A 55-Year-Old Man Comes to the Emergency Department Due to Progressively

question 1523

Multiple Choice

A 55-year-old man comes to the emergency department due to progressively worsening shortness of breath for the past 3 days.  He also reports wheezing and productive cough with purulent sputum.  The patient's medical history includes chronic bronchitis and benign prostatic hyperplasia.  He smokes a pack of cigarettes daily.  Temperature is 37.2 C (99 F) , blood pressure is 150/90 mm Hg, pulse is 114/min, and respirations are 26/min.  The patient's pulse oximetry shows 84% on room air.  He is alert and answering questions coherently.  Examination shows decreased breath sounds and diffuse wheezing over all lung fields.  The patient is admitted to the hospital and started on antibiotics, systemic corticosteroids, and nebulized albuterol and ipratropium.  The following day, laboratory results are as follows: Serum chemistry 2 days ago was normal.  Which of the following is the most likely cause of this patient's low serum potassium?

• A)Decrease in availability of insulin
• B)Decrease in extracellular pH
• C)Decrease in mineralocorticoid activity
• D)Increased beta-adrenergic activity
• E)Increased blood cell production
• F)Increased gastrointestinal loss

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Definitions:

Compounded Quarterly

The method of computing interest that includes the original amount plus the interest accrued over periods of three months.

Annually Compounded

Refers to the process where interest is added to the principal balance once a year, allowing the interest to earn interest in subsequent years.

Semi-Annually Compounded

The process of calculating interest on a principal amount twice a year, with each compounding period leading to the addition of earned interest to the principal for future calculations.

Compounded Monthly

The practice of adding interest to the principal sum of a loan or deposit, with this process occurring every month.