A 62-year-old man with a 40-pack/year history of smoking presents with increased sputum production and marked SOB. On examination, he is using accessory muscles of respiration, and breath sounds are diminished with expiratory wheezes. Your clinical diagnosis is chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) exacerbationFor the above patients, select the characteristic arterial pulse finding.
Correct Answer: pulsus paradoxus
Description: Pulsus paradoxus, a drop of > 10 mm Hg in systolic blood pressure during inspiration, is caused by pericardial tamponade, airway obstruction, or superior vena cava obstruction. At times, the peripheral pulse may disappear completely during inspiration.
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