A 44-year-old patient with asthma presents with cough and wh…
A 44-year-old patient with asthma presents with cough and wheezing after a viral respiratory illness. She is speaking in full sentences, oxygen saturation is 96%, and peak expiratory flow is 72% of her personal best. Symptoms improve after an inhaled short-acting bronchodilator. Which disposition is most appropriate?
Read DetailsA 71-year-old man with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease…
A 71-year-old man with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and heart failure with reduced ejection fraction reports increasing dyspnea for 4 days. He has no increased cough or sputum. Which examination finding would most strongly support heart failure rather than COPD exacerbation?
Read DetailsA 74-year-old man with COPD reports increasing fatigue and d…
A 74-year-old man with COPD reports increasing fatigue and dyspnea. He has no increased cough, sputum, or wheezing. Pulse is irregular at 138/min, BP 108/68 mm Hg, and lungs are clear. Which finding should most strongly redirect the evaluation away from COPD exacerbation?
Read DetailsA 68-year-old woman has had two episodes of lower-leg cellul…
A 68-year-old woman has had two episodes of lower-leg cellulitis within 6 months. The infection has resolved. Examination reveals chronic leg edema and interdigital scaling with fissures. Which intervention is most important for reducing recurrence?
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