A 48-year-old female suffers a traumatic brain injury while skiing in a remote area. Upon her arrival to the ER, she is severely hypoxemic and not responsive to O2 therapy. She is started on a mechanical ventilator and 2 days later upon auscultation, you note late inspiratory crackles. Which of the following is most likely normal in this patient?
AAlveolar-arterial gradient
BLeft atrial pressure
CType II pneumocytes
DType I pneumocytes
EChest X-ray
A 41-year-old man comes to the emergency department because of fatigue, worsening abdominal discomfort, and progressive swelling of his legs for 3 months. The swelling is worse in the evenings. His only medication is ibuprofen for occasional joint pain. The patient does not smoke and drinks 2–3 beers each weekend. His temperature is 36°C (96.8°F), pulse is 88/min, respirations are 18/min, and blood pressure is 130/80 mm Hg. Pulmonary examination shows no abnormalities. Abdominal examination shows a mildly distended abdomen with shifting dullness. The liver is palpated 2–3 cm below the right costal margin. When pressure is applied to the right upper quadrant, the patient's jugular veins become visibly distended for 15 seconds. The 2nd and 3rd metacarpophalangeal joints of both hands are tender to palpation. There is 2+ edema in the lower extremities. Which of the following is the most likely underlying cause of this patient's edema?
AReduced glomerular filtration rate
BMacrovesicular steatosis of the liver
CDermal deposition of glycosaminoglycans
DImpaired hepatic protein synthesis
EImpaired relaxation of the right ventricle
The serum brain natriuretic peptide and N-terminal pro-BNP are elevated. A diagnosis of heart failure with preserved ejection fraction is made. In addition to supplemental oxygen therapy, which of the following is the most appropriate initial step in management?
AIntravenous dobutamine
BIntravenous furosemide therapy
CIntravenous morphine therapy
DThoracentesis
EIntermittent hemodialysis
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