An emergency medical services team brings a -year-old female resident of a skilled nursing facility to the hospital because of severe respiratory distress that awakened her from sleep. The patient is unable to speak in full sentences and is actively coughing up pink, frothy sputum. Her past medical history is notable for systemic hypertension, osteoarthritis, and a -pack-year history of smoking (quit years ago). Two weeks ago, she was prescribed daily naproxen for worsening knee pain.
Upon arrival, her temperature is (), blood pressure is , heart rate is , and respiratory rate is . Oxygen saturation is on room air.
Physical examination displays prominent use of accessory respiratory muscles. The internal jugular vein is visibly distended while the patient is sitting upright. Chest auscultation reveals diffuse expiratory wheezes and coarse crackles extending halfway up both lung fields. Cardiac examination is significant for a rapid, regular rhythm with a distinct low-frequency sound heard just after .
An electrocardiogram shows sinus tachycardia with left ventricular hypertrophy but no acute ischemic changes.
Which of the following is the most appropriate initial pharmacological therapy for this patient?
- Intravenous furosemideCevap
- BNebulized albuterol and intravenous methylprednisolone
- CIntravenous piperacillin-tazobactam
- DIntravenous metoprolol
- EIntravenous sodium bicarbonate