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What is the PTH assay? If this is low, hypoparathyroidism ought to be considered the most likely diagnosis. If it is normal or increased, other causes of hypocalcemia should be investigated.
What is the phosphorus level? A decreased ... DIAGNOSTIC WORKUP
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Calcium is the most abundant mineral in the body, with 99% stored in bone. Calcium in the plasma is either protein-bound (mostly to albumin) or ionized and readily available for use. Decreased plasma Ca2+... Differential Diagnosis ... Workup and Diagnosis ... Treatment
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Hypocalcemia is defined as total calcium <7.5 mg/dL. Causes include inadequate inflow of calcium from the GI tract, bone, or kidney, or excessive loss of calcium into urine, stool, and bone. Calcium level is affected by pH: Systemic acidosis decreases total>... Differential Diagnosis ... Workup and Diagnosis ... Treatment
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... The physiologic model of Intake, absorption, transport, regulation, and excretion lends itself well to developing a list of possible causes of hypocalcemia.
HYPOCALCEMIA
Intake
Poor
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... Chvostek's sign is an abnormal spasm of the facial muscles that's elicited by lightly tapping the patient's facial nerve near his lower jaw. (See Eliciting Chvostek's sign.) This sign usually suggests hypocalcemia, but can occur normally in about 25% of cases. Typically,... Emergency interventions ... History and physical examination ... Medical causes ... Other causes ... Special considerations ... Pictures
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... Carpopedal spasm is the violent, painful contraction of the muscles in the hands and feet. (See Recognizing carpopedal spasm, page 126.) It's an important sign of tetany, a potentially life-threatening condition characterized by increased neuromuscular excitation... Emergency interventions ... History and physical examination ... Medical causes ... Other causes ... Special considerations ... Pictures
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... Hypoalbuminemia*
Vitamin D–deficiency states
Sunlight deficiency
Dietary deficiency
Malabsorption (see 5-G)
Post gastrectomy or intestinal bypass
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... Calcium plays an indispensable role in cell permeability, bone and teeth formation, blood coagulation, transmission of nerve impulses, and normal muscle contraction. Nearly all (99%) of the body’s calcium is found in the bones. The... Causes ... Signs and symptoms ... Diagnosis ... Treatment ... Special considerations ... Pictures
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... Chvostek’s sign is an abnormal spasm of the facial muscles that’s elicited by lightly tapping the patient’s facial nerve near his lower jaw. (See Eliciting Chvostek’s sign, page 180.) This sign usually suggests hypocalcemia but can occur normally in... Emergency interventions ... History and physical examination ... Medical causes ... Other causes ... Special considerations ... Pediatric pointers ... Geriatric pointers ... Patient counseling ... Pictures
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... Carpopedal spasm is the violent, painful contraction of the muscles in the hands and feet. (See Recognizing carpopedal spasm.) It’s an important sign of tetany, a potentially life-threatening condition that is commonly associated with... Emergency interventions ... History and physical examination ... Medical causes ... Other causes ... Special considerations ... Pediatric pointers ... Geriatric pointers ... Patient counseling ... Pictures
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... Calcium plays an indispensable role in cell permeability, formation of bones and teeth, blood coagulation, transmission of nerve impulses, and normal muscle contraction. Nearly all (99%) of the body’s calcium is found in the bones. The... Causes ... Signs and symptoms ... Diagnosis ... Treatment ... Special considerations ... Pictures
... READ EXCERPTS »
... Carpopedal spasm is the violent, painful contraction of the muscles in the hands and feet. (See Recognizing carpopedal spasm, page 70.) It’s an important sign of tetany, a potentially life-threatening condition characterized by... Assessment ... History ... Physical examination ... Pediatric pointers ... Geriatric pointers ... Medical causes ... Other causes ... Nursing considerations ... Patient teaching ... Pictures
... READ EXCERPTS »
... Chvostek’s sign is an abnormal spasm of the facial muscles that’s elicited by lightly tapping the patient’s facial nerve near his lower jaw. (See Eliciting Chvostek’s sign.) This sign usually suggests hypocalcemia... Emergency Actions ... History ... Physical assessment ... Medical causes ... Other causes ... Special considerations ... Pediatric pointers ... Geriatric pointers ... Patient counseling ... Pictures
... READ EXCERPTS »
... Carpopedal spasm is the violent, painful contraction of the muscles in the hands and feet. (See Recognizing carpopedal spasm.) It’s an important sign of tetany, a potentially life-threatening condition characterized by increased neuromuscular... Emergency Actions ... History ... Physical assessment ... Medical causes ... Other causes ... Special considerations ... Pediatric pointers ... Geriatric pointers ... Patient counseling ... Pictures
... READ EXCERPTS »
... Chvostek's sign is an abnormal spasm of the facial muscles that's elicited by lightly tapping the patient's facial nerve near his lower jaw. (See Eliciting Chvostek's sign, page 138.)
This sign usually suggests hypocalcemia, but can occur normally in... History and physical examination ... Medical causes ... Other causes ... Nursing considerations ... Patient teaching ... Pictures
... READ EXCERPTS »
... Carpopedal spasm is the violent, painful contraction of the muscles in the hands and feet. (See Recognizing carpopedal spasm.)
It's an important sign of tetany, a potentially life-threatening condition characterized by increased... History and physical examination ... Medical causes ... Other causes ... Nursing considerations ... Patient teaching ... Pictures
... READ EXCERPTS »
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The physiologic model of intake, absorption, transport,
regulation, and excretion lends itself well to developing a list of possible
causes of hypocalcemia.
Intake. Poor dietary intake of calcium is not often... Pictures
... READ EXCERPTS »
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