A 67-Year-Old Man with Mild Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Is

A 67-year-old man with mild chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is brought to the emergency department by his daughter with the chief complaint of seizure.  The patient has had episodes of confusion and lethargy over the past week.  He complains of some exertional shortness of breath and nonproductive cough.  His daughter believes that he is losing weight and has decreased appetite.  His temperature is 37.2 C (99 F) , blood pressure is 134/88 mm Hg, and pulse is 104/min and irregular.  The mucous membranes are moist and there is no peripheral edema.  Neurologic examination is unremarkable.  Laboratory results are as follows: Rapid correction of this patient's metabolic abnormalities puts him at highest risk of which of the following?

A) Cerebral edema
B) Embolic stroke
C) Hydrocephalus
D) Osmotic demyelination
E) Ventricular arrhythmias

Correct Answer:

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