adrenal disease Flashcards
diseases of the adrenal cortex
hyperadrenocorticism/cushings
hyperaldosteronism/conn’s
hypoadrenocorticism/addison’s
hypoaldosteronism
diseases of the adrenal medulla
pheochromocytoma
3 zones of the adrenal cortex
zona glomerulosa, zona fasciculata, zona reticularis
zona glomerulosa deals with which hormone
aldosterone (mineralcorticoid)
zona fasciculata deals with which hormone
cortisol (glucocorticoids)
zona reticularis deals with which hormone
androgens
what is the outer portion of the adrenal gland and what is the inner portion?
outer = cortex inner = medulla
the adrenal gland has one of the highest rates of
blood flow per gram of tissue
what makes up the HPA axis?
hypothalamus, anterior pituitary, and adrenal cortex
the adrenal medulla secretes
epi (80%) and norepi (20%)
cortisol physiological functions
blood glucose regulation, protein turnover, fat metabolism, sodium, potassium, and calcium balance, maintenance of CV tone, modulation of tissue response to injury/infection, survival from stress
what is the most important function of cortisol?
survival as a result from stress
Cushings syndrome vs cushings disease
syndrome - excess cortisol secretion or endogenous steroids
disease - inappropriate ACTH from pituitary
Cushing’s/hyperadrenocorticism can be ___
ACTH dependent or independent
ACTH dependent hyperadrenocorticism/Cushings caused from
pituitary corticotroph tumors, non-endocrine tumors in the lung, kidney, or pancreas (ectopic corticotropin syndrome)
ACTH independent hyperadrenocorticism/Cushings caused from
benign or malignant adrenocortical tumors
Cushings signs and symptoms
sudden weight gain, thickening of facial fat (moon face), electrolyte abnormalities, systemic HTN, glucose intolerance, menstrual irregularities, decreased libido, skeletal muscle wasting, depression and insomnia, and osteoporosis, hypercoaguable (risk of thrombosis)
diagnosis of cushings
24 urine collection, plasma cortisol levels = if both elevated = cushings CRH stimulation test dexamethasone suppression test inferior petrosal sinus sampling CT and MRI once diagnosis is confirmed
Dexamethasone suppression test
given high dose of dexamethasone if a pituitary tumor -maintains negative feedback system and can suppress ACTH
cushings treatment
based on cause
surgical - transphenoidal microadenectomy (if pituitary tumor), adrenalectomy (partial or total)
irradiation
electrolytes we would want to check preoperatively in a cushings patient
check for hypokalemia and hypernatremia
what acid base balance would you expect to see with cushings?
hypokalemic metabolic alkalosis
positioning considerations for cushings
may have osteoporosis/osteomalacia (risk for vertebral compression fractures), can be obese, careful with airway management, use appropriate padding
anesthetic considerations for muscle weakness in cushings
hypokalemia is usually the culprit, decreased requirements for muscle relaxants, use a PNS, maintain 1 twitch if possible (know that they are reversible), consider intubating (may have weak respiratory muscles)
considerations for a unilateral or bilateral adrenalectomy
100 mg glucocorticoid/24 hours, reduce dose over 3-6 days postop, may need to give mineralcorticoid supplementation
some inhalational agents depress adrenal response to
stress and ACTH
etomidate can lead to
adrenocortical suppression with long term infusion
it inhibits enzymes involved in cortisol and aldosterone synthesis
complications with transphenoidal microadenomectomy
VAE, transient diabetes insipidus (DI), meningitis
complications with laparoscopic adrenalectomy
risk for nerve injury in upper extremity d/t positioning
complications with open adrenalectomy
pulmonary complications from retraction which can lead to atelectasis
right adrenalectomy complication
could knick the liver or small intestine
left adrenalectomy complication
could knick the spleen, pancreas, or blood vessels to the kidneys