Emil, just had a thyroidectomy this morning. Upon awakening, he complains of circumoral tingling, has a positive Chvostek's sign and positive Trousseau's sign. Nurse Ofel assesses this to be an indication of:
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The symptoms Emil is experiencing, such as circumoral tingling, positive Chvostek's sign (facial muscle spasm when the facial nerve is tapped), and positive Trousseau's sign (carpal spasm when a blood pressure cuff is inflated), are characteristic signs of hypocalcemia. Hypocalcemia commonly occurs after thyroidectomy due to inadvertent damage or removal of the parathyroid glands. These glands regulate calcium levels in the body by secreting parathyroid hormone (PTH). Therefore, the symptoms Emil is exhibiting are likely due to the overstimulation of the parathyroid hormone in response to decreased calcium levels after the thyroidectomy. Insufficient iodine intake or overuse of radioactive iodine gland would not be the most likely explanations for his symptoms.