A 55-year-old man with chronic bronchitis shows increased respiratory distress. What should be your first action regarding his oxygen therapy?

The priority in managing a patient with chronic bronchitis who is experiencing increased respiratory distress is to ensure that adequate oxygenation is achieved to meet the body’s demands. Chronic respiratory conditions can lead to a reliance on lower levels of oxygen, and patients may have adapted to those lower levels. In the case of an acute increase in respiratory distress, it is essential to address the immediate need for oxygen to prevent hypoxia and further complications.

Increasing the oxygen flow rate can help improve the patient's oxygen saturation and relieve distress. Monitoring the patient closely during this intervention is critical, as you would need to balance providing adequate oxygenation without causing hypercapnia or altering their respiratory drive significantly. Managing the flow of oxygen effectively and determining the response is crucial for the patient's stability.

Initially maintaining the current oxygen flow rate, switching to a non-rebreather mask, or discontinuing oxygen therapy would not address the immediate need to improve the patient's oxygen levels in the context of increased respiratory distress.