BOF: 116
A 50-year-old male who is known to have chronic
bronchitis presented to the accident and emergency department. After initial
treatment he was sent up to the ward. His blood gases on admission to the ward
were as follows:
pH 7.22
PaO2 14.4 kPa
PaCO2 18.8 kPa
The physical sign that alerted the examining clinician
to this condition was:
a) Tachycardia
b)
Pulsus paradoxus
c)
Flapping tremor
d)
Elevated JVP
e)
Fourth heart sound