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A 52-year-old man complains of severe abdominal pain but denies nausea or vomiting. He is conscious and alert, has a blood pressure of 130/70 mm Hg, a heart rate of 120 beats/min and strong, and respirations of 20 breaths/min and regular. You should administer:

a) ondansetron.
b) diphenhydramine.
c) a 20-mL/kg fluid bolus.
d) nalbuphine.

1 Answer

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Final answer:

The correct choice to administer in this scenario is a 20-mL/kg fluid bolus. This can help maintain blood pressure and prevent further complications for the patient who is experiencing severe abdominal pain but denies nausea or vomiting.

Step-by-step explanation:

The correct choice in this scenario would be c) a 20-mL/kg fluid bolus. The patient is experiencing severe abdominal pain but denies nausea or vomiting, indicating that the pain is not related to gastrointestinal issues such as gastritis or gastroenteritis. The vital signs of the patient are stable, with a blood pressure of 130/70 mm Hg, a heart rate of 120 beats/min, and respirations of 20 breaths/min and regular. However, the presence of severe abdominal pain may suggest other serious conditions such as aortic dissection or intra-abdominal hemorrhage.

Administering a fluid bolus can be beneficial in this scenario as it can help to maintain blood pressure and prevent further complications. The 20-mL/kg fluid bolus is a standard approach to address hypovolemia and stabilize a patient's condition. It can help to rule out hypovolemia as a cause of the abdominal pain and reduce the risk of any potential complications.

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