The patient with severe asthma is found to be pale, diaphoretic, and agitated. Which assessment is most concerning?

Absent breath sounds over the right lung fields. Absent breath sounds over the right lung fields indicate a pneumothorax, which can occur when overinflated alveoli rupture, allowing air to escape into the thorax outside of the lungs. Inspiratory wheeze, substernal retractions, and crackles in the lower lung fields are all indications of worsening asthma but are less concerning than symptoms of a pneumothorax.

The patient with severe asthma is found to be pale, diaphoretic, ...

Category: Physiological Adaptation
Difficulty: 5

Topics: Delegation, Prioritization and Leadership Respiratory

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