Medical-surgical Nursing Demystified

(Sean Pound) #1

(^340) Medical-Surgical Nursing Demystified



  • The need for intermittent lab work to monitor the thyroid.

  • Visits to the primary care practitioner to monitor size of thyroid gland.


Hypopituitarism


WHAT WENT WRONG?


Hypopituitarism results when the pituitary gland is unable to secrete a normal
amount of pituitary hormones. Primary causes are pituitary tumors, inadequate blood
supply to the pituitary gland, infection, radiation therapy, or surgical removal of a
portion of the pituitary gland. Secondary causes affect the hypothalamus, which
regulates the pituitary gland.

PROGNOSIS


Patients require life-long treatment and can expect a normal life span.

HALLMARK SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS



  • Fatigue caused by a decreased production of ACTH

  • Lethargy and diminished cognition caused by a decreased production of
    TSH

  • Sensitivity to cold due to low TSH, which stimulates thyroid hormone

  • Decreased appetite due to TSH deficiency

  • Infertility due to luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle-stimulating hormone
    (FSH) production

  • Short stature due to diminished secretion of growth hormone

  • Infertility, amenorrhea caused by decreased production of FSH and LH


INTERPRETING TEST RESULTS



  • Decreased ACTH usually due to a lesion of the pituitary.

  • TSH deficiency due to a mass, trauma, surgery, or idiopathic.


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