Episode Details

Dr. OP Hamnvik, an endocrinologist and medical educator at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, joins Joyce Zhou (host) and Dr. Emily Gutowski (case presenter) to discuss hypocalcemia. They run through a case of a patient with a recent thyroidectomy who presents with perioral paresthesia and hypocalcemia. Dr. Hamnvik takes us through the many causes of hypocalcemia, from the PTH-dependent to the PTH-independent causes, in addition to ways in which we can test for hypocalcemia at the bedside through Chvostek's & Trousseau's signs. Dr. Hamnvik gives us a quick refresher on calcium homeostasis, vitamin D metabolism, and the various ways in which these can go awry to cause hypocalcemia. The conversation ends with a discussion of the classic hypocalcemia labs, treatment decision-making, and several clinical pearls from Emily & Dr. Hamnvik!