What it means
A test of how easily the nerves fire. The examiner taps the cheek over the facial nerve, just in front of the earlobe and below the cheekbone. A positive sign is a twitch of the lip, nose or side of the face. It is a classic finding in a low blood calcium level (hypocalcemiahy-poh-kal-SEE-mee-uhA blood calcium level below normal.hypo- belowcalc calcium-emia in the bloodFull entry ) and is also seen with low magnesium, but a few healthy people have it too. It is named after Franz Chvostek, an Austrian surgeon.
For the nurse
After thyroid or parathyroid surgery, check for it along with tingling around the mouth and in the fingers, since the parathyroid glands that control calcium can be injured. Report a positive sign.
Remember it
Chvostek: Cheek. Both start with "Ch".
At a glance
| Also written | Chvostek's sign, Chvostek’s sign |
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Related terms
hypocalcemia
A blood calcium level below normal.
tetany
Involuntary muscle cramps and spasms that come from nerves firing too easily.
Trousseau sign
A spasm of the hand and wrist that appears when a blood pressure cuff on the upper arm is kept inflated for a few minutes.