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Hypocalcemia

Hypocalcemia can be remembered by the hippo-calcified-cow, who was being exploited and fought over by Caesar and his friends. Hypocalcemia occurs when the serum calcium levels are less than 8.5 milligrams per deciliter, the less than (8) ball (.5) hand, who was told by his friend to stop studying this rare animal and to drink it's milk instead. Patients with this disorder have decreased bone density, the down-arrow bone which was thrown by the muscle-man in a spaceship, who represents muscle spasms experienced in hypocalcemia. Patients can have tetany, the Titanic, along with characteristic signs like Chvostek's sign, chopsticks, and Trousseau's sign, the truce-handshake saving this passenger's life as the Titanic sinks. This condition can lead to increased deep tendon reflexes, or DTR's, the up-arrow DTR-reflex-hammer, which is hitting the delta ECG, which represents ECG changes. Considerations for this disorder include oral and IV replacement of calcium, the oral and IV milk being drunk, and seizure precautions, Caesar with the precautions sign, who caused this hippo-cow scene to unfold.So remember, hypocalcemia is a level less than 8.5, and can present with decreased bone density, muscle spasms, and tetany. Patients can have Chvostek's sign, Trousseau's sign, increased DTR's and ECG changes. Considerations include oral and IV replacement of calcium, as well as taking proper seizure precautions.

educational

story

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Hippo-calcified-cow

Hypocalcemia - causes, symptoms, diagnosis, treatment, pathology

Calcium

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Less Than (8) Ball (.5) Hand

< 8.5 mg/dL Ca2+

Which of the following sets of laboratory findings best defines hypocalcemia?

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Down-arrow Bones

Decreased Bone Density

What is most likely a long-term effect of hypocalcemia?

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Muscle-man Spaceship

Muscle Spasms

Which of the following findings is most likely associated with hypocalcemia?

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Titanic

Tetany

TETANY

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Chopsticks

Chvostek's Sign

Which of the following clinical signs is characteristic of hypocalcemia?

Chvostek's & Trousseau's Signs

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Truce-handshake

Trousseau's Sign

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Up-arrow DTR-reflex-hammer

Increased DTR

Which of the following physical findings is most likely seen in patients with hypocalcemia?

Increased DTRs

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Delta ECG

ECG Changes

Which of the following findings is most likely to be seen in patients with hypocalcemia?

Considerations

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Oral and IV Milk

Oral and IV Replacement of Ca2+

Which of the following interventions is most likely recommended among patients with severe hypocalcemia?

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Caesar Precautions

Seizure Precautions

Which of the following is an important consideration in patients with hypocalcemia?

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QT-heart Prolonged

QT Prolongation

Which of the following ECG changes are most likely to be seen in patients with hypocalcemia?

QT Prolongation on EKG

Assessment

Brunner & Suddarth's Textbook of Medical-Surgical Nursing, 13th Edition

First Aid for the USMLE Step 1 2016

First Aid for the USMLE Step 1 2017

Hockenberry, Wong's Nursing Care of Infants and Children, 10th Ed.

Master The Boards USMLE Step 2 CK, 3E

Medical-Surgical Nursing, 10th Ed, Lewis, Dirksen, Heitkemper, & Bucher

Medical-Surgical Nursing, 9th Ed, Lewis, Dirksen, Heitkemper, & Bucher

PANCE Prep Pearls: 1st Ed, 2014

Pharmacology and the Nursing Process 8e, Lilley, Rainforth Collins, Snyder, 2017

STEP-UP to USMLE Step 2 CK, 4th Ed

We improved the quiz for this Picmonic with all new questions.

Okay, so you can think of hypocalcemia like this otherworldly hippo calcium cow. &nbsp;Hypocalcemia is defined as less than 8.5 mg/dL calcium. So I want you think of an 8 ball, black and white, just like a milk cow. And this 8 ball reaches out with its .5 hand to receive a deficient supply of calcium in the form of deficient milk. And I refer to this hippo cow as “not of this world” because it isn’t. It’s a hippo combined with a freakin’ cow. And you can’t expect a hippo spliced with a cow to produce much milk, can you? And who could be capable of such a thing? Aliens. &nbsp;Aliens intent upon spreading decreased bone density across our planet. These muscle men in spaceships have long sought to break us through muscle spasms. The same way they broke our most unbreakable ship, the Titanic, showing tetany. But through this attack, they unwittingly bring us together. Where we once stood ready to attack each other with chopsticks, showing Chvostek’s sign, we instead stood together, calling a truce, showing Trousseau’s sign. &nbsp;Just like the movie Independence Day. This attack upon all of us struck a deep chord, causing an increased deep tendon reflex. And collectively, our hearts skipped a beat, as a delta symbol appeared on our ECG, for ECG changes. And by skipping a beat, I mean the beat is prolonged, shown by the prolonged QT heart, as though the heart is being held in suspense. &nbsp;Deficiency of calcium and muscle spasms should already help you remember these next considerations, but just imagine we keep our leader supplied through oral and IV replacement of calcium. And this leader, our Caesar, laying out precautions against the invasion with a brilliant speech, illustrates seizure precautions.

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