Critical care: hypocalcaemia after thyroidectomy: practice question

A Anaesthesia question in the style of the NEET PG paper. Answer it first, then read why the right option is right and why each of the others is wrong.

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Anaesthesia · Critical care: hypocalcaemia after thyroidectomy

Sample item

A patient develops perioral tingling and carpopedal spasm 24 hours after total thyroidectomy. Which ECG change is expected?

Original practice item, not a recalled exam question. Nothing here is recorded.

The answer and the reasoning

B. Prolonged QT interval

Parathyroid injury or devascularisation causes hypocalcaemia with tetany and a prolonged QT interval from a lengthened ST segment. Treatment is intravenous calcium gluconate for symptoms. Chvostek and Trousseau signs are positive.

Option by option

  • A. ST elevation

    ST elevation is not typical of hypocalcaemia.

  • B. Prolonged QT interval (correct)

    Correct. Hypocalcaemia lengthens the QT interval.

  • C. Short PR interval

    A short PR is not a feature of hypocalcaemia.

  • D. Peaked T waves

    Peaked T waves occur in hyperkalaemia.

Source note: Original NextPrep sample item — pending expert review. This item is original practice material awaiting independent expert review, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.

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Questions about this Anaesthesia question

What is the answer to this Anaesthesia question?

The best answer is B, Prolonged QT interval. Parathyroid injury or devascularisation causes hypocalcaemia with tetany and a prolonged QT interval from a lengthened ST segment.

Why is "ST elevation" not the answer?

ST elevation is not typical of hypocalcaemia.

Why is "Short PR interval" not the answer?

A short PR is not a feature of hypocalcaemia.

Why is "Peaked T waves" not the answer?

Peaked T waves occur in hyperkalaemia.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Critical care: hypocalcaemia after thyroidectomy in Anaesthesia. Treatment is intravenous calcium gluconate for symptoms. Chvostek and Trousseau signs are positive.

How hard is this question?

We tag it as an application question: it asks you to use a fact on a patient or a finding. The tag is our own editorial judgement, not an official difficulty rating, so read the reason for every option, not only the answer.

How should I study Critical care: hypocalcaemia after thyroidectomy?

Make a table of each agent, its key advantage and its main side effect. Then use the flashcards and the other Anaesthesia questions on this site to test what stuck.

Is this a real NEET PG question?

No. It is an original practice item (editorial status: sample, version 1). NextPrep does not publish recalled or leaked questions, and independent faculty review of this item has not been completed yet, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.