A 62-year-old man is brought to the emergency department by emergency medical services (EMS) due to the sudden onset of difficulty breathing, facial swelling, and a diffuse pruritic rash. The symptoms began 15 minutes ago while he was eating at a seafood restaurant. His medical history is significant for hypertension, coronary artery disease, and heart failure with preserved ejection fraction. His home medications include lisinopril, metoprolol, aspirin, and atorvastatin. Upon arrival, his blood pressure is 74/40 mm Hg, pulse is 62/min, and oxygen saturation is 90% on room air. Physical examination reveals marked angioedema of the lips, widespread urticaria, and diffuse bilateral expiratory wheezing. EMS has established peripheral intravenous access.
Arrange the following pharmacologic interventions in the correct sequential order of administration for the acute escalation of therapy in this patient.
- 1Administer intramuscular epinephrine () into the anterolateral thigh
- 2Administer a rapid intravenous bolus of 0.9% sodium chloride
- 3Administer intravenous glucagon
- 4Initiate a continuous intravenous epinephrine infusion