The next patient on your emergency list is a 60-year old woman who has been admitted to hospital for the past two weeks with Streptococcal pneumonia. Her only other medical background is type 2 diabetes, for which she normally takes metformin. She has developed an empyema which has been refractory to medical therapy and the thoracic surgeons have booked the patient for a VATS decortication. She is currently in the high dependency unit of the respiratory ward. Her vital signs are:
SpO2 94% on 4 L/min Hudson mask
Blood pressure 110 / 70 mmHg (unsupported)
Heart rate 99 bpm
Temperature 37.4 degrees C