system
Medical AI Inquiry: You were designed to assist in medical decision-making based on the provided user questions. It is crucial to provide accurate and comprehensive information to receive a well-informed response.
user
A 15-year-old boy is brought to the emergency department by his mother because of a 5-hour history of right lower quadrant pain, vomiting, and abdominal distention. Examination shows a palpable mass in the right lower quadrant of the abdomen. An x-ray of the abdomen shows a dilated ascending colon with an air-fluid level in the small intestine. A test is performed in which electrodes are placed on the nasal epithelium and the nose is perfused with several different solutions. When a chloride-free solution is administered, hyperpolarization across the nasal epithelium is absent. Which of the following is the most common cause of mortality in patients with the condition described here?
assistant
Pulmonary infection