A 22-year-old male patient with status asthmaticus is receiving VC A/C ventilation and is orally intubated with a 7.5-mm ET tube. The therapist notices a marked increase in peak airway pressures. BS are clear bilaterally but decreased on the right. The therapist should recommend
A. obtaining a portable chest radiograph
B. performing a bronchoscopy
C. inserting a chest tube in the right side, mid-clavicular line
D. scheduling a ventilation/perfusion scan
Ans: A. Decreased breath sounds on the right is most suggestive of a possible pneumothorax. A chest radiograph is most helpful in assessing for this possibility.
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