Question

A 22-year-old patient who has recently started taking Dapsone for a dermatitis condition is admitted to the emergency department. The patient's skin is slate gray. The patient is unconscious, with shallow respirations and does not respond to painful stimuli. The patient is intubated and resuscitated with 100% oxygen. Following intubation, the 5 poy remains at 85% and the patient remains cyanotic. What procedure should be done to accurately diagnose this patient? What is the treatment of choice for this patient?

A - Arterial Blood Gas (ABG) Analysis
B - Chest X-ray
C - Electrocardiogram (ECG)
D - Complete Blood Count (CBC)

Answer 1

An Arterial Blood Gas (ABG) Analysis should be performed to diagnose the condition accurately, and treatment may require methylene blue for suspected methemoglobinemia.

Step-by-step explanation:

To accurately diagnose a 22-year-old patient who has a slate gray skin color, is unconscious, and exhibits shallow respirations despite resuscitation with 100% oxygen, an Arterial Blood Gas (ABG) Analysis should be performed. This medical test will help assess the gas exchange in the patient's lungs, providing critical information regarding oxygenation and the presence of any acid-base imbalance. The treatment of choice for a patient who is cyanotic and not responding well to oxygen therapy may involve the administration of methylene blue and other supportive measures, as this presentation is suggestive of methemoglobinemia, which can be a side effect of Dapsone.