A 45-year-old male patient with a history of pneumonia is transported by air to a tertiary care center. During transport, he develops severe shortness of breath, hypoxemia, and bilateral infiltrates on chest X-ray without signs of heart failure. What should be the immediate priority in managing this patient?
Administer antibiotics for the underlying infection
Administer diuretics to manage potential fluid overload
Administer bronchodilators for airway management
Administer high-flow oxygen or apply positive pressure ventilation
The patient is showing signs of Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS), indicated by severe hypoxemia and bilateral infiltrates on chest X-ray without heart failure. Providing high-flow oxygen or positive pressure ventilation is critical to maintain adequate oxygenation. Administering antibiotics is important for underlying infection but not the immediate priority. Bronchodilators are not indicated for ARDS. Diuretics are also not appropriate in this scenario since ARDS is not primarily related to fluid overload.
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