Question

A patient with chronic bronchitis is seen in the pulmonary clinic with complaints of frequent cough and secretion production. Despite completing a round of Keflex® as prescribed, the patient continues to have scattered infiltrates on his chest X-ray. Which of the following tests should the respiratory therapist recommend?

1) thoracentesis
2) polysomnography
3) flexible bronchoscopy
4) plethysmography

Answer 1

The respiratory therapist should recommend flexible bronchoscopy as the next step in evaluating a patient with chronic bronchitis and persistent symptoms despite completing a round of Keflex®. The answer is option 3.

Step-by-step explanation:

In a patient with chronic bronchitis, continued symptoms of frequent cough and secretion production, along with persistent infiltrates on the chest X-ray despite completing a round of Keflex®, indicate that further evaluation is necessary. Among the options provided, the respiratory therapist should recommend flexible bronchoscopy as the next step.

Flexible bronchoscopy is a diagnostic procedure that allows direct visualization of the airways using a flexible tube with a light and a camera at the end. This test can help determine the cause of the patient's symptoms and can identify any abnormalities, such as bronchial inflammation or tumors, that may not be visible on a chest X-ray.