A 67-year-old man known to have hypertension came to the Emergency Room with acute onset of palpitations. His pulse on the monitor shows a pulse rate of 170/min. He has an irregula... A 67-year-old man known to have hypertension came to the Emergency Room with acute onset of palpitations. His pulse on the monitor shows a pulse rate of 170/min. He has an irregular pulse with normal cardiac and chest examinations. Blood pressure 120/70 mmHg. Respiratory rate 18/min. Oxygen saturation 91%. Which of the following is the best treatment option? A. Cardioversion B. Adenosine C. Amiodarone D. Observation
Understand the Problem
The question presents a medical scenario involving a 67-year-old man with hypertension, an irregular pulse, and specific vital signs. It asks for the best treatment option based on this clinical information.
Answer
Cardioversion
The final answer is A. Cardioversion
Answer for screen readers
The final answer is A. Cardioversion
More Information
Cardioversion is suitable for hemodynamically unstable patients or those with significant symptoms. The patient's condition is stable but with notable oxygen desaturation, suggesting benefit from a rhythm control strategy.
Tips
A common mistake is choosing observation due to the stable blood pressure, ignoring the low oxygen saturation.
Sources
- Atrial fibrillation | NHS inform - nhsinform.scot
- Arrhythmia: Symptoms & Treatment - Cleveland Clinic - my.clevelandclinic.org
AI-generated content may contain errors. Please verify critical information