Final answer:
The patient likely has hypocalcemia, a common post-thyroidectomy complication due to potential damage to parathyroid glands. Symptoms such as muscle cramping and a positive Chvostek sign indicate this electrolyte imbalance. The patient requires a serum calcium test and might need calcium supplementation for treatment.
Step-by-step explanation:
The most likely lab result for a patient presenting with muscle cramping and altered mental status (AMS) post-thyroidectomy, along with a positive Chvostek sign, would be hypocalcemia. Hypocalcemia is a common complication following thyroid surgery due to the accidental removal or damage to the parathyroid glands, which regulate calcium levels in the body. Symptoms like muscle cramping and a Chvostek sign, which is a facial muscle spasm when tapping the facial nerve, are clinical manifestations of low calcium levels.
An immediate serum calcium test should be ordered to confirm the diagnosis. Treatment typically involves calcium supplementation and monitoring of calcium and magnesium levels. Monitoring the patient's vitamin D status is also important, as this vitamin is necessary for calcium absorption.
The information provided from the clinical scenario suggests the patient is dealing with a neurological and muscular deficit possibly related to an electrolyte imbalance, rather than a vascular obstruction like an embolus, as there are specific signs indicating hypocalcemia rather than a stroke. Aspirin therapy for stroke prevention, as mentioned in the additional context, is not directly relevant to the treatment of hypocalcemia.