Your Patient Is a 15-Year-Old Asthmatic Who Has Been Having

question 37

Multiple Choice

Your patient is a 15-year-old asthmatic who has been having difficulty breathing for 45 minutes, but does not have his Xopenex inhaler with him. Capnography shows an ETCO₂ of 45 mmHg. What is the best way to interpret this finding?

• A) This is a normal ETCO₂, indicating that this is a mild asthma attack.
• B) The patient's ETCO₂ first dropped as he began to hyperventilate but now is rising again and may continue to rise to dangerous levels.
• C) This is a high ETCO_2, and the patient requires immediate ventilatory assistance to prevent respiratory arrest.
• D) This is a low ETCO₂, indicating that the patient is hyperventilating, and thus in the early stages of an asthma attack.

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Definitions:

Self-concepts

Refers to an individual's perception or image of themselves, formed through experiences, feedback, and reflections.

External Rewards

Incentives provided by external sources, such as money, praise, or awards, which motivate individuals to perform certain behaviors.

Regulate Behavior

The ability to control one's actions and responses in accordance with social norms, personal goals, or legal guidelines, often requiring self-discipline and executive functions.

Middle Childhood

A stage in human development that occurs between early childhood and adolescence, typically from ages 6 to 12.