A 58-year-old female with a known malignancy presents with dyspnea and pleuritic chest pain. Vital signs reveal a respiratory rate of 24 breaths per minute, blood pressure of 140/85 mmHg, heart rate of 110 beats per minute, and oxygen saturation at 89% on room air. Physical examination notes dullness to percussion and absent breath sounds over the left lower chest. Chest radiography confirms a large left-sided pleural effusion. What would be the next best step for the nurse to facilitate in managing this patient’s condition?
Facilitate ultrasound-guided thoracentesis to alleviate symptoms and obtain fluid analysis.
Commence broad-spectrum antibiotics while awaiting fluid culture results.
Recommend serial chest radiographs every 6 hours to monitor progression.
Arrange immediate placement of a chest tube for continuous drainage.
Ultrasound-guided thoracentesis is the preferred technique for diagnosis and therapeutic management of pleural effusion, particularly when the effusion is large, as it reduces the risk of complications like pneumothorax. While chest tube placement, serial chest radiographs, and commencement of antibiotics may be indicated in some clinical scenarios, the immediate need is to perform an ultrasound-guided thoracentesis to relieve the patient's symptoms and to analyze the pleural fluid, which can inform the course of treatment.
Ask Bash
Bash is our AI bot, trained to help you pass your exam. AI Generated Content may display inaccurate information, always double-check anything important.
What is ultrasound-guided thoracentesis?
Open an interactive chat with Bash
What are the potential risks associated with thoracentesis?
Open an interactive chat with Bash
Why is pleural fluid analysis important?
Open an interactive chat with Bash
BCEN CEN
Respiratory Emergencies
Your Score:
Report Issue
Bash, the Crucial Exams Chat Bot
AI Bot
Loading...
Loading...
Loading...
Nursing and Medical Assistants Package Join Premium for Full Access