Which potentially life-threatening disease or condition can result from untreated thyrotoxicosis?

Which of the following will help you assess a pediatric patient the BEST?

A) Stick to your assessment plan, and do not give any options or flexibility to your care. B) Speak only to the parents and not to the child, as he usually will say no to everything. C) Place a mask on the child as he may spit or bite, acting out of fear initially. D) Try to make yourself small by getting on the child's level to avoid intimidating him.

Your patient is a 15-year-old asthmatic who has been having difficulty breathing for 45 minutes, but does not have his Xopenex inhaler with him. Capnography shows an ETCO2 of 45 mmHg. What is the best way to interpret this finding?

A) This is a normal ETCO2, indicating that this is a mild asthma attack. B) The patient's ETCO2 first dropped as he began to hyperventilate but now is rising again and may continue to rise to dangerous levels. C) This is a high ETCO2, and the patient requires immediate ventilatory assistance to prevent respiratory arrest. D) This is a low ETCO2, indicating that the patient is hyperventilating, and thus in the early stages of an asthma attack.