A 58-year-old male patient with a history of chronic heart failure is being transported via helicopter to a tertiary care facility. Mid-flight, he develops acute shortness of breath, frothy sputum, and a rapid heart rate. What is the most appropriate initial intervention for this patient?
Administering supplemental oxygen is the most appropriate initial intervention in this scenario. Acute pulmonary edema, which is indicated by symptoms of shortness of breath and frothy sputum, can deprive tissues of oxygen. Administering oxygen helps to increase oxygen saturation and reduce the work of breathing. While diuretics and vasodilators are also important in managing acute heart failure exacerbations, they are not the immediate first-line intervention.
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