Heare Valve Duoreler A 48-year-old woman was admitted to the coronary care unit with increasing shortness of breath and fatigue. She had bacterial endocarditis 15 years ago, which resulted in mitral...

Heare Valve Duoreler

A 48-year-old woman was admitted to the coronary care unit with increasing shortness of breath and fatigue. She had bacterial endocarditis 15 years ago, which resulted in mitral valve insufficiency. On admission, she was in normal sinus rhythm with frequent premature atrial contractions and a blood pressure (BP) of 150/94 mm Hg. Chest auscultation revealed crackles in the left lower lung field. Hemodynamic parameters included:

The initial priority for medical management of this patient will be to:

(A) Improve oxygen delivery to the tissues

(B) Consider initiation of an inotrope

(C) Initiate a sodiwn nitroprusside infusion to reduce the blood pressure

(D) Decrease preload