Question

A 67 year-old male presents with weakness, dizziness, and melon that began approximately 2 days ago. He denies a history of trauma. His blood pressure is 90/50 mm Hg and his pulse is 120 beats/min and thready. You should be MOST suspicious that this patient is experiencing:

A. intrathoracic hemorrhaging
B. an aortic aneurysm
C. gastrointestinal bleeding
D. acute appendicitis

Answer 1

The patient is likely experiencing hypovolemic shock, most likely from intrathoracic hemorrhaging.

Step-by-step explanation:

The symptoms described in the case of the 67-year-old male, such as weakness, dizziness, low blood pressure (90/50 mm Hg), and a thready pulse of 120 beats per minute, are highly suggestive of hypovolemic shock. Hypovolemic shock occurs when there is a significant loss of blood volume or fluid from the body, leading to inadequate tissue perfusion. In this case, the most likely cause for the symptoms is intrathoracic hemorrhaging, which could be due to a ruptured blood vessel or other internal bleeding.