Emergency USMLE STD

A 51-year-old diabetic man complains of intense right-ear pain and discharge. On physical examination, his BP is 145/65 mmHg, HR 91 beats per minute, and temperature 101°F. He withdraws when you retract the pinna of his ear. The external auditory canal is erythematous, edematous, and contains what looks like friable granulation tissue in the external auditory canal. The tympanic membrane is partially obstructed but appears to be erythematous, as well. You make the presumptive diagnosis of necrotizing (malignant) otitis externa. Which of the following statements regarding this condition is true?

A 79-year-old woman is brought to the emergency department due to a suspected cerebrovascular accident on her right side. She complains of diffuse paresthesias and tingling in her right hand. She did not lose consciousness. The physical examination reveals normal speech, symmetric deep tendon reflexes (2/4 on both upper extremities, 2/4 both patellar reflexes, and 0/4 both Achilles reflexes), a cold right hand, and undetectable arterial radial pulse. Tinel and Phalen's signs are negative. The rest of the examination is normal. What is the most appropriate next step in the management of this patient?

A 23-year-old woman undergoes total thyroidectomy for carcinoma of the thyroid gland. On the second postoperative day, she begins to complain of a tingling sensation in her hands. She appears quite anxious and later complains of muscle cramps. Which of the following is the most appropriate initial management strategy?

Following a vaginal delivery, a woman develops a fever, lower abdominal pain, and uterine tenderness. She is alert, and her blood pressure and urine output are good. Large gram-positive rods suggestive of clostridia are seen in a smear of the cervix. Which of the following is most closely tied to a decision to proceed with hysterectomy?

A 15-year-old boy with Duchenne muscular dystrophy is brought to the emergency department with increasing respiratory distress and cyanosis. On examination, he is diaphoretic, with gasping respirations, poor air entry, and diminished responsiveness. He is tachycardic at 160 beats/min. His chest x-ray film shows a lingular pneumonia, and he is intubated. He improves over the next 10 days with antibiotics but is not extubated secondary to hypoventilation on weaning because of muscle weakness. Which of the following modalities will most likely help wean him off the ventilator?

A 33-year-old woman comes to your office for a blood pressure check. She has had chronic hypertension for the past 4 years, for which she takes hydrochlorothiazide. Her blood pressure has been reasonably well controlled with this medication. She also uses the combined oral contraceptive pill (i.e., the pill containing an estrogen and a progestin). She has no other medical problems and has never had surgery. She is allergic to penicillin. Her physical examination is normal. This patient should be counseled that patients with chronic hypertension who are also using the combined oral contraceptive pill might be at increased risk of which of the following?

A previously heathy 3-year-old boy is brought to the emergency department (ED) due to stridor of sudden onset. Last night, he suddenly developed a high fever followed by breathing difficulty. His temperature is 40C (104F), pulse is 130/min, and respirations are 40/min. In the ED, the child is toxic-appearing, sitting up, leaning forward and drooling. His lungs are clear, and oxygen saturation is 85% in room air. What is the most appropriate next step in management?

A 36-year-old white female is brought to the emergency department due to paraplegia and bladder incontinence. She immediately tells you that she has, "multiple sclerosis in remission." She has a history of optic neuritis and internuclear ophthalmoplegia, and both resolved with treatment. At that time, MRI showed plaques in the periventricular region. She is currently not taking any medications. Which of the following is the most appropriate next step in the management of this patient?

A 54-year-old Caucasian woman presents to your office with fatigue. She also reports dizziness and palpitations after moderate physical activity. Additionally, her feet feel "numb" and are less sensitive to cold than they used to be. She has no significant past medical history. Physical examination reveals pale conjunctivae and a shiny tongue. Ankle reflex is decreased bilaterally. Laboratory findings include: Hemoglobin 7.6 mg/dL, MCV 110 fL, MCHC 36 g/dL, WBC count 3,900/mm3, Platelet count 150,000/mm3. This patient should be monitored for which of the following long-term complications?

A 45-year-old man is brought into the ED after a head-on motor vehicle collision. His BP is 85/45 mmHg and HR is 130 beats per minute. He is speaking coherently. His breath sounds are equal bilaterally. After 2 L of fluid resuscitation, his BP is 80/40 mmHg. A FAST examination reveals fluid in Morison pouch. Which of the following organs is most likely to be injured in blunt abdominal trauma?

You are called to the emergency department to consult on a 34-year-old woman at 22 weeks’ gestation with a skin rash and shortness of breath. She states that the skin rash started 2 days ago on her trunk and has spread to her extremities. Earlier today she developed shortness of breath. She has been feeling like she has fever and chills, but she has not taken her own temperature. She has no other medical problems and has never had surgery. She works as a third-grade teacher. She has not been traveling recently, but one of her students recently had the chicken pox. On physical examination, her temperature is 38.1 C (100.6 F), blood pressure is 100/70 mm Hg, pulse is 116/min, and respirations are 18/min. Her lungs have diminished breath sounds bilaterally. Chest x-ray demonstrates diffuse, nodular, peribronchial infiltrates. Which of the following is the most appropriate next step in management?

A 71-year-old woman is brought to the physician by her distressed daughter. The daughter relates that, 3 days ago, her mother began to complain of right upper quadrant abdominal pain. She did not want to eat and "took to her bed sick." The daughter recalls that she complained of chills, nausea, and some vomiting. Physical examination reveals an obtunded, hypotensive, and obviously very sick elderly woman. She has impressive pain to deep palpation in the right upper quadrant, along with muscle guarding and rebound. Her temperature is 40C (104F), and laboratory analysis shows a white cell count of 22,000/mm3 with multiple immature forms, a bilirubin of 5 mg/dL and alkaline phosphatase of 840 U/L. The serum amylase is normal. An emergency sonogram shows multiple stones in the gallbladder, normal thickness of the gallbladder wall without pericholecystic fluid, dilated intrahepatic ducts, and common duct with a diameter of 2.1 cm. The sonographer cannot identify stones in the common duct. In addition to IV fluids and antibiotics, which of the following is the most appropriate next step in management?

In a rollover car accident, a 42-year-old woman is thrown from the car. The car subsequently lands on her and crushes her. On physical examination in the emergency department, it is determined that she has a pelvic fracture, which is confirmed by portable x-rays done as she is being resuscitated. Her initial blood pressure is 50/30 mm Hg, and her pulse is 160/min and barely perceptible. Thirty minutes later, after 2 L Ringer's lactate and 2 U packed cells have been infused, her pressure is only 70/50 mm Hg, and her pulse is 130/min. A sonogram done in the emergency department shows no intra-abdominal bleeding, and a diagnostic peritoneal lavage confirms that there is no blood in the abdomen (the recovered fluid is pink, but not grossly bloody). Rectal and vaginal exams show no injuries to those organs. There is no blood in her urine. Which of the following is the most appropriate next step in management?

A 37-year-old man who just finished a full course of penicillin for pharyngitis presents to the ED requesting to be checked out again. He states he took the antibiotics exactly as prescribed and initially felt somewhat improved, but over the last 2 to 3 days has had increased pain and progressive difficulty swallowing. His BP is 130/65 mmHg, HR is 95 beats per minute, temperature is 100.1°F, RR is 16 breaths per minute, and oxygen saturation is 99%. On examination, the patient is in no acute distress but has a fluctuant mass on the right side of his neck. You visualize a normal soft palate with swelling of the right tonsillar arch and deviation of the uvula to the left, but additional examination is limited because he is unable to open his mouth fully. Review of his records reveals a throat culture that was positive for Streptococcus. Which of the following is the most appropriate next step in management?

A 56-year-old woman with a history of chronic renal disease presents to the emergency department because of severe, sharp, retrosternal chest pain that radiates to her jaw. The pain worsens when the patient lies down, and she is most comfortable leaning forward and hugging her knees. She takes erythropoietin, furosemide, calcitriol, and sodium polystyrene sulfonate. She is scheduled for dialysis three times per week, but she admits to sometimes missing sessions. She stopped drinking and smoking 20 years ago, and she has no family history of heart or renal problems. Auscultation of the heart reveals a friction rub. Laboratory tests show: WBC count: 12,000/mm3, Hemoglobin: 10.0 g/dL, Hematocrit: 30.0%, Platelet count: 150,000/mm3, Na+: 141 mEq/L, K+: 4.8 mEq/L, Cl: 101 mEq/L, HCO3 : 22 mEq/L, Blood urea nitrogen: 63 mg/dL, Creatinine: 3.2 mg/dL, Glucose: 111 mg/dL. The emergency medicine physician urges the patient to be more compliant with her dialysis, but the patient complains that she is too tired to go to dialysis all of the time and that it is ruining her life. Which of the following is the most likely complication if the patient’s condition remains untreated?

A 42-year-old IV drug user presents to the ED with fever, chills, pleuritic chest pain, myalgias, and general malaise. The patient’s vitals include an HR of 110 beats per minute, BP of 110/65 mmHg, RR of 18 breaths per minute, and temperature of 103.4°F. Physical examination is notable for retinal hemorrhages, petechiae on the conjunctivae and mucous membranes, a faint systolic ejection murmur, and splenomegaly. Which of the following is the most likely diagnosis?

A 21-year-old man comes to the ER with palpitations and dizziness that began suddenly one hour ago. He notes having similar past episodes provoked by fatigue or strong emotions. He says he can usually stop the episodes by putting his head into cold water or squatting and taking a deep breath. However, these techniques are not working this time. Presently, his blood pressure is 60/30 mmHg and his heart rate is 240/min. He is diaphoretic with cold extremities. An EKG rhythm strip shows a regular, narrow complex tachycardia. Which of the following is the best next step in managing his condition?

A 68-year-old male was intubated in the emergency room because of pulmonary edema. Stat echocardiogram reveals an ejection fraction of 45% and severe mitral regurgitation. In spite of aggressive diuresis with furosemide, the patient continues to require mechanical ventilation secondary to pulmonary edema. What is the best next step in treating this patient?

A 62-year-old Caucasian female complains of frequent headaches, fatigue and recent weight loss. Her shoulder muscles feel stiff in the morning. Her ESR is 85 mm/hr. Which of the following will be the most likely complication of this patient's condition?

A 64-year-old male is brought to the emergency department (ED) due to a sudden onset of lower extremity weakness. He was swimming in the pool, when he suddenly felt his legs become weak. He then felt that his legs had no more strength, and he was not able to move them. He struggled out of the pool, called EMS, and was rushed to the ED. He denies any trauma, loss of consciousness, visual or speech problems. He cannot pass urine. He has a long history of back problems. The physical examination reveals significant motor weakness in both legs, and numbness from the buttocks to the soles of the feet. He has no sensation in the perineal area. The rectal tone is absent. A Foley catheter is placed, and 800 cc of urine is collected. What is the best treatment for this patient?

A 64-year-old man is brought to the ER after an episode of coffee ground emesis followed by lightheadedness. He has been having black, tarry stools for the past few days. He has a history of coronary artery disease and he underwent coronary artery bypass surgery three years ago. He is currently taking aspirin, metoprolol, lisinopril, and pravastatin. He drinks 2-3 beers over the weekend but he quit smoking after the bypass surgery. His temperature is 36.7°C (98°F), pulse is 110/min, respirations are 16/min, and blood pressure is 90/60 mmHg. Examination shows coffee ground-like material in the oropharynx. His lungs are clear. Abdomen is slightly tender in the epigastrium. Laboratory studies show: Complete blood count: Leukocyte count 9,500/mm3, Hemoglobin 8.1 g/L, Platelets 130,000/mm3. Chemistry panel: Serum sodium 140 mEq/L, Serum potassium 3.5 mEq/L, Bicarbonate 27 mEq/L, Blood urea nitrogen (BUN) 54 mg/dL, Serum creatinine 1.2 mg/dL Which of the following is the most appropriate next step in management of this patient?

A 12-year-old girl with mild asthma comes to the office for a health maintenance visit. Her mother states that she is using her albuterol inhaler 2-3 times a week and that she has a cough that wakes her up at night about 3 times a month. On physical examination, she has diffuse inspiratory and expiratory wheezes. She has no accessory muscle use. Pulse oximetry shows 95% oxygen saturation on room air. Which of the following is the most appropriate treatment for her at this time?

A 45-year-old male is brought to the ER with sudden onset palpitations and chest tightness. His past medical history is significant for hypertension, gout and diabetes mellitus. Cardiac monitoring shows atrial fibrillation at a rate of 120-140/min. As the nurse is attempting to establish IV access, the patient becomes unresponsive. There is no palpable pulse over the carotids or femoral arteries. The cardiac monitor still shows atrial fibrillation at the same rate. What is the best next step in management?

A 46-year-old male is admitted to the hospital because of right hand cellulitis. He has a history of intravenous drug use, hepatitis C infection and septic arthritis of the knee. He smokes one pack of cigarettes and drinks one pint of vodka daily. He is started on vancomycin. On the following day, the swelling and redness of his arm decreases. However, he complains of bugs crawling on his skin. His temperature is 38.3°C (100.9°F), blood pressure is 160/90 mmHg, pulse is 110/min, and respirations are 18/min. Examination shows mild hand tremors and diaphoresis. Which of the following is the most appropriate next step in management?

A 20-year-old man presents to the ED with multiple stab wounds to his chest. His BP is 85/50 mmHg and HR is 123 beats per minute. Two large-bore IVs (intravenous) are established and running wide open. On examination, the patient is mumbling incomprehensibly, has good air entry on lung examination, and you notice jugular venous distension (JVD). As you are listening to his heart, the nurse calls out that the patient has lost his pulse and that she cannot get a BP reading. Which of the following is the most appropriate next step in management?

A family brings their 82-year-old grandmother to the emergency room stating that they cannot care for her anymore. They tell you, “She has just been getting sicker and sicker.” Now she stays in bed and won’t eat because of stomach pain. She has diarrhea most of the time and can barely make it to the bathroom because of her weakness. Her symptoms have been worsening over the past year, but she has refused to see a doctor. The patient denies symptoms of depression. Blood pressure is 90/54 mmHg with the patient supine; it drops to 76/40 mmHg when she stands. Heart and lungs are normal. Skin examination reveals a bronze coloring to the elbows and palmar creases. What laboratory abnormality would you expect to find in this patient?

A 65-year-old man presents to the emergency department following the acute onset of palpitations. His wife states that he was eating dinner when he noticed the palpitations, lightheadedness, and shortness of breath. The patient has a history of treated hypertension, but no other medical history. The patient is not able to relate any meaningful history. Blood pressure is 80/40 mmHg, heart rate is 126/ min, respiratory rate is 20/min, and oxygen saturation is 99% on room air; he is afebrile. His heart rate is irregularly irregular with no murmurs, clicks, or rubs. Respiratory examination is unremarkable. X-ray of the chest shows no acute disease. ECG shows no discernible P waves and an irregularly spaced QRS response. Which of the following is the best first step in management?

A 64-year-old Caucasian male presents to the Emergency Room with a sharp, left-sided chest pain. He says that the pain is worse when he takes deep breaths, but he gets relief with leaning forward. He had an acute non-ST elevation myocardial infarction six months ago and had undergone angioplasty for the right coronary artery. His other medical problems include: diabetes, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, peripheral neuropathy, diabetic retinopathy, paroxysmal atrial fibrillation, hypothyroidism, and chronic renal insufficiency. His vital signs are BP 142/86 mmHg, PR 78/min, RR 16/min, and T 36.1°C (97°F). On examination, you find a pericardial rub. EKG shows diffuse ST elevation. Lab results are: Hb 9.0 g/dl, WBC 8,000/cmm, Platelets 210,000/cmm, Blood Glucose 248 mg/dl, Serum Na 135 mEq/L, Serum K 5.8 mEq/L, Bicarbonate 17 mEq/L, BUN 86 mg/dl, Serum Creatinine 4.4 mg/dl. Which of the following is the most appropriate management of this patient?

Shortly after the administration of an inhalational anesthetic and succinylcholine for intubation prior to an elective inguinal hernia repair in a 10-year-old boy, he becomes markedly febrile, displays a tachycardia of 160, and his urine changes color to a dark red. Which of the following is the most appropriate treatment at this time?

An 84-year-old woman with coronary artery disease, congestive heart failure, peripheral vascular disease, and atrial fibrillation presents to the emergency department with dizziness, weakness, and sudden-onset crampy periumbilical pain. The pain is associated with one episode of diarrhea and one episode of emesis. The patient notes she has been having similar pain after meals for “several months” but never this severe. Her temperature is 37.2°C (98.9°F), heart rate is 135/min, blood pressure is 96/60 mm Hg, and respiratory rate is 16/min. Physical examination is notable for a slightly distended abdomen that is extremely tender to palpation with diminished bowel sounds. There is no rigidity or rebound tenderness noted on the abdominal examination. In addition, the patient has heme positive stool. Her WBC count is 19,500/mm³, hemoglobin is 10.9 g/dL, and platelet count is 159,000/mm³. Liver function testing results are normal. After stabilizing the patient, what is the best next step in management?

A 51-year-old man presents to the ED complaining of nausea and abdominal pain after drinking some “bitter stuff.” He is considered one of the “regulars” who is usually at triage with ethanol intoxication. His temperature is 97.9°F, BP is 130/65 mmHg, HR is 90 beats per minute, RR is 16 breaths per minute, and oxygen saturation is 97% on room air. Physical examination is unremarkable, except for slurred speech and the smell of acetone on the patient’s breath. Laboratory results reveal serum sodium 138 mEq/L, potassium 3.5 mEq/L, chloride 105 mEq/L, bicarbonate 23 mEq/L, BUN 10 mg/dL, creatinine 2.1 mg/dL, glucose 85 mg/dL, arterial blood pH 7.37, and lactate 1.4 mEq/L. Urinalysis shows moderate ketones. Which of the following is the most likely diagnosis?

A 55-year-old man presents to the ED with fever, drooling, trismus, and a swollen neck. He reports a foul taste in his mouth caused by a tooth extraction 2 days ago. On physical examination, the patient appears anxious. He has bilateral submandibular swelling and elevation and protrusion of the tongue. He appears “bull-necked” with tense and markedly tender edema and brawny induration of the upper neck, and he is tender over the lower second and third molars. There is no cervical lymphadenopathy. These lungs are clear to auscultation with good air movement. His vital signs are HR 105 beats per minute, BP 140/85 mmHg, RR 26 breaths per minute, and temperature 102°F. Which of the following is the most appropriate next step in management?

A 45-year-old man comes to the emergency department (ED) with severe right flank pain. He is tossing in bed due to the pain. KUB done in the ED shows no abnormalities; however, abdominal ultrasound shows a 5 mm stone in the right ureter. Urinalysis shows: Urine pH 4.5 (normal is 5-6), WBC Absent, RBC 2-3/HPF, Bacteria Absent, Nitrites Negative, Esterase Negative. Which of the following is the most beneficial next step in management?

A 78-year-old woman is brought to the emergency department with agitation and insomnia. She screams out loudly and tries to run away while being examined. She is a nursing home resident and has a recent medical history that includes severe memory loss, gait disturbance and urinary incontinence. Her chronic medical issues include hypertension, diabetes mellitus, atrial fibrillation, peptic ulcer disease and chronic pyelonephritis. Her blood pressure is 160/100 mmHg and heart rate is 95/min and irregular. ECG reveals atrial fibrillation but no acute ischemic changes. Laboratory investigations reveal the following: Hematocrit 41%, WBC count 9,000/mm3, Platelets 160,000/mm3, Sodium 137 meq/L, Potassium 5.5 meq/L, Chloride 95 meq/L, Creatinine 1.4 mg/dl, BUN 25 mg/dl. Urinalysis shows trace protein, numerous leukocytes and occasional erythrocytes. Which of the following is the best initial treatment for this patient?

A 32-year-old woman is brought to the emergency department by her husband because of slurred speech and difficulty walking. She has also been very drowsy for the past several hours, a non-typical behavior for a very active woman. She has a history of bipolar disorder, insomnia, migraine headaches, seizures and hypothyroidism. Her temperature is 37°C (98.6°F), blood pressure is 110/70 mmHg, pulse is 76/min, and respirations are 16/min. She is lethargic and falls asleep during the interview and physical examination. Pupils are 5 mm in size and reactive to light. Neck is supple. Oropharynx is clear. Chest auscultation is unremarkable. Abdomen is soft and non-tender; bowel sounds are normal. Limited neurologic examination shows 1+ deep tendon reflexes in all four extremities; there is no Babinski sign; strength is 5/5 throughout. There is no nystagmus or hand tremor. Blood sugar is 130 mg/dL. Which of the following is the most likely cause of her symptoms?

A 42-year-old man presents to the ED via ambulance after activating EMS for dyspnea. He is currently on an oxygen face mask and was administered one nebulized treatment of a β2-agonist by the paramedics. His initial vitals include an RR of 16 breaths per minute with an oxygen saturation of 96% on room air. The patient appears to be in mild distress with some intercostal retractions. Upon chest auscultation, there are minimal wheezes localized over bilateral lower lung fields. The patient’s symptoms completely resolve after two more nebulizer treatments. Which of the following medications, in addition to a rescue β2-agonist inhaler, should be prescribed for outpatient use?

A 55-year-old woman with a past medical history of diabetes walks into the emergency department (ED) stating that her tongue and lips feel like they are swollen. During the history, she tells you that her doctor just started her on a new blood pressure (BP) medication. Her only other medication is a baby aspirin. Her vitals at triage are: BP 130/70 mmHg, heart rate (HR) 85 beats per minute, respiratory rate (RR) 16 breaths per minute, oxygen saturation 99% on room air, and temperature 98.7°F. On physical examination, you detect mild lip and tongue swelling. Over the next hour, you notice that not only are her tongue and lips getting more swollen, but her face is starting to swell, too. What is the most likely inciting agent?

A 55-year-old man presents to the ED 6 hours after ingesting two bottles of his baby aspirin. He complains of nausea, vomiting, dizziness, and tinnitus. His temperature is 100.3°F, BP is 140/80 mmHg, HR is 105 beats per minute, RR is 31 breaths per minute, and oxygen saturation is 99% on room air. Arterial blood gas on room air reveals a pH of 7.52, PCO2 10 mmHg, and PO2 129 mmHg. The blood salicylate level returns at 45 mg/dL. Which of the following is the most appropriate next step in management?

A 32-year-old man presented to the emergency department five hours ago with an acute asthma exacerbation. He has been receiving continuous albuterol nebulizer treatments since that time. He has a 20-year history of asthma but notes that recently the frequency of his attacks has increased. Presently, his blood pressure is 110/70 mmHg and heart rate is 120 and regular. On physical exam, the patient appears drowsy. Breath sounds are diminished bilaterally but there are no wheezes. The most recent ABG reveals: pH 7.32, pO2 65mmHg, pCO2 50mmHg. Which of the following is the best next step in managing this patient?

An 8-year-old boy from an impoverished inner- city area has never been vaccinated appropriately. He develops fever, cough, and coryza. The next day, blue white spots develop on the buccal mucosa. On the third day, an erythematous, nonpruritic maculopapular rash develops on the face and spreads over the entire body. Which of the following is the most likely complication?

A tall, thin 18-year-old man presents to the ED with acute onset of dyspnea while at rest. The patient reports sitting at his desk when he felt a sharp pain on the right side of his chest that worsened with inspiration. His past medical history is significant for peptic ulcer disease. He reports taking a 2-hour plane trip a month ago. His initial vitals include an HR of 100 beats per minute, a BP of 120/60 mmHg, an RR of 16 breaths per minute, and an oxygen saturation of 97% on room air. On physical examination, you note decreased breath sounds on the right side. Which of the following tests should be performed next?

A 26-year-old previously healthy man was pinned under a crane at a construction site. After a prolonged extrication, he was brought to the emergency department, immobilized on a back board and receiving 100% oxygen by mask. He is alert and complaining of chest pain with respiratory effort. On examination, he is found to have an oxygen saturation of 90% by pulse oximetry, shallow respirations at a respiratory rate of 35/min, heart rate of 120 beats/min, and a blood pressure of 85/60 mmHg. The trachea is deviated to the right. There is tenderness and crepitation over the left chest wall, asymmetric chest wall movement, and decreased air entry over the left lung field. Which of the following is the most appropriate next step in the initial evaluation and management of this patient?

A 35-year-old previously healthy male comes to the emergency department because of a 4-hour history of severe abdominal pain. The pain had initially started in the periumbilical area but has now shifted to the right lower quadrant. He also felt nauseated and vomited twice. He has had no previous surgeries. His temperature is 38.9C (102F), blood pressure is 125/80 mm Hg, pulse is 100/min and respirations are 20/min. Examination shows tenderness in the right lower quadrant. Palpation of the left lower quadrant produces pain in the right lower quadrant. Urinalysis is negative. Which of the following is the most appropriate next step in management?

A 35-year-old man who is employed as a forklift operator was found sitting outside a warehouse. He came stumbling out complaining of dizziness and headaches. Co-workers in an adjoining warehouse also complained of headache and nausea. After collapsing outside, he regained consciousness immediately but appeared confused. In the ED, his BP is 100/54 mmHg, HR is 103 beats per minute, temperature is 100°F, pulse ox is 91% on room air, and RR is 23 breaths per minute. Physical examination is unremarkable. Laboratory results reveal WBC 10,500/μL, hematocrit 45%, platelets 110/μL, sodium 137 mEq/L, potassium 4 mEq/L, chloride 103 mEq/L, bicarbonate 21 mEq/L, BUN 8 mg/dL, creatinine 0.5 mg/dL, and glucose 89 mg/dL. Arterial blood gas results are pH 7.32, PCO2 32 mm Hg, and PO2 124 mm Hg. Which of the following is the most likely diagnosis?

A 6-month-old boy presents to the Emergency Department with a three-day history of cough, congestion and low grade fever. The mother states that the baby has not been feeding well and has used only two diapers over the past 24 hours. Physical examination reveals a pale infant with a temperature of 37.8 C (100.1 F), pulse of 170/min, respirations of 60/min and oxygen saturation of 88% on room air. The patient exhibits nasal flaring, subcostal and intercostal retractions. Lung examination reveals diffuse wheezing. Cardiac examination reveals a regular but tachycardic rhythm with no murmur. Central capillary refill is four seconds. The remainder of the examination is normal. Which of the following is the most appropriate initial step in management?

A 24-year-old woman is brought to the ED after being found on a nearby street hunched over and in mild respiratory distress. Upon arrival, she is tachypneic at 24 breaths per minute with an oxygen saturation of 97% on face mask oxygen administration. Upon physical examination, the patient appears to be in mild distress with supraclavicular retractions. Scattered wheezing is heard throughout bilateral lung fields. Which of the following medications should be administered first?

A 35-year-old man comes to the physician due to a one-month history of weight gain and facial edema. The facial edema resolves at the end of the day, but ankle edema develops. His temperature is 37.2°C (99°F), blood pressure is 142/80 mm Hg, pulse is 80/min, and respirations are 16/min. Examination shows 2+ ankle edema. Laboratory studies show: Hb 11.0 g/dl, WBC 8,000/cmm, Platelets 200,000/cmm, Serum Na 135 mEq/L, Serum albumin 2.2 g/dl, BUN 16 mg/dl, Serum creatinine 1.0 mg/dl. Urinalysis: Glucose Absent, Protein 4+, WBC 1-2/HPF, RBC Absent, Casts Fatty casts. This patient is most likely at risk for developing which of the following?

A 27-year-old woman presents to the ED complaining of an intensely pruritic rash all-over her body, abdominal cramping, and chest tightness. She states that 1 hour ago she was at dinner and accidentally ate some shrimp. She has a known anaphylactic allergy to shrimp. Her BP is 115/75 mmHg, HR is 95 beats per minute, temperature is 98.9°F, RR is 20 breaths per minute, and oxygen saturation is 97% on room air. She appears anxious, and her skin is flushed with urticarial lesions. Auscultation of her lungs reveals scattered wheezes with decreased air entry. Which of the following is the most appropriate next step in management?

A 22-year-old man is brought to the ED 20 minutes after a head-on motor vehicle collision in which he was the unrestrained driver. On arrival, he is alert and coherent but appears short of breath. His HR is 117 beats per minute, BP is 80/60 mmHg, and oxygen saturation is 97% on a nonrebreather. Examination reveals bruising over the central portion of his chest. His neck veins are not distended. Breath sounds are present on the left but absent on the right. Following administration of 2 L of lactated Ringer solution, his systolic BP remains at 80 mmHg. Which of the following is the most appropriate next step in management?

A 17-year-old girl is found unconscious in a bathroom after ingesting a large amount of unknown sleeping pills. On arriving at the emergency department, she is somnolent; her temperature is 37.2 C (98.9 F), blood pressure is 120/74 mm Hg, pulse is 68/min, and respirations are 12/min. She responds to painful stimuli and to hearing her name loudly by opening her eyes briefly. However, she returns to the somnolent state immediately afterward. Which of the following is the most appropriate initial intervention?

A 45-year-old woman presents to the emergency department (ED) with vomiting and severe right flank pain that radiates to her groin. She has been to the ED twice in the past due to similar episodes of renal colic, and was subsequently discharged on both occasions. She admits to not seeking further medical care because she has no insurance. KUB shows a renal stone. 24-hour urine collection shows a urinary calcium excretion of 350 mg (normal is less than 250 mg in women). Laboratory studies show a serum calcium concentration of 8.9 mg/dL; serum PTH is normal. An x-ray film of the chest shows no abnormalities. Further investigations fail to reveal the cause of her hypercalciuria. Apart from advising her to increase her fluid intake, which of the following interventions will benefit this patient?

A 53-year-old woman presents to the clinic with complaints of headache and blurred vision for the past several months. She also says her family has commented that her face looks different, and her nose is bigger than it used to be. In addition, she says her shoes feel tighter. On physical examination she has coarse facial features with a prominent mandible and widely spaced incisors. MRI of the brain reveals a mass in the pituitary. This patient may be at increased risk of developing which of the following malignancies?

A 26-year-old woman with a history of depression is brought into the ED. She was found lying on the floor of her apartment next to an unlabeled empty pill bottle. Her HR is 117 beats per minute, BP is 95/65 mmHg, RR is 14 breaths per minute, and oxygen saturation is 97% on 2-L nasal cannula. On examination, the patient appears obtunded, and her pupils are 3 mm and reactive. Her oropharynx is dry and there is no gag reflex to pharyngeal stimulation. Her neck is supple. The heart is tachycardic without murmurs, the lungs are clear to auscultation, and the abdomen is soft. There is normal rectal tone and brown stool that is heme negative. Her skin is cool and moist with no signs of needle tracks. Neurologically, she is unresponsive but withdraws all extremities to deep palpation. Fingerstick blood glucose is 85 mg/dL. Her ECG reveals sinus tachycardia at 119 with a QRS complex of 140 milliseconds and a terminal R wave in lead aVR. Which of the following is the most appropriate next step in management?

A 64-year-old man with history of severe emphysema is admitted for hematemesis. The bleeding ceases soon after admission, but the patient becomes confused and agitated. Arterial blood gases are as follows: pH 7.23; PO2 42 mm Hg; PCO2 75 mm Hg. Which of the following is the best initial therapy for this patient?

A fully immunized 2-year-old presents to the emergency room with several days of low-grade fever, barking cough, and noisy breathing. Over the past few hours he has developed a fever of 40°C (104°F) and looks toxic. He has inspiratory and expiratory stridor. The family has not noticed drooling, and he seems to be drinking without pain. Direct laryngoscopy reveals a normal epiglottis. The management of this disease process includes which of the following?

A 53-year-old woman is brought to the ED by her husband. He states that his wife is feeling very weak over the last 2 days, is nauseated, and vomiting at least three times. The husband states that she was taking a high-dose medication for her joint pain but ran out of her pills last week. Her vital signs are BP of 90/50 mmHg, HR 87 beats per minute, RR 16 breaths per minute, and temperature 98.1°F. You place her on the monitor, begin IV fluids, and send her blood to the laboratory. Thirty minutes later the metabolic panel results are back and reveal the following: Na+ 126 mEq/L, K+ 5 mEq/L, Cl− 99 mEq/L, HCO3 21 mEq/L, BUN 24 mg/dL, Creatinine 1.6 mg/dL, Glucose 69 mg/dL, Ca+ 11 mEq/L. What is the most likely diagnosis?

A 24-year-old man presents in septic shock from an empyema. He is febrile to 103°F, tachycardic in the 120s, and hypotensive to the 90s. His oxygen saturation is 98% on 2-L oxygen. His white blood cell count is 25,000/mL and creatinine is 0.8 mg/dL. His blood pressure does not respond to fluid administration despite a CVP of 15. Which of the following therapies is indicated in managing this patient?