Question

After a surgical thyroidectomy a client exhibits carpopedal spasm and tremors. The client reports tingling in the fingers and around the mouth. The nurse suspects a deficiency in which mineral?

1 Potassium
2 Calcium
3 Magnesium
4 Sodium

Answer 1

The symptoms described suggest a deficiency in calcium after a thyroidectomy.

Step-by-step explanation:

The symptoms described by the client, such as carpopedal spasm, tremors, tingling in the fingers and around the mouth, are indicative of a deficiency in calcium.

After a surgical thyroidectomy, there is a risk of damage to the parathyroid glands, which regulate calcium levels in the body. This can lead to hypocalcemia, causing the symptoms mentioned.

Calcium is essential for muscle contraction and nerve function. When blood calcium levels are low, there is increased membrane permeability to sodium, resulting in muscle twitching, cramping, spasms, and tingling sensations.