Medical image of the week: Trousseau's sign

Abstract

No abstract available. Article truncated at 150 words. A 22 year old woman was admitted for numbness and tingling of her hands, feet and face 72 hours after total thyroidectomy for a nonfunctional goiter. Initial ionized calcium was 3.2 mg/dL and magnesium 1.2 mg/dL. The patient received 1 ampule of calcium gluconate (90 mg calcium) and 2 mg MgSO4 intravenously. The next day a rapid response was called. The patient was lethargic, and said she felt very ill, although she could not be more specific. Her ionized calcium was 4.3 mg/dL. She demonstrated Trousseau's sign when her blood pressure was measured with an arm cuff (Figure 1). She also had a positive Chvostek's sign. She did not have stridor or papilledema. She received another ampule of calcium gluconate and 2 mg MgSO4 intravenously and was transferred to the ICU, where she had a 60 sec duration generalized seizure. A calcium gluconate infusion was started, that delivered 990 mg