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hypotension

Practice targeted AMC-style multiple-choice questions on hypotension.

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A 28-year-old male is brought to the emergency department after a high-speed motor vehicle accident. He is unconscious with a Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score of 6. His blood pressure is 90/60 mmHg, heart rate is 120 bpm, and respiratory rate is 28 breaths per minute. On examination, there is bruising over the left chest and decreased breath sounds on the left side. What is the most appropriate immediate management step?

A. Order a chest X-ray
B. Perform a FAST (Focused Assessment with Sonography for Trauma) scan
C. Intubate and ventilate the patient
D. Perform needle decompression of the left chest
E. Administer intravenous fluids
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CT scan showing hemothorax caused by warfarin use
Image by Cevik Y CC BY 3.0 · Source

A 75-year-old male is brought to the emergency department by ambulance with sudden onset severe shortness of breath and left-sided pleuritic chest pain that began approximately 4 hours ago. He reports feeling lightheaded and generally unwell. His past medical history includes chronic atrial fibrillation, hypertension, and type 2 diabetes mellitus. He is currently prescribed warfarin 5mg daily, metoprolol 50mg twice daily, perindopril 4mg daily, and metformin 1000mg twice daily. He denies any recent falls, trauma, or invasive procedures. On examination, he is visibly distressed and tachypnoeic. His vital signs are: temperature 36.8°C, heart rate 125 bpm (irregularly irregular), blood pressure 88/55 mmHg, respiratory rate 32 breaths per minute, oxygen saturation 85% on room air. Jugular venous pressure is not elevated. Cardiac auscultation reveals a rapid, irregular rhythm with no murmurs. Pulmonary auscultation reveals significantly diminished breath sounds over the entire left hemithorax, with dullness to percussion. The right lung field is clear. Abdominal examination is unremarkable. Peripheral pulses are weak but present. His capillary refill time is prolonged at 4 seconds. Initial laboratory results show haemoglobin 135 g/L (baseline 140 g/L three months ago), white cell count 9.2 x 10^9/L, platelets 250 x 10^9/L, creatinine 110 µmol/L, electrolytes within normal limits. His INR is 7.8. An urgent CT scan of the chest is performed, and a representative axial image is shown. Based on the clinical presentation and the findings demonstrated in the image, what is the single MOST appropriate immediate management step?

A. Arrange for urgent echocardiography to assess for cardiac tamponade and pulmonary embolism.
B. Initiate high-flow oxygen via non-rebreather mask and administer intravenous furosemide.
C. Administer intravenous tranexamic acid and observe the patient closely in the intensive care unit.
D. Administer intravenous Prothrombinex-VF and insert a large-bore intercostal catheter into the left pleural space.
E. Administer intravenous Vitamin K and arrange for urgent surgical consultation for thoracotomy.
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A 70-year-old man with a history of hypertension and heart failure is being managed with an ACE inhibitor. He presents to the emergency department complaining of dizziness, especially when standing up. His blood pressure is 90/60 mmHg, and his other vital signs are stable. Which of the following is the most appropriate initial step in managing this patient?

A. Order an ECG to rule out cardiac arrhythmia
B. Prescribe compression stockings
C. Review and potentially reduce the dose of the ACE inhibitor
D. Administer an intravenous bolus of normal saline
E. Start fludrocortisone
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CT scan showing hemothorax caused by warfarin use
Image by Cevik Y CC BY 3.0 · Source

A 75-year-old male on warfarin for atrial fibrillation presents with acute dyspnoea and pleuritic chest pain. He is hypotensive with a BP of 90/60 mmHg and tachycardic at 110 bpm. His INR is 7.2. A chest CT is performed (image attached). Considering the clinical context and imaging findings, what is the MOST appropriate immediate management step?

A. Administer intravenous Vitamin K and Prothrombinex-VF
B. Initiate high-flow nasal cannula oxygen
C. Arrange for urgent surgical consultation for thoracotomy
D. Perform urgent tube thoracostomy
E. Administer intravenous furosemide
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An 80-year-old with COPD presents with fever, cough, and increased sputum. CXR shows consolidation. BP 85/50, HR 110, RR 28, SpO2 88% on air. Confused. What is the most appropriate initial management step?

A. Initiate high-flow oxygen therapy
B. Administer intravenous fluids and broad-spectrum antibiotics
C. Prescribe oral amoxicillin
D. Obtain blood cultures and sputum for microscopy/culture
E. Assess for immediate intubation and ventilation
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