Correct!
1. Repeat frontal chest radiography shows improvement in the pulmonary opacities
Repeat frontal chest radiography performed one week following presentation after empiric antibiotic therapy for presumed bacterial community-acquired pneumonia shows improvement in the bilateral pulmonary opacities. No pleural effusion is present. The lung volumes do not appear abnormally increased, and hence clear evidence of gas trapping is not seen. The chest radiograph is of adequate quality.
The patient continued to subjectively improve, with decreasing cough and shortness of breath and was scheduled for outpatient follow up in 3 months with home oxygen therapy prescribed. About 1 week prior to her outpatient follow up, the patient experienced an exacerbation of her dyspnea and cough, with home oxygen saturation monitoring suggesting values ranging from 85-90%.
Which of the following represents the most appropriate next step for the patient’s management? (Click on the correct answer to be directed to the sixth of 11 pages)