Chvostek's, Tetany, Trousseau's

How to elicit Chvostek's Sign

1. Tell patient to relax facial muscles. 2. Stand in front of patient and tap the facial nerve just anterior to the ear lobe (on the cheek.) ***CHvostek's think CHEEK***

Trousseau's Sign

Inflate blood pressure cuff above systolic number for several minutes. +Positive response = muscular contraction including flexion of the wrist and metacarpophalangeal joints, hyperextension of the fingers and flexion of the thumb on the palm. Suggestive of neuromuscular excitability caused by hypocalcemia.

Positive Chvostek's Sign

Positive result varies from twitching of the lip at the corner of the mouth to spasm of all facial muscles depending on severity of hypocalcemia.

What is Tetany

a condition marked by intermittent muscular spasms, caused by malfunction of the parathyroid glands and a consequent deficiency of calcium.

What does a positive Chvostek's Sign indicate?

latent tetany causes by hypocalcemia, hypomagnesemia and metabolic alkalosis.