A thyrotoxic crisis is a complication of which disorder?

A. Hernia causes mechanical bowel obstruction by physically trapping or compressing the intestine, preventing content passage. This aligns with the patient’s hernia, creating a structural blockage consistent with clinical findings.

B. Hypokalemia leads to functional bowel obstruction by disrupting intestinal motility through electrolyte imbalances, impairing muscle contractions without physical blockage. This matches the patient’s hypokalemia, exacerbating adynamic ileus.

C. Anesthesia from surgery causes functional bowel obstruction by slowing intestinal peristalsis, often resulting in postoperative ileus. This aligns with the patient’s recent anesthesia exposure, disrupting coordinated muscle contractions.

D. Intestinal tumor results in mechanical bowel obstruction by physically blocking or compressing the intestinal lumen, impeding content flow. The patient’s tumor aligns with this mechanism, a common cause of mechanical obstruction.

E. Pancreatitis contributes to functional bowel obstruction by causing inflammation or retroperitoneal irritation, leading to adynamic ileus without physical blockage. This matches the patient’s pancreatitis, disrupting intestinal motility.

F. Adhesions cause mechanical bowel obstruction by forming fibrous bands that kink or compress the intestine, blocking content passage. The patient’s adhesion history aligns with this, a leading cause of small bowel obstruction

Choice A reason: Hypoparathyroidism causes hypocalcemia due to low parathyroid hormone, reducing bone resorption and calcium absorption. Hypercalcemia requires increased calcium mobilization, which hypoparathyroidism prevents, making this choice incorrect for a person at risk of hypercalcemia.

Choice B reason: Chronic renal failure typically causes hypocalcemia due to impaired vitamin D activation and phosphate retention, binding calcium. Hypercalcemia is rare unless overtreated with calcium supplements, making this choice incorrect for typical renal failure scenarios.

Choice C reason: Low plasma albumin reduces bound calcium, lowering total serum calcium, not causing hypercalcemia. Free calcium may remain normal, but total calcium decreases, making this choice incorrect for a person at risk of hypercalcemia.

Choice D reason: Bedbound, immobile individuals are at risk for hypercalcemia due to increased bone resorption from lack of weight-bearing activity. Osteoclasts break down bone, releasing calcium into the blood, causing hypercalcemia, making this the correct choice.