Your patient is experiencing peripheral edema, hepatomegaly, ascites, and splenomegaly. Which of the following conditions would be consistent with the patient's findings?

A. Metabolic acidosis is characterized by a low pH and a decrease in bicarbonate, but it is not typically associated with hypokalemia. In fact, acidosis may cause potassium to shift out of cells, increasing serum potassium levels.

B. Metabolic alkalosis is often associated with hypokalemia because the body compensates for alkalosis by shifting potassium into cells, leading to a lower serum potassium level. This is commonly seen with conditions like vomiting or the overuse of diuretics.

C. Hyperchloremia refers to elevated chloride levels, which may be associated with metabolic acidosis, but it is not directly linked to hypokalemia.

D. "None of the above" is incorrect because metabolic alkalosis is a known condition associated with hypokalemia.

A. Chronic alveolar distention, often seen in conditions like emphysema, leads to the enlargement of the alveoli and results in a barrel-shaped chest. This is due to the loss of elasticity in the lungs, causing air trapping and an increased anterior-posterior diameter of the chest.

B. Chronic costochondritis causes inflammation of the cartilage between the ribs and sternum, leading to localized pain but not a barrel chest.

C. Smoking is a major risk factor for the development of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), which can lead to chronic alveolar distention and a barrel chest, but smoking alone is not the direct cause of the chest shape.

D. Hypokalemia affects muscle function, including the muscles involved in respiration, but it does not directly cause a barrel chest.