A clinician unsuccessfully tried to take the pulse of a patient who is suffering from an asthma attack in the ER. The patient's breath sounds are diminished to absent bilaterally with a BP of 110 mm Hg systolic and 90 mm Hg diastolic. What can be concluded about this patient's condition?
1) Abdominal paradox is present.
2) Lung hyperinflation is present.
3) Pulsus paradoxus is present.
4) Pulse pressure is greater than 30 mm Hg.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The patient's condition indicates lung hyperinflation, which is common in severe asthma attacks due to air trapping and difficulty in exhalation. The inability to take the pulse during the attack suggests pulsus paradoxus, a condition where there's a greater than normal drop in blood pressure during inhalation, making the pulse difficult to detect.

A Clinician Unsuccessfully Tried to Take the Pulse of a Patient