You have intubated a 70-year-old woman with chronic bronchit…

You have intubated a 70-year-old woman with chronic bronchitis and are en route to the hospital. During transport, you note that ventilations are becoming increasingly difficult and her ETCO2 waveform is present, but is falling. Your partner tells you that she can still hear bilaterally equal breath sounds, but they are faint. She further tells you that there are no sounds over the epigastrium. What intervention is indicated for this patient?

An elderly woman with COPD presents with peripheral edema. T…

An elderly woman with COPD presents with peripheral edema. The patient is conscious but agitated. She is breathing with slight difficulty but has adequate tidal volume. During your assessment, you note that her jugular veins engorge when you apply pressure to her right upper abdominal quadrant. She tells you that she takes a “water pill” and Vasotec for high blood pressure. You should: