A 54-year-old woman with severe bilateral pneumonia is hypoxaemic despite 15 L/min oxygen. She is alert, pH is 7.43, PaCO2 4.6 kPa and PaO2 7.4 kPa.

Question

A 54-year-old woman with severe bilateral pneumonia is hypoxaemic despite 15 L/min oxygen. She is alert, pH is 7.43, PaCO2 4.6 kPa and PaO2 7.4 kPa. There is no hypercapnia and no cardiogenic pulmonary oedema. What is the most appropriate ventilation strategy?

Accepted Answer

High-flow nasal oxygen with close critical care monitoring

Answer

No escalation because PaCO2 is normal

Answer

Long-term oxygen therapy assessment during sepsis

Answer

Maintenance oral prednisolone

Answer

Domiciliary CPAP discharge

Acute hypoxaemic respiratory failure — SCE Respiratory MCQ

A 54-year-old woman with severe bilateral pneumonia is hypoxaemic despite 15 L/min oxygen. She is alert, pH is 7.43, PaCO2 4.6 kPa and PaO2 7.4 kPa. There is no hypercapnia and no cardiogenic pulmonary oedema. What is the most appropriate ventilation strategy?