A patient with a history of asthma enters the Emergency department with severe dyspnea, accessory muscle involvement, neck vein distention, and severe inspiratory/expiratory wheezing. The nurse should prepare to assist the physician with which procedure if the patient does not respond to initial interventions?

A. Needle thoracentesis is typically performed in cases of pneumothorax or pleural effusion, not asthma exacerbation. The symptoms described do not indicate a pleural space issue that would require thoracentesis.

B. Emergency intubation may be necessary if the asthma exacerbation is severe and unresponsive to initial interventions such as bronchodilators, corticosteroids, and oxygen therapy. The patient's symptoms of severe dyspnea, accessory muscle use, and wheezing suggest respiratory distress, and intubation may be required to secure the airway and assist with ventilation.

C. Pleurodesis is a procedure used to treat recurrent pleural effusions, not asthma exacerbations. It involves the obliteration of the pleural space, which is not relevant to the current situation.

D. Chest tube insertion is typically performed for pneumothorax or other issues involving the pleural space, not for asthma exacerbation. The described symptoms do not suggest the need for a chest tube.

A. This option is incorrect because impaired sodium excretion by the kidneys does contribute to increased peripheral vascular resistance and hypertension.

B. Impaired sodium excretion by the kidneys can lead to fluid retention, which increases blood volume. This results in increased peripheral vascular resistance, a key factor in the development of hypertension.

C. Overstimulation of the parasympathetic nervous system typically causes a reduction in heart rate and vasodilation, which would generally lower blood pressure, not contribute to hypertension.

D. The renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system plays a crucial role in regulating blood pressure. Reduced secretion of renin, angiotensin, and aldosterone would not contribute to increased peripheral vascular resistance. In fact, these systems typically work to raise blood pressure when needed.