In a comparison to hypercarbic children without pulmonary edema, a child with pulmonary edema would most likely have:

In a child with pulmonary edema, the presence of excess fluid in the lungs typically leads to increased respiratory effort and rapid breathing, known as tachypnea. This condition is characterized by the body's attempt to compensate for impaired gas exchange due to the fluid present in the alveoli, which results in difficulty getting adequate oxygen into the bloodstream.

In pulmonary edema, the presence of fluid can cause wheezing or other abnormal lung sounds such as rhonchi, which may be audible during breathing. However, the choice indicating a tachypneic state aligns with the typical physiological response to the situation. This rapid breathing can occur even in the absence of other signs such as retractions, as the body tries to maintain oxygen levels despite the compromised lung function.

Therefore, the most likely scenario for a child with pulmonary edema, when compared to hypercarbic children without pulmonary edema, is to exhibit a tachypneic response rather than slow or bradycardic patterns, which would not effectively support gas exchange in the presence of pulmonary complications.