Adult 2: Exam 2, NURS 623
Carpopedal spasm (hypocalcemia) - ANSWER Violent, painful contraction of the hands
or feet
What neuromuscular sign indicates hypocalcemia and is a significant sign of tetany? -
ANSWER Carpopedal spasm
the body responds to hypocalcemia by - ANSWER increasing secretion of parathyroid
hormone, which leads to immobilization of calcium stores from the bone and increase in
the absorption of calcium in the intestines
carpopedal spasms occur when - ANSWER serum calcium levels drop abruptly by 2-3
mg/dl
parathyroid hormone (PTH) deficiency disease or inadvertent damage to the parathyroid
glands during surgery may cause - ANSWER acute severe hypocalcemia
burns, severe sepsis, pregnancy, extensive blood transfusions with citrated blood, acute
pancreatitis, acute renal failure - ANSWER may cause acute transient hypocalcemia
plicamycin (Mithracin), biphosphonates, and calcitonin (Cibacalcin, Calcimar) are used
to aggressively treat hypercalcemia but may cause - ANSWER hypocalcemia
Drugs that may cause hypocalcemia include - ANSWER radiographic contrast dyes that
contain a calcium-chelating agent, EDTA, and foscarnet (Foscarvir)
PTH, ineffective PTH, vit D deficiency, chronic renal failure, hypomagnesemia,
hypoalbuminemia - ANSWER Chronic hypocalcemia caused by the absence of
other potential causes of hypocalcemia - ANSWER alkalosis, malabsorption syndromes,
chronic pancreatitis, laxative abuse, chronic liver failure, phosphate excess,
osteomalacia
Normal serum calcium values in adults - ANSWER 9-11 mg/dl
Calcium level less than 6.5 mg/dl - ANSWER requires immediate treatment
other labs to obtain when hypocalcemia is present - ANSWER magnesium, serum
phosphorus, albumin levels, serum PTH, vitamin D level
Trousseau's sign - ANSWER one of two neuromuscular signs indicative of
hypocalcemia. preceded by muscle cramps in the legs and feet. Carpal spasm consists
, of flexed elbow and wrist, adducted thrum over the palm, flexed metacarpophalangeal
joints, adduction of hyperexteded fingers, and extended interphalangeal joints. The
response is illicited by infaltion of a BP cuff to 20 mm Hg above the level of the systolic
BP for 3 minutes (Response is secondary to ulnar and median nerve ischmia.)
Chvostek's sign - ANSWER second neuromuscular sign with hypocalcemia: abnormal
unilateral spasm of the facial muscle when the facial nerve is tapped below the
zygomatic arch anterior to the earlobe.
What signs accompany Trousseau's and Chvostek's signs - ANSWER respiratory
distress (stridor, crowing noises, and cyanosis): Emergency secondary to the potential
for laryngeal spasms, seizures, and dysrhythmias.
other hypocalcemia symptoms - ANSWER neuro-psychiatric disorders, including
irritability, emotional instability, problems with memory, and psychosis.
patients with hypocalcemia may report - ANSWER paresthesia’s, fatigue, muscle
cramps, muscle weakness, GI problems (N/V/D, Abd cramping, constipation)
Cardiovascular symptoms with hypocalcemia - ANSWER Hypotension, bradycardia,
CHF, dysrhythmias, prolonged QT interval
chronic hypocalcemia may cause - ANSWER *skin to be coarse, dry, and scaly.
*Alopecia may be present with thinning of the eyebrows and eyelashes.
*Nails are often ridged, brittle, thin, with transverse grooves
*subcapsular cataracts, optic neuritis, intracranial calcification, papilledema, and
parkinsonian-type movements
Emergency treatment of hypocalcemia - ANSWER IV Calcium gluconate
lease expensive calcium formulation - ANSWER calcium carbonate: but not well
absorbed in the elderly
Gynecomastia - ANSWER enlargement of glandular breast tissue in men. may present
unilateral and progress to bilateral.
gynecomastia results from - ANSWER imbalance of androgen and estrogen or an
increase in prolactin
what hormones stimulate ductal growth in breasts - ANSWER Growth hormones,
estrogen, and corticosteroids
what hormones stimulate alveolar lobular growth of breasts - ANSWER Progesterone
and prolactin
Gynecomastia lasting longer than 1 year is usually - ANSWER asymptomatic
Carpopedal spasm (hypocalcemia) - ANSWER Violent, painful contraction of the hands
or feet
What neuromuscular sign indicates hypocalcemia and is a significant sign of tetany? -
ANSWER Carpopedal spasm
the body responds to hypocalcemia by - ANSWER increasing secretion of parathyroid
hormone, which leads to immobilization of calcium stores from the bone and increase in
the absorption of calcium in the intestines
carpopedal spasms occur when - ANSWER serum calcium levels drop abruptly by 2-3
mg/dl
parathyroid hormone (PTH) deficiency disease or inadvertent damage to the parathyroid
glands during surgery may cause - ANSWER acute severe hypocalcemia
burns, severe sepsis, pregnancy, extensive blood transfusions with citrated blood, acute
pancreatitis, acute renal failure - ANSWER may cause acute transient hypocalcemia
plicamycin (Mithracin), biphosphonates, and calcitonin (Cibacalcin, Calcimar) are used
to aggressively treat hypercalcemia but may cause - ANSWER hypocalcemia
Drugs that may cause hypocalcemia include - ANSWER radiographic contrast dyes that
contain a calcium-chelating agent, EDTA, and foscarnet (Foscarvir)
PTH, ineffective PTH, vit D deficiency, chronic renal failure, hypomagnesemia,
hypoalbuminemia - ANSWER Chronic hypocalcemia caused by the absence of
other potential causes of hypocalcemia - ANSWER alkalosis, malabsorption syndromes,
chronic pancreatitis, laxative abuse, chronic liver failure, phosphate excess,
osteomalacia
Normal serum calcium values in adults - ANSWER 9-11 mg/dl
Calcium level less than 6.5 mg/dl - ANSWER requires immediate treatment
other labs to obtain when hypocalcemia is present - ANSWER magnesium, serum
phosphorus, albumin levels, serum PTH, vitamin D level
Trousseau's sign - ANSWER one of two neuromuscular signs indicative of
hypocalcemia. preceded by muscle cramps in the legs and feet. Carpal spasm consists
, of flexed elbow and wrist, adducted thrum over the palm, flexed metacarpophalangeal
joints, adduction of hyperexteded fingers, and extended interphalangeal joints. The
response is illicited by infaltion of a BP cuff to 20 mm Hg above the level of the systolic
BP for 3 minutes (Response is secondary to ulnar and median nerve ischmia.)
Chvostek's sign - ANSWER second neuromuscular sign with hypocalcemia: abnormal
unilateral spasm of the facial muscle when the facial nerve is tapped below the
zygomatic arch anterior to the earlobe.
What signs accompany Trousseau's and Chvostek's signs - ANSWER respiratory
distress (stridor, crowing noises, and cyanosis): Emergency secondary to the potential
for laryngeal spasms, seizures, and dysrhythmias.
other hypocalcemia symptoms - ANSWER neuro-psychiatric disorders, including
irritability, emotional instability, problems with memory, and psychosis.
patients with hypocalcemia may report - ANSWER paresthesia’s, fatigue, muscle
cramps, muscle weakness, GI problems (N/V/D, Abd cramping, constipation)
Cardiovascular symptoms with hypocalcemia - ANSWER Hypotension, bradycardia,
CHF, dysrhythmias, prolonged QT interval
chronic hypocalcemia may cause - ANSWER *skin to be coarse, dry, and scaly.
*Alopecia may be present with thinning of the eyebrows and eyelashes.
*Nails are often ridged, brittle, thin, with transverse grooves
*subcapsular cataracts, optic neuritis, intracranial calcification, papilledema, and
parkinsonian-type movements
Emergency treatment of hypocalcemia - ANSWER IV Calcium gluconate
lease expensive calcium formulation - ANSWER calcium carbonate: but not well
absorbed in the elderly
Gynecomastia - ANSWER enlargement of glandular breast tissue in men. may present
unilateral and progress to bilateral.
gynecomastia results from - ANSWER imbalance of androgen and estrogen or an
increase in prolactin
what hormones stimulate ductal growth in breasts - ANSWER Growth hormones,
estrogen, and corticosteroids
what hormones stimulate alveolar lobular growth of breasts - ANSWER Progesterone
and prolactin
Gynecomastia lasting longer than 1 year is usually - ANSWER asymptomatic
