Question

You are the surgical nurse caring for a 65-year-old female patient who is postoperative day 1 following a thyroidectomy. During your shift assessment, the patient complains of tingling in her lips and fingers, She tells you that she has an intermittent spasm in her wrist and hand and she exhibits increased muscle tone . What electrolyte imbalance should you first suspect?

A) Hypophosphatemia
B) Hypocalcemia
C) Hypermagnesemia
D) Hyperkalemia

Answer 1

The symptoms exhibited by the patient suggest hypocalcemia, likely due to hypoparathyroidism after thyroidectomy surgery.

Step-by-step explanation:

In the clinical scenario of a 65-year-old female patient who is postoperative day 1 following a thyroidectomy, the symptoms of tingling lips and fingers, intermittent spasms in the wrist and hand, and increased muscle tone are suggestive of hypocalcemia. These symptoms can be indicative of a condition known as tetany, which is often associated with hypoparathyroidism. This condition can occur as a complication of thyroid surgery when the parathyroid glands are accidentally removed or damaged, leading to a deficiency in parathyroid hormone and a subsequent drop in calcium levels.