Clinical Tip: A quick way to confirm hyperventilation syndrome

Article

Hyperventilation syndrome is a poorly understood illness that mimics respiratory distress. When a patient appears to be air hungry, it is not wise to have him (her) breathe into a paper bag unless you are certain that the diagnosis is hyperventilation. A quick way to confirm hyperventilation is to employ the Chvostek maneuver. Contraction of the local facial musculature in response to tapping over the facial nerve indicates temporary hypocalcemia related to respiratory alkalosis-that is, more-than-adequate ventilation.

Dante Pappano, MDRochester, N.Y.

Recent Videos
Paul Kruszka, MD
Herbert Bravo, MD
Tina Tan, MD
Paul Kruszka, MD, MPH, FACMG
Stephanie Anne Deutsch, MD, MS, MSCR, FAAP
H. Westley Phillips, MD
David Turkewitz, MD
H. Westley Phillips, MD
David Turkewitz, MD
© 2024 MJH Life Sciences

All rights reserved.