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A 71-Year-Old Man Is Admitted to the Intensive Care Unit

question 568

Multiple Choice

A 71-year-old man is admitted to the intensive care unit due to influenza complicated by bacterial pneumonia and acute respiratory distress syndrome. He has been receiving mechanical ventilation for 8 days. The patient completed a course of intravenous antibiotic therapy, and his clinical status has steadily improved. Ventilator settings have been weaned to minimal levels, and he is tolerating daily spontaneous breathing trials. However, the patient remains intubated due to intermittent somnolence and thick secretions requiring frequent suctioning. At night, he is agitated and pulls at his lines, requiring cloth mittens and soft restraints. During the day, the patient is mostly alert and able to communicate by writing on a personal whiteboard. Vital signs are within normal limits. Cough strength is weak, and he has difficulty raising his head from the pillow. Results of serum chemistry are within normal limits, and complete blood count reveals normocytic anemia with hemoglobin of 9.6 g/dL. Which of the following interventions is most strongly indicated at this time to promote recovery and extubation?

Definitions:

FMV

Fair Market Value, the price at which property would sell between a willing buyer and seller in an arm's length transaction.

Gift Tax

A federal tax on the transfer of property by gift from one individual to another with the donor being primarily responsible for paying the tax.

FMV

Fair Market Value, an estimation of the market value of a property or asset, based on what a knowledgeable, willing, and unpressured buyer would likely pay to a knowledgeable, willing, and unpressured seller in the market.

Adjusted Basis

The original cost of an asset adjusted for factors such as depreciation or improvements, used to calculate capital gains or losses for tax purposes.