What do the Chvostek sign and the Trousseau sign indicate?
Chvostek’s sign is de- scribed as the twitching of facial muscles in response to tapping over the area of the facial nerve (Video 1). Trousseau’s sign is carpopedal spasm that results from ischemia, such as that induced by pressure applied to the upper arm from an in- flated sphygmomanometer cuff (Video 2).
What does a positive Trousseau’s sign indicate?
Interpretation. A positive sign is characterized by the appearance of a carpopedal spasm which involves flexion of the wrist, thumb, and MCP joints along with hyperextension of the IP joints. This spasm results from the ischemia that is induced by compression through the inflated cuff.
What does chvostek’s sign indicate?
The Chvostek sign—a contraction of ipsilateral facial muscles subsequent to percussion over the facial nerve—is considered a clinical indicator of hypocalcemia.
Why does hypocalcemia cause Trousseau’s sign?
Hypocalcemia can affect a number of cellular processes, including neuron activity. Normally, calcium ions stabilize the resting potential of neurons. With hypocalcemia, neurons are less stable and more likely to fire spontaneously, which can trigger tetany, or the involuntary contraction of muscles.
What can cause hypocalcemia?
Causes of hypocalcemia
- Vitamin D inadequacy or vitamin D resistance.
- Hypoparathyroidism following surgery.
- Hypoparathyroidism owing to autoimmune disease or genetic causes.
- Renal disease or end-stage liver disease causing vitamin D inadequacy.
- Pseudohypoparathyroidism or pseudopseudohypoparathyroidism.
How do you test for Trousseau sign?
Test for the Trousseau sign by placing a blood pressure cuff on the patient’s arm and inflating to 20 mm Hg above systolic blood pressure for 3-5 minutes.
What should the nurse do for a client with Trousseau’s sign?
Place the blood pressure cuff around the arm and inflate it to a pressure greater than the patient’s systolic blood pressure. Keep the pressure and cuff in place for around 3 minutes. During this time, you’ll want to monitor the hand and wrist of the patient’s extremity that has the blood pressure cuff on it.
What are two symptoms of hypocalcemia?
Symptoms of hypocalcemia most commonly include paresthesia, muscle spasms, cramps, tetany, circumoral numbness, and seizures.
How do you perform Chvostek’s test?
Test for Chvostek sign by tapping the skin over the facial nerve about 2 cm anterior to the external auditory meatus. Ipsilateral contraction of the facial muscles is a positive sign.
How do you test for Trousseau’s sign?
What is the most significant symptom of hypocalcemia?
How do you assess Chvostek’s sign?