to correct the severe uncompensated acidosis.
- DRequest a stat portable chest radiograph to confirm the diagnosis prior to treatment.
Cevap
Prepare the client for immediate needle thoracostomy and chest tube placement.
The client is exhibiting classic signs of a tension pneumothorax (absent breath sounds, tracheal deviation, jugular venous distention, and obstructive shock). This is a life-threatening emergency requiring immediate decompression of the pleural space via needle thoracostomy, followed by chest tube insertion.
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Anahtar Kavram
Tension pneumothorax causes obstructive shock and respiratory acidosis, requiring immediate clinical diagnosis and emergency decompression rather than delayed diagnostic testing or pharmacological management.