pituitary gland
master gland
anterior pituitary gland
- Prolactin
- adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH)
- growth hormone (GH)
- Thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH)
- follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH)
- luteinizing hormone (LH)
posterior pituitary gland
- anti-diuretic hormone (ADH)
- oxytocin
disorders of the pituitary gland can include what?
tumors
hypofunction
hyperfunction
damage to gland
trauma
what are pituitary tumors described as?
benign pituitary adenoma.
- slow growing
- unclear etiology
signs and symptoms can be local or systemic for pituitary glands
Local symptoms
- headache
- visual disturbances with possible blindness
signs and symptoms can be local or systemic for pituitary glands
systemic symptoms
- vague and slow to process
- personality changes
- weakness
- fatigue
pituitary gland :
diagnosis
- complete history and physical exam
- MRI
- CT with contrast dye
- labs
- Ophthamlmologic exam
treatment for pituitary glands
- hormone therapy
- radiation
- surgery-transsphenoidal hypophysectomy
Hypophysectomy
post op and nursing care
- semi-folwers
- monitor vital sings closely
- through and frequent neuro checks: LOC, strength, visual changes, and mental status
- monitor for bleeding
- nasal drip pad will be placed: monitor the drainage-should be bloody/mucus
hyper function of the anterior pituitary gland: Acromegaly
- over secretion of growth hormone (GH)
- increase in bone size
- enlargement of facial features, hands, and feet
hyper function of anterior pituitary gland: gigantism
over secretion of GH in children
hyperfunction of anterior pituitary gland: Prolactin and gonadotropin (FSH&LH) hyper function
fertility issues
S/S of acromegaly
- change in ring size
- change in shoe size
- enlargement of nose, jaw, brow, hands, feet
- muscle weakness and joint pain
diagnosis for acromegaly
lab tests-hormone levels
acromegaly treatment
- aimed at cause
- medications
- hypophysectomy
- radiation
Sheehan syndrome
rare but serious postpartum hemorrhage
what does a decrease in growth hormones cause?
- leads to short stature
- results in bone breakdown and increased risk of osteoporosis
- metabolic problems
decrease in gonadotropins (FSH,LH)
- sexual dysfunction
- fertility problems
- testicular failure in men
- ovarian failure, amenorrhea in women
dwarfism
hypo secretion of GH during fetal development or childhood
- results in limited growth- congenital or from damage to the pituitary gland
posterior pituitary gland
- diabetes indipidus (DI)- decreased antidiuretic hormone (ADH)
- syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone (SIADH)- increased ADH
diabetes insipidus
(DI)
ETIOLOGY AND PATH.
- decrease production of antidiuretic hormone (ADH)
- excretion of copious amounts of urine
diabetes insipidus (DI)
signs and symptoms
- diuresis
- polydipsia
- weakness/fatigue
- sings of deficient fluid volume
- hypotension
- weight loss
- constipation
- poor skin tugor
- can lead to shock if untreated
diagnosis for DI
- h&p
- lab testing (CBC, CMP)
- urine specific gravity- low urine osomality, low specific gravity--> urine diluted
- plasma osmolality
- hyperosmolitiy- decreased water volume in the blood
- CT/MRI- check for tumor
- water deprivation test
DI
water deprivation test
used to determine whether the patient has DI
-test measures changes in body weight, urine output, and urine composition when fluids are withheld
treatment for DI
replacement of fluid and electrolytes
hormone therapy
SIADH
etiology and path
- opposite of DI
- excessive amounts of ADH produced
- fluid retention
- can be caused by a tumor
SIADH
S/S
- weight gain from water retention
- edema
- hyponatremia- can be less than 120 mEq/L
- decreased urine output
- high BP
- confusion
- seizures
- LOS
- muscle cramps and weakness
SIADH
Diagnosis
- simultaneous urine and serum osmolality tests- urine high, blood low
- CMP
- hyponatermia
- BUN decreased
- creatine clearance decreased
- CBC
- hgb and hct decreased
SIADH
treatment
- correct underlying cause
- fluid restrictions (500-1000ml/day)
- sodium chloride po
- diuretics
the thyroid gland secretes what?
triiodothyronine (T3), thyroxine (T4), and calcitonin
goiter
- enlarged thyroid gland
- can be caused by iodine deficiency
- most common cause is an increase in TSH from lack of thyroid hormone production
S/S of goiter
- enlargement in front of neck.
- difficulty swallowing/breathing
hyperthyroidism
E&PATH
- overactive thyroid
graves disease
E&path
- autoimmune disorder affecting the thyroid gland
- causes hyperthyroidism
- immune system attacks the thyroid and causes it to make more
graves disease
S/S
- enlarged thyroid gland
- bulged eyes
- mood swings
- heat insensitivity
- anxiety
- temors
hyperthyroidism
S/S
- weight loss despite a good appetite
- nervousness/ anxiety/tremors/agitation
- tachycardia, palpations
- insomnia
- increased thirst and increased urination
hyperthyroidism-
radioactive iodine (ablation therapy)
- given orally
- destroys thyroid tissue
- collects in the thyroid and destroys the gland and cells with little effect on the rest of the body
- monitor for thyroid storm/ thyroid crisis
subtotal thyroidectomy
only a portion removed, so the remaining portion can still make hormones
total thryoidectomy
entire thyroid gland removed
thyroid malignancy
hyerpthyrpoidism
thyroidectomy pre-op care
- thorough assessment and baseline vital signs
- EKG, CXR, labs
- IV access
thyroidectomy post op care
- high fowlers portion for breathing and education of swelling
- keep head in neutral position to relieve tension
- do NOT hyperextend neck
- continuous vital sings - any increase in TPR/BP should be reported immediately
thyroid storm
AKA thyrotoxic crisis or thyrotoxicosis
SEVERE hyperthyroid state
- can result in death in as little as 2 hours
- can occur in patients with hyperthyroidism who are expecting another stressor/illness, or after thyroid surgery
thyroid storm
S/S
- hyperthyroid state symptoms
- apprehension, anxiety, restlessness
- Tachycardia
- tachypnea
- hypertension
- severly high temp- up to 106 degrees
- MONIOT VITAL SIGNS CONTINOUSLY AND CLOSELY
tREAMENT for thyroid storm
MUST BE IMMEDIATE
- reduced temp
- cooling blankets
- acetaminophen
- slow heart rate with cardiac medications
- administer sedatives to reduce anxiety, agitation, and restlessness
hypothyroidism
S/S
- weight gain
- joint pain
- slow HR
- fertility issues
- fatigue
- dry skin and brittle hair
- cold intolerance
- constipation
- non pitting edema
hypothyroidism treatment
replacement of thyroid hormone with levothyroxine (Synthroid)
life long therapy
myxedema coma
(hypothyroidism)
- life threatening medical emergency
- can occur due to abrupt withdrawal of hypothyroid treatment
- can occur due to increased stress/illness
myxedema coma
S/S
- bradycardia
- hypoventilation
- dizziness
- resp acidosis
- LOS
- hypotension
thyroiditis ACUTE
caused by an infection
treat with antibiotics
thryoiditis SUBACUTE
caused by a viral infection- respiratory
treat symptoms
thyroiditis CHRONIC
autoimmune- hashimotos thyroiditis
lifelong hormone replacement- levothyroxine
thyroiditis S/S
- enlargement of thyroid gland
- dysphagia
thyroiditis diagnosis
- lab testing (TSH, thyroid levels, radioactive iodine uptake testing)
- biopsy
- treatment goal___- reduce inflammation and prevent hypothyroidism
thyroid cancer
slow growing tumors
thyroid cancer S/S
- nodules noted on palpation
- fatigue
- weight changes
- difficulty swallowing or breathing
- voice changes
- fluctuating hormone levels
thyroid cancer diagnosis
- thyroid ultrasound
- iodine uptake studies
- fine-needles biopsies
thyroid cancer treatment
- thryoidectomy
- radioactive iodine ablation therapy