Endocrine Flashcards
(25 cards)
Stimulation testing for endocrine
Measures amounts of selected hormones are given to stimulate the target gland to max production. Hormone levels are then measured and compared with expected normal values failure of the hormone levels to rise at stimulation indicates hypofunction
Suppression test
Used when hormone levels are high or in upper range of normal. Drugs or other substances known to normally suppress hormone production Is administered failure of suppression of hormone production during testing indicates hyperfunction
Nursing interventions for hyperthyroidism
Monitoring for complications , reducing stimulation, promoting comfort and teaching the patient and family about therapeutic drugs and procedures
Hyperthyroidism assessment
Want to measure the patients apical poles blood pressure and temperature at least every four hours
Increases in temperature may indicate a rapid worsening of the patient’s condition in the onset of thyroid storm which is a life-threatening event that occurs with uncontrolled hyperthyroidism and is characterized by high fever and severe
hypertension
Immediately report a temperature increase of even 1°F
If the patient has a cardiac monitor check for dysrhythmias
Drug therapy for hyperthyroidism
Anti-thyroid drugs is the initial treatment
Preferred drug is tapazole (methimazole)
Ptu is used less often because of its liver toxic affects
Methimazole should not be used during pregnancy
Iodine preparations for hyperthyroidism
May be used for short-term therapy before surgery they decreased blood flow through the thyroid gland reducing the production and the release of thyroid hormones
Can result in hypothyroidism
What is the most important nursing action after thyroid surgery
Monitoring the patient for complications
The nurse should monitor vital signs every 15 minutes until the patient is stable and then every 30 minutes
Stridor
Harsh high pitched resp sound s
Can be heard in acute respiratory obstruction after thyroid surgery
Keep emergency tracheostomy equipment in the patient’s room and check their oxygen and sexing equipment are nearby and in working order
Hypocalcemia
Ask the patient hourly about tingling around the mouth of the toes and fingers
Assess for muscle twitching has a sign of calcium deficiency
Calcium gluconate with calcium chloride for IV use should be available in an emergency situation
Thyroid storm
A life-threatening event that occurs in the patient uncontrolled hyperthyroidism and occurs most often with graves disease
Manifestations develop quickly
It’s often triggered by stressors such as Trauma, infection, diabetic ketoacidosis and pregnancy. of the conditions that can lead to thyroid storm figures palpation of the goiter exposure to iodine and radioactive iodine therapy
A few symptoms of hypothyroidism
Course features edema around the eyes and face a blank expression and a thick tongue
Hypothyroidism lab levels
T3 and t4 are decreased while TSH leVels are are high
TSH levels can be decreased or near normal in patients with secondary hypothyroidism
What does a patient with hypothyroidism require
Life long thyroid hormone replacement
Synthetic hormone preparations are usually prescribed
Most common is levothyroxine sodium
Started off at lowest dose
Teach pt to take exactly when prescribed
Hyperparathyroidism
Causes hypercalcemia and hypophosphatemia
There’s an increase in bone reabsorption (bone loss of calcium)
Results when one or more parathyroid glands do not respond to the normal Feedback of serum calcium levels
The most common cause is benign tumor and one parathyroid gland
What can hypercalcemia lead to
Elevated serum levels and this can lead to peptic ulcer disease
What test is used to detect hyperthyroidism
Serum PTH, calcium, phosphorus levels and urine cyclic adenosine monophosphate (camp)
Hyperthyroidism intervention
Surgical management is the treatment of choice for patients with hyperthyroidism for those who are not candidate for surgery medication can help control the problems priority nursing interventions focusing focus on monitoring and preventing injury
Diagnostic tests for hypoparathyroidism
EEG
Blood tests
Ct scans
Also serum calcium, phosphate, magnesium, vitamin d, urine cyclic adenosine monophosphate (camp)
Used to treat Hypocalcemia
Calcium gluconate
Used to treat acute vitamin d deficiency
Calcitriol (rocaltrol)
Assay tests for endocrine
Measures the level of a specific hormone in blood or any other body fluid
Papillary carcinoma
The most common type of thyroid cancer
Occurs most often younger women
It is a slow-growing tumor and they can be present for years before spreading to nearby lymph nodes
When the tumor is confined to a thyroid gland the chance for a cure is good With a partial or total thyroidectomy
Follicular carcinoma
Occurs most often in older patients
The cancer in the blood vessels and spreads to the bone and one tissue
You can adhere to the trachea neck muscles great vessels in the skin resulting in dyspnea and dysphagia when the tumor involves the recurrent woman Geo nerves the patient may have a horse voice
Medullary carcinoma
Most common in patients older than 50
A family endocrine disorder
