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Medical Emergencies · single question

A patient is wheezing during a dental appointment. What is the most appropriate immediate management?

  1. Administer oxygen and check vital signs
  2. Call 911 and lay the patient flat
  3. Administer epinephrine 1:1000 IM immediately
  4. Administer bronchodilator (albuterol inhaler) and sit patient upright
Show answer and explanation

Correct answer: D. Administer bronchodilator (albuterol inhaler) and sit patient upright

  • A. Oxygen and vital signs are important supportive measures, but the primary bronchospasm treatment is a bronchodilator.
  • B. Laying the patient flat worsens breathing difficulty in wheezing/asthma — upright position is preferred.
  • C. Epinephrine IM is indicated for severe anaphylaxis, not routine bronchospasm.
  • D. Correct. For wheezing (bronchospasm/asthma attack), the first-line treatment is a short-acting beta-2 agonist bronchodilator (albuterol inhaler or nebulizer). Position the patient upright (sitting) to maximize respiratory effort.

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