Pituitary and Adrenal Gland Dysfunction
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Transcript Pituitary and Adrenal Gland Dysfunction
Chapter 19
Care of Patients with
Pituitary and Adrenal Gland
Problems
Disorders of the Anterior Pituitary
Gland
Target tissue
Thyroid, adrenal cortex, ovary, testes, uterus, mammary
glands and kidney
Either excess or deficiency
Pathologic condition within the gland or hypothalmic
dysfunction
Two to focus on:
Hyperpituitarism
Hypopituitarism
Anterior Pituitary Gland
Hyper-secretion and or secretion
Pituitary Tumor
Pituitary hyperplasia
Benign adenoma (most common)
Pressure on the optic nerve
Excess GH, ACTH, prolactin (PRL) or TSH
Hypopituitarism
Deficiency of one or more anterior pituitary hormones
results in metabolic problems and sexual dysfunction.
Panhypopituitarism—decreased production of all of the
anterior pituitary hormones.
Most life-threatening deficiencies—ACTH and TSH.
Deficiency of gonadotropins.
Growth hormone
Proportionate dwarfism
Cause of Hypopituitarism
Benign or malignant tumors
Anorexia nervosa
Shock or severe hypotension
Head trauma
Brain tumors or infection
Congenital
Patient-Centered Collaborative
Care
Assessment
Interventions include:
Replacement of deficient hormones
Androgen therapy for virilization; gynecomastia can occur
Estrogens and progesterone
Growth hormone
Hyperpituitarism
Hormone oversecretion occurs with pituitary tumors or
hyperplasia
Genetic considerations
Pituitary adenoma
Gigantism
Gigantism is the onset of growth hormone hypersecretion
before puberty.
Acromegaly
Growth hormone hypersecretion after puberty
Surgical Intervention
Transsphenoidal or transfrontal removal of the pituitary gland
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ebhf1qKVA9A
Patient-Centered Collaborative
Care
Assessment
Nonsurgical management:
Drug therapy- to reduce GH secretion or the effects on tissues
Somatostatin analogues
Dopamine agonists
Growth hormone antagonist
Radiation
Gamma knife procedure
Usually one time treatment
Surgical Management
Postoperative Care
Monitor neurologic response
Assess for postnasal drip
HOB elevated
Assess nasal drainage
Avoid coughing early after surgery
Assess for meningitis
Hormone replacement
Avoid bending
Avoid strain at stool
Postoperative Care
Avoid toothbrushing
Numbness in the area of the incision
Decreased sense of smell
Vasopressin
Diabetes Insipidus
Water metabolism problem caused by an antidiuretic
hormone deficiency (either a decrease in ADH synthesis or
an inability of the kidneys to respond to ADH)
Diabetes insipidus is classified as:
Nephrogenic
Neurogenic
Patient-Centered Collaborative
Care
Assessment
Most manifestations of DI are related to dehydration
Increase in frequency of urination and excessive thirst
Dehydration and hypertonic saline tests used for diagnosis
of the disorder
Urine diluted with a low specific gravity (<1.005)
DI: Interventions
Oral chlorpropamide
Desmopressin acetate
Early detection of dehydration and maintenance of
adequate hydration
Lifelong vasopressin therapy for patients with permanent
condition of diabetes insipidus
Teach patients to weigh themselves daily to identify weight
gain
Syndrome of Inappropriate
Antidiuretic Hormone Secretion
(SIADH)
Vasopressin is secreted even when plasma osmolarity is low
or normal.
Feedback mechanisms do not function properly.
Water is retained, resulting in hyponatremia (decreased
serum sodium level).
SIADH: Patient-Centered
Collaborative Care
Assessment:
Recent head trauma
Cerebrovascular disease
Tuberculosis or other pulmonary disease
Cancer
All past and current drug use
SIADH: Interventions
Fluid restriction
Drug therapy—diuretics, hypertonic saline, demeclocycline
Monitor for fluid overload
Safe environment
Neurologic assessment
Adrenal Gland Hypofunction
Adrenocortical steroids may decrease as a result of
inadequate secretion of ACTH
Dysfunction of the hypothalamic-pituitary control
mechanism
Direct dysfunction of adrenal tissue
Effect of Insufficiency of
Adrenocortical Steroids
Loss of aldosterone and cortical action
Decreased gluconeogenesis
Depletion of liver and muscle glycogen
Hypoglycemia
Reduced urea nitrogen excretion
Anorexia and weight loss
Potassium, sodium, and water imbalances
Addison’s Disease
Primary
Secondary:
Sudden cessation of long-term high-dose glucocorticoid
therapy
Acute Adrenal
Insufficiency/Addisonian Crisis
Life-threatening event in which the need for cortisol and
aldosterone is greater than the available supply
Usually occurs in a response to a stressful event
Patient-Centered Collaborative
Care
Assessment
Clinical manifestations
Assessment
Psychosocial assessment
Laboratory tests
Imaging assessment
Adrenal Gland Hyperfunction
Hypersecretion by the adrenal cortex results in Cushing’s
syndrome/disease, hypercortisolism, or excessive androgen
production
Pheochromocytoma
Hyperstimulation of the adrenal medulla caused by a tumor
Excessive secretion of catecholamines
Hypercortisolism (Cushing’s
Disease)
Etiology
Incidence/prevalence
Patient-centered collaborative care
Assessment:
Clinical manifestations—skin changes, cardiac changes,
musculoskeletal changes, glucose metabolism, immune
changes
Hypercortisolism
Cushing’s Disease
Psychosocial assessment
Laboratory tests—blood, salivary and urine cortisol levels
Imaging assessment
Hypercortisolism: Nonsurgical
Management
Patient safety
Drug therapy
Nutrition therapy
Monitoring
Hypercortisolism: Surgical
Management
Hypophysectomy
Adrenalectomy
Community-Based Care
Home care management
Health teaching
Health care resources
Hyperaldosteronism
Increased secretion of aldosterone results in
mineralocorticoid excess.
Primary hyperaldosteronism (Conn's syndrome) is a result
of excessive secretion of aldosterone from one or both
adrenal glands.
Patient-Centered Collaborative
Care
Assessment
Most common issues—hypokalemia and elevated blood
pressure
Interventions
Adrenalectomy
Drug therapy
Glucocorticoid replacement
When surgery cannot be performed—spironolactone
therapy
Pheochromocytoma
Catecholamine-producing tumors that arise in the adrenal
medulla
Tumors produce, store, and release epinephrine and
norepinephrine
Patient-Centered Collaborative
Care
Assessment
Interventions:
Surgery is main treatment.
After surgery, assess blood pressure.