PULMONOLOGY

Rising Star

<p>A 66-year-old male patient with multiple hospital admissions and nighttime oxygen therapy presents to the emergency room with grade 4 mMRC shortness of breath associated with cough and expectoration for the past week. The patient has a past history of type 2 respiratory failure secondary to COPD exacerbation. Current vital signs include a BP of 100/70 mm Hg, a RR of 28 breaths per minute, a body temperature of 98.7&deg;F, a PR of 110 beats per minute, and SpO2 levels of 65% on room air and 96% with a 10-liter face mask. An arterial blood gas sample has been obtained and the results are displayed below. A chest x-ray in the posteroanterior view has also been provided as an image. How would you approach the management of this patient?</p>