A 68-Year-Old Woman Comes to the Emergency Room Because of Worsening

question 71

Multiple Choice

A 68-year-old woman comes to the emergency room because of worsening dyspnea.  The patient has severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, hypertension, and ischemic cardiomyopathy (left ventricular ejection fraction 35%) .
Physical examination shows a thin woman in respiratory distress.  Lung examination is notable for bronchial breath sounds at the left lung base.  There is also dullness to percussion at the left lung base, with increased tactile fremitus.  Bronchophony is present.  Bilateral ankle edema is present.
Chest x-ray in this patient would most likely show?

• A)Pneumothorax
• B)Pneumonia
• C)Pleural effusion
• D)Pulmonary embolism
• E)Pulmonary fibrosis

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Definitions:

Vulnerable To Illness

A state or condition in which an individual has a reduced ability to resist or recover from diseases or health conditions.

Noncompliance

The act of not following, obeying, or adhering to a rule, order, or set of instructions.

Treatment Recommendations

Specific advice or plans developed by healthcare professionals to address a patient's condition or disease, often based on clinical guidelines.

Instructions

Directions or orders given with the purpose of guiding actions or behavior.