Stridor secondary to hypocalcemia in the elderly: an unusual presentation

Eur J Intern Med. 2008 May;19(3):219-20. doi: 10.1016/j.ejim.2007.04.020. Epub 2007 Sep 19.

Abstract

Though hypocalcemic stridor is a well-recognized pediatric emergency, it has rarely been reported in the elderly, and hypocalcemia of nutritional origin presenting with stridor in this group has not previously been reported. We report an elderly patient who presented with stridor and intermittent sudden airway obstruction resulting from laryngospasm secondary to hypocalcemia of nutritional origin and we present a brief review of this life-threatening complication of hypocalcemia.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Airway Obstruction / diagnosis
  • Airway Obstruction / etiology
  • Calcium / blood
  • Calcium Gluconate / therapeutic use
  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Ergocalciferols / therapeutic use
  • Humans
  • Hypocalcemia / complications*
  • Hypocalcemia / diagnosis*
  • Hypocalcemia / therapy
  • Laryngismus / diagnosis
  • Laryngismus / etiology
  • Male
  • Respiratory Sounds / diagnosis
  • Respiratory Sounds / etiology*
  • Vitamins / therapeutic use

Substances

  • Ergocalciferols
  • Vitamins
  • Calcium Gluconate
  • Calcium