A 6-year-old patient with asthma has a sudden onset of SOB and wheezing

He presents to the emergency department with a heart rate of 82 beats/min, respiratory rate of 28 breaths/minute, and an SpO2 of 87% on room air. Which of the following actions should the res-piratory care practitioner take at this time?
1. Place the patient on oxygen therapy.
2. Intubate the patient.
3. Administer a bronchodilator.
4. Administer nitric oxide therapy.
a. 1 and 3 c. 2 and 4
b. 1 and 4 d. 3 and 4

ANS: A
Immediate relief for the patient at this time can be provided by a bronchodilator to help open up the airways and by oxygen to improve the patient's oxygenation status. Intubation and nitric ox-ide therapy can both be administered to people with asthma; however, these approaches are taken when the others do not work for the patient and depend on the severity of the patient's condi-tion.