A 27-year-old primigravida at 28 weeks gestation is brought to the emergency department with sudden-onset severe dyspnea and a cough producing frothy sputum. Over the past month, she experienced progressive fatigue and exertional dyspnea, which she assumed were normal changes of pregnancy. She recently emigrated from Southeast Asia and has had limited medical care. She is terrified and tearfully states, 'Please don't do any surgery, I refuse a C-section no matter what happens.'
Temperature is 36.8°C (98.2°F), blood pressure is 108/64 mm Hg, and pulse is 138/min and irregularly irregular. Respirations are 32/min. Pulse oximetry is 86% on room air. Physical examination reveals bibasilar crackles extending to the mid-lung fields and widespread expiratory wheezing. Cardiac auscultation in the left lateral decubitus position reveals a loud first heart sound, a high-pitched early diastolic sound, and a low-pitched diastolic rumble at the apex. An electrocardiogram demonstrates narrow QRS complexes with absent P waves and varying R-R intervals. Arterial blood gas on room air shows a pH of 7.28, of 55 mm Hg, and of 58 mm Hg. Continuous fetal heart rate monitoring demonstrates a baseline of 160/min with minimal variability and recurrent late decelerations.
Which of the following is the most appropriate next step in management?
- AAdministration of nebulized short-acting beta-2 adrenergic agonists
- BEmergent cesarean delivery overriding the patient's explicit refusal
- Administration of an intravenous beta-1 adrenergic antagonistCevap
- DAggressive intravenous diuresis targeting a return to pre-pregnancy plasma volume
- EAdministration of intravenous sodium bicarbonate