Thyroid surgery: hypocalcaemia: practice question

A General Surgery 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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General Surgery · Thyroid surgery: hypocalcaemia

Sample item

Perioral tingling and carpopedal spasm after thyroid surgery should prompt concern for what?

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

The answer and the reasoning

B. Hypocalcaemia from parathyroid injury

Parathyroid damage or devascularisation can cause acute hypocalcaemia after thyroidectomy, producing tetany. Serum calcium should be checked urgently.

Option by option

  • A. Thyroid storm

    Thyroid storm is hypermetabolic and uncommon after controlled surgery.

  • B. Hypocalcaemia from parathyroid injury (correct)

    Correct. Neuromuscular irritability is a hypocalcaemia clue.

  • C. Recurrent laryngeal palsy only

    Nerve palsy causes voice symptoms.

  • D. Hyperkalaemia

    Hyperkalaemia causes weakness and arrhythmias, not classic tetany.

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 General Surgery question

What is the answer to this General Surgery question?

The best answer is B, Hypocalcaemia from parathyroid injury. Parathyroid damage or devascularisation can cause acute hypocalcaemia after thyroidectomy, producing tetany.

Why is "Thyroid storm" not the answer?

Thyroid storm is hypermetabolic and uncommon after controlled surgery.

Why is "Recurrent laryngeal palsy only" not the answer?

Nerve palsy causes voice symptoms.

Why is "Hyperkalaemia" not the answer?

Hyperkalaemia causes weakness and arrhythmias, not classic tetany.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Thyroid surgery: hypocalcaemia in General Surgery. Serum calcium should be checked urgently.

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 Thyroid surgery: hypocalcaemia?

Learn classic signs and eponyms alongside what they diagnose. Then use the flashcards and the other General Surgery 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.