A 68-year-old retired teacher is brought to the emergency department by his family due to severe confusion and difficulty breathing. His daughter reports that he has had a worsening productive cough, fever, and generalized weakness over the past four days. His medical history is significant for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and hypertension. On presentation, the patient is lethargic and only groans in response to painful stimuli. His skin is flushed, warm, and mottled. Vital signs reveal a temperature of 39.4°C (102.9°F), blood pressure of 72/40 mm Hg, heart rate of 134/min, and respiratory rate of 36/min with shallow effort. Oxygen saturation is 81% on room air. Lung auscultation demonstrates diffuse coarse crackles throughout the right lung fields. Which of the following are the most appropriate immediate steps in the stabilization of this patient? (Select two)
- Perform endotracheal intubationCevap
- Administer a rapid intravenous crystalloid bolusCevap
- CInitiate non-invasive positive pressure ventilation
- DTransport the patient for a computed tomography scan of the chest
- EAdminister intravenous furosemide