Endocrine Emergencies in the Medical Intensive Care Unit.

Adeel Nasrullah, Syed Azharuddin, Meilin Young, Alexis Kejas, Tiffany Dumont

Journal: Critical care nursing quarterly 2022;45(3):266-284

PMID: 35617093

Abstract

Endocrine emergencies are underdiagnosed and often overlooked amid the management of severe multisystem pathologies in critically ill patients in the medical intensive care unit (ICU). In an appropriate clinical scenario, a low threshold of suspicion should be kept to investigate for various life-threatening, yet completely treatable, endocrinopathies. Prompt identification and treatment of endocrine emergencies such as diabetic ketoacidosis, myxedema coma, thyroid storm, and/or adrenal insufficiency leads to fewer complications, shorter ICU and hospital stay, and improved survival. This review article entails common endocrine emergencies encountered in the ICU and addresses their epidemiology, pathophysiology, clinical presentation and management.

Address: Division of Pulmonology and Critical Care, Allegheny Health Network, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (Drs Nasrullah, Azharuddin, Young, and Dumont); and Department of Nursing, Allegheny Health Network, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (Ms Kejas).

DOI: 10.1097/CNQ.0000000000000411

Link outs

Free resources

Medical:

https://medlineplus.gov/endocrinediseases.html

Subscription / membership required

Full Text Sources:

MeSH Terms: Emergencies, Endocrine System Diseases, Humans, Intensive Care Units, Myxedema, Thyroid Crisis