Chvostek's sign

(Redirected from Chvostek's Sign)
Jump to navigation Jump to search
Chvostek's sign
Appearance of a patient with Chvostek's Sign

WikiDoc Resources for Chvostek's sign

Articles

Most recent articles on Chvostek's sign

Most cited articles on Chvostek's sign

Review articles on Chvostek's sign

Articles on Chvostek's sign in N Eng J Med, Lancet, BMJ

Media

Powerpoint slides on Chvostek's sign

Images of Chvostek's sign

Photos of Chvostek's sign

Podcasts & MP3s on Chvostek's sign

Videos on Chvostek's sign

Evidence Based Medicine

Cochrane Collaboration on Chvostek's sign

Bandolier on Chvostek's sign

TRIP on Chvostek's sign

Clinical Trials

Ongoing Trials on Chvostek's sign at Clinical Trials.gov

Trial results on Chvostek's sign

Clinical Trials on Chvostek's sign at Google

Guidelines / Policies / Govt

US National Guidelines Clearinghouse on Chvostek's sign

NICE Guidance on Chvostek's sign

NHS PRODIGY Guidance

FDA on Chvostek's sign

CDC on Chvostek's sign

Books

Books on Chvostek's sign

News

Chvostek's sign in the news

Be alerted to news on Chvostek's sign

News trends on Chvostek's sign

Commentary

Blogs on Chvostek's sign

Definitions

Definitions of Chvostek's sign

Patient Resources / Community

Patient resources on Chvostek's sign

Discussion groups on Chvostek's sign

Patient Handouts on Chvostek's sign

Directions to Hospitals Treating Chvostek's sign

Risk calculators and risk factors for Chvostek's sign

Healthcare Provider Resources

Symptoms of Chvostek's sign

Causes & Risk Factors for Chvostek's sign

Diagnostic studies for Chvostek's sign

Treatment of Chvostek's sign

Continuing Medical Education (CME)

CME Programs on Chvostek's sign

International

Chvostek's sign en Espanol

Chvostek's sign en Francais

Business

Chvostek's sign in the Marketplace

Patents on Chvostek's sign

Experimental / Informatics

List of terms related to Chvostek's sign

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]

Overview

The Chvostek's sign (also Weiss sign) is one of the signs of tetany seen in hypocalcemia. It refers to an abnormal reaction to the stimulation of the facial nerve. When the facial nerve is tapped at the angle of the jaw, the facial muscles on the same side of the face will contract momentarily (typically a twitch of the nose or lips) because of hypocalcaemia (ie from hypoparathyroidism, pseudohypoparathyroidism, hypovitaminosis D) with resultant hyperexcitability of nerves. Though classically described in hypocalcemia, this sign may also be encountered in respiratory alkalosis, such as that seen in hyperventilation, which actually causes decreased serum Ca++ with a normal calcium level due to a shift of Ca++ from the blood to albumin which has become more negative in the alkalotic state.

It was first described by František Chvostek, an Austrian physician in 1876, and later independently by Nathan Weiss in 1883.

The Trousseau sign of latent tetany is also often used to detect early tetany.

Chvostek's Sign seen in tetany and sometimes in anxiety states.

In modern medical era, the utility of Chvostek's sign has diminished with the development of serum calcium level assessments. However, the sign may still be helpful as crude determinations of the neuromuscular excitability that occurs in patients with hypocalcemia.

Differential Diagnosis

In alphabetical order: [1] [2] [3]

Physical Examination and Appearance of the Patient

Laboratory Findings

Hypocalcemia

Treatment

Calcium repletion.

References

  1. McKennis A, Waddington C, Nursing Interventions for Potential Complications After Thyroidectomy, Continuing Education Featured Article.
  2. Urbano F.L. Signs of Hypocalcemia: Chvostek' and Trousseau' Signs. Hospital Physician. March 2000.
  3. Sailer, Christian, Wasner, Susanne. Differential Diagnosis Pocket. Hermosa Beach, CA: Borm Bruckmeir Publishing LLC, 2002:77.