Question

An elderly woman with COPD is semiconscious with labored breathing. Her face is cyanotic, her pulse is rapid and weak, and her oxygen saturation is 75%. You should:

A) avoid high-flow oxygen because this may cause her to stop breathing.
B) apply oxygen via nasal cannula and reassess her respiratory status.
C) insert a nasal airway and give her oxygen via a nonrebreathing mask.
D) ventilate her with a bag-valve-mask device and high-flow oxygen.

Answer 1

The best course of action for the elderly woman with COPD is to ventilate her with a bag-valve-mask device and administer high-flow oxygen.

Step-by-step explanation:

The best course of action for the elderly woman with COPD who is semiconscious with labored breathing and presenting with cyanosis, rapid and weak pulse, and oxygen saturation of 75% is to ventilate her with a bag-valve-mask device and administer high-flow oxygen (option D). This method will assist in providing oxygen to her lungs and improving her respiratory status. Oxygen therapy is crucial in this situation to increase the oxygen level in her blood and alleviate her symptoms.