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