Initial resuscitation in sepsis — MCQs

A 61-year-old female with congestive heart failure and type 2 diabetes is brought to the emergency room by her husband because of an altered mental status. He states he normally helps her be compliant with her medications, but he had been away for several days. On physical exam, her temperature is 37.2 C, BP 85/55, and HR 130. Serum glucose is 500 mg/dL. Which of the following is the first step in the management of this patient?

A 7-year-old girl is brought to the physician because of a 1-month history of worsening fatigue, loss of appetite, and decreased energy. More recently, she has also had intermittent abdominal pain and nausea. She is at the 50th percentile for height and 15th percentile for weight. Her pulse is 119/min and blood pressure is 85/46 mm Hg. Physical examination shows darkened skin and bluish-black gums. The abdomen is soft and nontender. Serum studies show: Sodium 133 mEq/L Potassium 5.3 mEq/L Bicarbonate 20 mEq/L Urea nitrogen 16 mg/dL Creatinine 0.8 mg/dL Glucose 72 mg/dL Which of the following is the most appropriate pharmacotherapy?

A 7-year-old boy is brought to the emergency room because of severe, acute diarrhea. He is drowsy with a dull, lethargic appearance. He has sunken eyes, poor skin turgor, and dry oral mucous membranes and tongue. He has a rapid, thready pulse with a systolic blood pressure of 60 mm Hg and his respirations are 33/min. His capillary refill time is 6 sec. He has had no urine output for the past 24 hours. Which of the following is the most appropriate next step in treatment?

A 23-year-old man presents to the emergency department with shortness of breath. The patient was at a lunch hosted by his employer. He started to feel his symptoms begin when he started playing football outside with a few of the other employees. The patient has a past medical history of atopic dermatitis and asthma. His temperature is 98.3°F (36.8°C), blood pressure is 87/58 mmHg, pulse is 150/min, respirations are 22/min, and oxygen saturation is 85% on room air. Which of the following is the best next step in management?

A 57-year-old man is admitted to the burn unit after he was brought to the emergency room following an accidental fire in his house. His past medical history is unknown due to his current clinical condition. Currently, his blood pressure is 75/40 mmHg, pulse rate is 140/min, and respiratory rate is 17/min. The patient is subsequently intubated and started on aggressive fluid resuscitation. A Swan-Ganz catheter is inserted to clarify his volume status. Which of the following hemodynamic parameters would you expect to see in this patient?

A 68-year-old woman presents to the hospital for an elective right hemicolectomy. She is independently mobile and does her own shopping. She has had type 2 diabetes mellitus for 20 years, essential hypertension for 15 years, and angina on exertion for 6 years. She has a 30-pack-year history of smoking. The operation was uncomplicated. On post-op day 5, she becomes confused. She has a temperature of 38.5°C (101.3°F), respiratory rate of 28/min, and oxygen saturation of 92% on 2 L of oxygen. She is tachycardic at 118/min and her blood pressure is 110/65 mm Hg. On chest auscultation, she has coarse crackles in the right lung base. Her surgical wound appears to be healing well, and her abdomen is soft and nontender. Which of the following is the most likely diagnosis?

A 35-year-old woman volunteers for a study on respiratory physiology. Pressure probes A and B are placed as follows: Probe A: between the parietal and visceral pleura Probe B: within the cavity of an alveolus The probes provide a pressure reading relative to atmospheric pressure. To obtain a baseline reading, she is asked to sit comfortably and breathe normally. Which of the following sets of values will most likely be seen at the end of inspiration?

A 68-year-old woman is brought to the emergency department by ambulance after she was found down by her daughter. She lives alone in her apartment so it is unclear when she began to develop symptoms. Her medical history is significant for cardiac arrhythmias, diabetes, pericarditis, and a stroke 2 years ago. On presentation her temperature is 98.1°F (36.7°C), blood pressure is 88/51 mmHg, pulse is 137/min, and respirations are 18/min. On physical exam her skin is cold and clammy. If special tests were obtained, they would reveal dramatically decreased pulmonary capillary wedge pressure, increased systemic vascular resistance, and mildly decreased cardiac output. Which of the following treatments would most directly target the cause of this patient's low blood pressure?

A previously healthy 17-year-old boy is brought to the emergency department because of fever, nausea, and myalgia for the past day. His temperature is 39.5°C (103.1°F), pulse is 112/min, and blood pressure is 77/55 mm Hg. Physical examination shows scattered petechiae over the anterior chest and abdomen. Blood culture grows an organism on Thayer-Martin agar. Which of the following virulence factors of the causal organism is most likely responsible for the high mortality rate associated with it?

A 58-year-old man with hypertension and hyperlipidemia is brought to the emergency department by ambulance after collapsing at home. His wife states he complained of sudden severe chest pain radiating to the left arm 40 minutes ago, then became diaphoretic and lost consciousness briefly. On arrival, BP is 88/60 mmHg, HR 112 bpm, RR 22/min, SpO2 94% on room air. The ECG shown demonstrates 4 mm ST-segment elevation in leads II, III, and aVF with reciprocal changes in I and aVL. IV access is established, aspirin 325 mg has been given, and oxygen is being administered. The nearest percutaneous coronary intervention-capable facility is 25 minutes away. Which of the following is the most appropriate next step?