Adrenal insufficiency in pediatric kidney transplantation recipients

BACKGROUND

Immunosuppression of pediatric kidney transplant (PKT) recipients often includes corticosteroids. Prolonged corticosteroid exposure has been associated with secondary adrenal insufficiency (AI); however, little is known about its impact on PKT recipients.

METHODS

This was a retrospective cohort review of PKT recipients to evaluate AI prevalence, risk factors, and adverse effects. AI risk was assessed using morning cortisol (MC) and diagnosis confirmed by an ACTH stimulation test. Potential risk factors and adverse effects were tested for associations with MC levels and AI diagnosis.

RESULTS

Fifty-one patients (60.8% male, age 7.4 (IQR 3.8, 13.1) years; 1 patient counted twice for repeat transplant) were included. Patients at risk for AI (MC < 240 nmol/L) underwent definitive ACTH stimulation testing, confirming AI in 13/51 (25.5%) patients. Identified risk factors for AI included current prednisone dosage (p = .001), 6-month prednisone exposure (p = .02), daily prednisone administration (p = .002), and rejection episodes since transplant (p = .001). MC level (2.5 years (IQR 1.1, 5.1) post-transplant) was associated with current prednisone dosage (p < .001), 6-month prednisone exposure (p = .001), daily prednisone administration (p = .006), rejection episodes since transplant (p = .003), greater number of medications (β = -16.3, p < .001), 6-month hospitalization days (β = -3.3, p = .013), creatinine variability (β = -2.4, p = .025), and occurrence of acute kidney injury (β = -70.6, p = .01).

CONCLUSION

Greater corticosteroid exposure was associated with a lower MC level and confirmatory diagnosis of AI noted with an ACTH stimulation test. Adverse clinical findings with AI included greater medical complexity and kidney function lability. These data support systematic clinical surveillance for AI in PKT recipients treated with corticosteroids.

Perioperative Evaluation and Management of Patients on Glucocorticoids

Myriad questions regarding perioperative management of patients on glucocorticoids (GCs) continue to be debated including which patients are at risk for adrenal insufficiency (AI), what is the correct dose and duration of supplemental GCs, or are they necessary for everyone? These questions remain partly unanswered due to the heterogeneity and low quality of data, studies with small sample sizes, and the limited number of randomized trials. To date, we know that although all routes of GC administration can result in hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis suppression, perioperative adrenal crisis is rare. Correlation between biochemical testing for AI and clinical events is lacking. Some of the current perioperative management recommendations based on daily GC dose and duration of therapy may be difficult to follow in clinical practice. The prospective and retrospective studies consistently report that continuing the daily dose of GCs perioperatively is not associated with a higher risk for adrenal crises in patients with GC-induced AI. Considering that oral GC intake may be unreliable in the early postoperative period, providing the daily GC plus a short course of IV hydrocortisone 25 to 100 mg per day based on the degree of surgical stress seems reasonable. In patients who have stopped GC therapy before surgery, careful assessment of the HPA axis is necessary to avoid an adrenal crisis. In conclusion, our literature review indicates that lower doses and shorter duration of supplemental GCs perioperatively are sufficient to maintain homeostasis. We emphasize the need for well-designed randomized studies on this frequently encountered clinical scenario.

Peri-operative steroid management in the paediatric population

BACKGROUND

Patients with adrenal insufficiency are at risk of adrenal crisis, a potentially life-threatening emergency in the peri-operative period due to their attenuated ability to mount a cortisol response. There is a lack of standardization regarding peri-operative stress-dose glucocorticoids in paediatric clinical practice with the absence of agreed protocols. For the individual patient, the risk of adrenal crisis must be weighed against the potential adverse clinical outcomes associated with unnecessary or supra-physiologic glucocorticoid dosing in susceptible patients. Specific clinical concerns in the paediatric population include osteopenia, growth restriction and increased risk of cardiovascular disease in adulthood. This review aimed to identify and evaluate available literature in the field of peri-operative stress-dose glucocorticoids.

METHODS

A comprehensive literature search was conducted to construct a narrative review.

RESULTS

The outcome of this review identified that paediatric patients, unlike adults, do not show a graded response to surgical stress with implications for glucocorticoid stress dose regimens for general anaesthesia and less invasive surgical procedures. The studies highlight a lack of information on physiological steroid responses to stress situations and differences in the approach to glucocorticoid replacement strategies in the paediatric population.

CONCLUSION

The review identified there is a lack of high-quality paediatric-specific studies evaluating appropriate stress-dose glucocorticoid regimens in paediatric patients with or at risk of adrenal insufficiency. Further research is needed to establish clear evidence-based clinical guidelines for paediatric peri-operative practice regarding steroid stress dosing in adrenal insufficiency. Current knowledge would suggest that a balanced view of risks and benefits should be taken appropriate to the clinical context, to dictate peri-operative stress-dose glucocorticoids use that permits safe perioperative management.

Perioperative stress dose steroid management of children with classical congenital adrenal hyperplasia: Too much or too little?

BACKGROUND

Children with congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH) are at risk for adrenal crises in the perioperative period and require higher doses of glucocorticoids. However, there are no specific protocols detailing the appropriate stress dosing required for children with CAH undergoing surgery with anesthesia.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate CAH patients using our current hydrocortisone stress dose surgical protocol. We hypothesized that current clinical protocols may overestimate the endogenous response to perioperative stress.

STUDY DESIGN

14 children with CAH scheduled to have genital surgery and a control group of 10 unaffected children scheduled to have cardiac or urologic surgery (of a similar duration) were evaluated in a prospective observational study. Urinary free cortisol (UFC) and urinary 17-hydroxycorticosteroids (17-OHCS) per body surface area were measured in the postoperative period.

RESULTS

UFC levels were significantly higher in CAH patients (115.8 ± 24.6 nmol/m²) than in controls (26.5 ± 12.2 nmol/m²), P < 0.05.17-OHCS levels were also higher in CAH patients than in controls (6.5 ± 0.5 nmol/m² vs. 3.4 ± 0.5 nmol/m²), P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

In the immediate postoperative period, urinary cortisol and its metabolites are significantly higher in pediatric CAH patients receiving stress dose corticosteroids compared to controls. Results suggest that the amount of hydrocortisone given during our stress dose protocol may be higher than physiologic needs. Future dynamic studies are needed to determine appropriate perioperative and postoperative cortisol requirements in pediatric CAH patients in order to develop optimal stress dose regimens.

Perioperative Glucocorticoids in Patients With Rheumatoid Arthritis Having Total Joint Replacements: Help or Harm?

Objective

The optimal strategy for perioperative glucocorticoid (GC) management in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) on chronic GCs is unknown. Although there is a concern for hypotension if inadequate doses are used, higher GC exposure may increase perioperative complications. We aimed to investigate the relationships between perioperative GCs with hemodynamic instability and short‐term postoperative complications following total hip arthroplasty (THA) and total knee arthroplasty (TKA) in patients with RA.

Methods

This retrospective study included patients with RA who underwent THA and TKA. GC exposure was assessed by the total cumulative dose (in prednisone equivalents) during hospitalization. Perioperative complications and hypotension were assessed.

Results

Of 432 patients, 387 (90%) received supraphysiologic perioperative GC. Thirty percent of patients were using chronic GCs (mean daily dose, 7 ± 4 mg). Half (54%) underwent TKA. The median age was 65 years, and 79% were women. The median cumulative GC dose during hospitalization was 37 mg (interquartile range, 27‐53.3). A lower cumulative dose of GC did not increase odds of hypotension during hospitalization (unadjusted odds ratio, 1.00 [95% confidence interval, 0.99‐1.01]; P = 0.66)]. However, postoperative complications were higher among patients who received higher cumulative doses after adjustment for age, body mass index, home GC use, smoking, and Charlson Comorbidity Index. Risk of short‐term complications increased by 8.4% (P = 0.017) for every 10‐mg increase in GC dose.

Conclusion

A lower GC dose was not associated with increased hypotension. However, patients with higher GC exposure were more likely to have hyperglycemia and other complications. These findings suggest that harms may be associated with high perioperative GC doses. Further research is needed to determine the optimal perioperative regimen for patients with RA.

Excess Mortality Among Hospitalized Patients With Hypopituitarism-A Population-Based, Matched-Cohort Study

CONTEXT

Patients with hypopituitarism face excess mortality in the long-term outpatient setting. However, associations of pituitary dysfunction with outcomes in acutely hospitalized patients are lacking.

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this work is to assess clinical outcomes of hospitalized patients with hypopituitarism with or without diabetes insipidus (DI).

DESIGN, SETTING, AND PATIENTS

In this population-based, matched-cohort study from 2012 to 2017, hospitalized adult patients with a history of hypopituitarism were 1:1 propensity score-matched with a general medical inpatient cohort.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

The primary outcome was in-hospital mortality. Secondary outcomes included all-cause readmission rates within 30 days and 1 year, intensive care unit (ICU) admission rates, and length of hospital stay.

RESULTS

After matching, 6764 cases were included in the study. In total, 3382 patients had hypopituitarism and of those 807 (24%) suffered from DI. All-cause in-hospital mortality occurred in 198 (5.9%) of patients with hypopituitarism and in 164 (4.9%) of matched controls (odds ratio [OR] 1.32, [95% CI, 1.06-1.65], P = .013). Increased mortality was primarily observed in patients with DI (OR 3.69 [95% CI, 2.44-5.58], P < .001). Patients with hypopituitarism had higher ICU admissions (OR 1.50 [95% CI, 1.30-1.74], P < .001), and faced a 2.4-day prolonged length of hospitalization (95% CI, 1.94-2.95, P < .001) compared to matched controls. Risk of 30-day (OR 1.31 [95% CI, 1.13-1.51], P < .001) and 1-year readmission (OR 1.29 [95% CI, 1.17-1.42], P < .001) was higher among patients with hypopituitarism as compared with medical controls.

CONCLUSIONS

Patients with hypopituitarism are highly vulnerable once hospitalized for acute medical conditions with increased risk of mortality and adverse clinical outcomes. This was most pronounced among those with DI.

Immunosuppressive and immunomodulator therapy for rare or uncommon skin disorders in pandemic days

Immunosuppressive and immunomodulatory therapies are important in dermatology, but indications are influenced by SARS-CoV-2. We will focus on skin disorders such as autoimmune connective tissue disorders, neutrophilic dermatoses, and vasculitis. Immunomodulators such as colchicine and antimalarials can easily be preferred taking their beneficial effects on COVID-19 into consideration and also given their wide spectrum of action. Among the conventional therapies, methotrexate, azathioprine, and mycophenolate mofetil increase the risk of infection, and thus their use is recommended only when necessary and at low doses. On the other hand, use of cyclosporine is also not recommended as it increases the risk of hypertension, which is susceptible to COVID-19. Anti-TNF agents from among the biological therapies appear to be slightly risky in terms of susceptibility to infection. However, there are ongoing studies which suggest that some biological treatments may reduce cytokine storm impeding the COVID-19 progression as a result, in spite of their susceptibilities to COVID-19. Patients, who will be started on immunosuppressive therapy, should be tested for COVID-19 prior to the therapy, and in the event that COVID-19 is suspected, the therapy should be discontinued.

COVID-19 and the use of immunomodulatory and biologic agents for severe cutaneous disease: An Australian/New Zealand consensus statement

Patients on immunomodulators, including biologic agents and new small molecular inhibitors, for cutaneous disease, represent a potentially vulnerable population during the COVID‐19 pandemic. There is currently insufficient evidence to determine whether patients on systemic immunomodulators are at increased risk of developing COVID‐19 disease or more likely to have severe disease. As such, clinicians need to assess the benefit‐to‐risk ratio on a case‐by‐case basis. In patients with suspected or confirmed COVID‐19 disease, all immunomodulators used for skin diseases should be immediately withheld, with the possible exception of systemic corticosteroid therapy, which needs to be weaned. In patients who develop symptoms or signs of an upper respiratory tract infection, but COVID‐19 is not yet confirmed, consider dose reduction or temporarily cessation for 1–2 weeks. In otherwise well patients, immunomodulators and biologics should be continued. In all patients, and their immediate close contacts, the importance of preventative measures to minimise human‐to‐human transmission cannot be overemphasised.

Impact of glucocorticoid supplementation on reducing perioperative complications in patients on long-term glucocorticoid medication: A propensity score analysis using a nationwide inpatient database

BACKGROUND

Perioperative glucocorticoid supplementation has been suggested as a potentially effective precaution against perioperative adrenal crisis in patients on long-term glucocorticoid medication.

METHODS

This retrospective cohort study used a national inpatient database in Japan. We included patients who underwent general surgery and those who received long-term glucocorticoid medication before surgery. A one-to-one propensity score-matched analysis was performed to compare patients who received 100 mg hydrocortisone during surgery with those who received no supplementation. The primary outcome was use of vasopressor agents on the day of surgery. The secondary outcomes included bleeding, perioperative infection, wound dehiscence, postoperative length of stay, and in-hospital mortality.

RESULTS

Among the 807 propensity score-matched pairs, there was no significant difference in use of vasopressor agents between patients with and without glucocorticoid supplementation (24.5% vs. 21.9%; P = 0.22) and no significant differences in any secondary outcomes.

CONCLUSIONS

Perioperative glucocorticoid supplementation was not associated with decreased morbidity or mortality.

Empiric Stress Dose Steroids in Trauma Patients: A Case Report of Hypopituitarism in Traumatic Hemorrhage

Trauma patients experience relative adrenal insufficiency or critical illness-related corticosteroid insufficiency (CIRCI) in majority of 60% of patients. It has been shown that both septic shock and trauma cause dysfunction of the hypothalamic–pituitary axis and, in some cases, structural damage to the adrenal glands themselves through hemorrhage or infarction. Empiric steroids are used commonly in patients with septic shock for patients who are refractory to fluids and vasopressors. Here, we present a unique case of a 40-year-old male with multisystem trauma who developed adrenal crisis treated by empiric stress-dose steroids. His history later revealed a history of hypopituitarism. Although data do not support the use of empiric steroids for trauma patients, this case illustrates an example where considering steroid use and keeping adrenal insufficiency and CIRCI in the differential can influence outcome.

Stress Dose Steroids: Myths and Perioperative Medicine

Perioperative medication management for patients with systemic autoimmune inflammatory diseases has focused on strategies to improve outcomes and mitigate risks. The emphasis has been to minimize the risk of infection associated with most antirheumatic medications, while attempting to avoid flares of disease precipitated by medication withdrawal. Management of glucocorticoids in the perioperative period has been based on an assumption that supraphysiologic increases in dose were always necessary to avoid hypotension and shock in glucocorticoid treated patients, and alternative strategies were rarely considered despite the known infectious, metabolic, and wound healing risks associated with glucocorticoid administration. This paper will review current recommendations for perioperative glucocorticoid administration for glucocorticoid treated patients with systemic inflammatory autoimmune diseases and discuss glucocorticoid physiology to analyze the basis for these recommendations and consider alternative perioperative management strategies.

An Approach to Minimising Risk of Adrenal Insufficiency When Discontinuing Oral Glucocorticoids

Oral glucocorticoids are commonly used across every field of medicine; however, discontinuing them in patients can be challenging. The risk of acute adrenal crises secondary to glucocorticoid withdrawal can be fatal and arises from chronic suppression of the adrenal glands. Identifying risk factors for adrenal suppression in dermatological patients, such as doses greater than 5 to 7.5 mg of prednisone equivalent, duration of glucocorticoid use greater than 3 weeks, certain medications, and comorbidities, can help risk-stratify patients. The use of adrenal gland testing such as basal cortisol levels and adrenocorticotropic hormone stimulation tests can confirm adrenal suppression in patients. This review article provides an approach that dermatologists can use to minimise the risk of adrenal insufficiency in patients discontinuing glucocorticoids and when it may be appropriate to use adrenal gland testing.

American College of Critical Care Medicine Clinical Practice Parameters for Hemodynamic Support of Pediatric and Neonatal Septic Shock

OBJECTIVES

The American College of Critical Care Medicine provided 2002 and 2007 guidelines for hemodynamic support of newborn and pediatric septic shock. Provide the 2014 update of the 2007 American College of Critical Care Medicine "Clinical Guidelines for Hemodynamic Support of Neonates and Children with Septic Shock."

DESIGN

Society of Critical Care Medicine members were identified from general solicitation at Society of Critical Care Medicine Educational and Scientific Symposia (2006-2014). The PubMed/Medline/Embase literature (2006-14) was searched by the Society of Critical Care Medicine librarian using the keywords: sepsis, septicemia, septic shock, endotoxemia, persistent pulmonary hypertension, nitric oxide, extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, and American College of Critical Care Medicine guidelines in the newborn and pediatric age groups.

MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS

The 2002 and 2007 guidelines were widely disseminated, translated into Spanish and Portuguese, and incorporated into Society of Critical Care Medicine and American Heart Association/Pediatric Advanced Life Support sanctioned recommendations. The review of new literature highlights two tertiary pediatric centers that implemented quality improvement initiatives to improve early septic shock recognition and first-hour compliance to these guidelines. Improved compliance reduced hospital mortality from 4% to 2%. Analysis of Global Sepsis Initiative data in resource rich developed and developing nations further showed improved hospital mortality with compliance to first-hour and stabilization guideline recommendations.

CONCLUSIONS

The major new recommendation in the 2014 update is consideration of institution-specific use of 1) a "recognition bundle" containing a trigger tool for rapid identification of patients with septic shock, 2) a "resuscitation and stabilization bundle" to help adherence to best practice principles, and 3) a "performance bundle" to identify and overcome perceived barriers to the pursuit of best practice principles.

Acute adrenal insufficiency: an aide-memoire of the critical importance of its recognition and prevention

Adrenal crisis is a life-threatening emergency that causes significant excess mortality in patients with adrenal insufficiency. Delayed recognition by medical staff of an impending adrenal crisis and failure to give timely hydrocortisone therapy within the emergency department continue to be commonly encountered, even in metropolitan teaching hospitals. Within the authors' institutions, several cases of poorly handled adrenal crises have occurred over the last 2 years. Anecdotal accounts from members of the Addison's support group suggest that these issues are common in Australia. This manuscript is a timely reminder for clinical staff on the critical importance of the recognition, treatment and prevention of adrenal crisis. The manuscript: (i) outlines a case and the clinical outcome of sub-optimally managed adrenal crisis, (ii) summarises the clinical features and acute management of adrenal crisis, (iii) provides recommendations on the prevention of adrenal crisis and (iv) provides guidance on the management of 'sick days' in patients with adrenal insufficiency.

Diagnosis and treatment of adrenal insufficiency including adrenal crisis: a Japan Endocrine Society clinical practice guideline [Opinion]

This clinical practice guideline of the diagnosis and treatment of adrenal insufficiency (AI) including adrenal crisis was produced on behalf of the Japan Endocrine Society. This evidence-based guideline was developed by a committee including all authors, and was reviewed by a subcommittee of the Japan Endocrine Society. The Japanese version has already been published, and the essential points have been summarized in this English language version. We recommend diagnostic tests, including measurement of basal cortisol and ACTH levels in combination with a rapid ACTH (250 μg corticotropin) test, the CRH test, and for particular situations the insulin tolerance test. Cut-off values in basal and peak cortisol levels after the rapid ACTH or CRH tests are proposed based on the assumption that a peak cortisol level ≥18 μg/dL in the insulin tolerance test indicates normal adrenal function. In adult AI patients, 15-25 mg hydrocortisone (HC) in 2-3 daily doses, depending on adrenal reserve and body weight, is a basic replacement regime for AI. In special situations such as sickness, operations, pregnancy and drug interactions, cautious HC dosing or the correct choice of glucocorticoids is necessary. From long-term treatment, optimal diurnal rhythm and concentration of serum cortisol are important for the prevention of cardiovascular disease and osteoporosis. In maintenance therapy during the growth period of patients with 21-hydroxylase deficiency, proper doses of HC should be used, and long-acting glucocorticoids should not be used. Education and carrying an emergency card are essential for the prevention and rapid treatment of adrenal crisis.

Optimal glucocorticoid replacement in adrenal insufficiency

Adrenal insufficiency (glucocorticoid deficiency) comprises a group of rare diseases, including primary adrenal insufficiency, secondary adrenal insufficiency and congenital adrenal hyperplasia. Lifesaving glucocorticoid therapy was introduced over 60 years ago, but since then a number of advances in treatment have taken place. Specifically, little is known about short- and long-term treatment effects, and morbidity and mortality. Over the past decade, systematic cohort and registry studies have described reduced health-related quality of life, an unfavourable metabolic profile and increased mortality in patients with adrenal insufficiency, which may relate to unphysiological glucocorticoid replacement. This has led to the development of new modes of replacement that aim to mimic normal glucocorticoid physiology. Here, evidence for the inadequacy of conventional glucocorticoid therapy and recent developments in treatment are reviewed, with an emphasis on primary adrenal insufficiency.

Plasma, salivary and urinary cortisol levels following physiological and stress doses of hydrocortisone in normal volunteers

BACKGROUND

Glucocorticoid replacement is essential in patients with primary and secondary adrenal insufficiency, but many patients remain on higher than recommended dose regimens. There is no uniformly accepted method to monitor the dose in individual patients. We have compared cortisol concentrations in plasma, saliva and urine achieved following "physiological" and "stress" doses of hydrocortisone as potential methods for monitoring glucocorticoid replacement.

METHODS

Cortisol profiles were measured in plasma, saliva and urine following "physiological" (20 mg oral) or "stress" (50 mg intravenous) doses of hydrocortisone in dexamethasone-suppressed healthy subjects (8 in each group), compared to endogenous cortisol levels (12 subjects). Total plasma cortisol was measured half-hourly, and salivary cortisol and urinary cortisol:creatinine ratio were measured hourly from time 0 (between 0830 and 0900) to 5 h. Endogenous plasma corticosteroid-binding globulin (CBG) levels were measured at time 0 and 5 h, and hourly from time 0 to 5 h following administration of oral or intravenous hydrocortisone. Plasma free cortisol was calculated using Coolens' equation.

RESULTS

Plasma, salivary and urine cortisol at 2 h after oral hydrocortisone gave a good indication of peak cortisol concentrations, which were uniformly supraphysiological. Intravenous hydrocortisone administration achieved very high 30 minute cortisol concentrations. Total plasma cortisol correlated significantly with both saliva and urine cortisol after oral and intravenous hydrocortisone (P <0.0001, correlation coefficient between 0.61 and 0.94). There was no difference in CBG levels across the sampling period.

CONCLUSIONS

An oral dose of hydrocortisone 20 mg is supraphysiological for routine maintenance, while stress doses above 50 mg 6-hourly would rarely be necessary in managing acute illness. Salivary cortisol and urinary cortisol:creatinine ratio may provide useful alternatives to plasma cortisol measurements to monitor replacement doses in hypoadrenal patients.

Impact and indication of early systemic corticosteroids for very severe community-acquired pneumonia

Background

The efficacy of systemic corticosteroids in community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) has not yet been confirmed. We prospectively investigated the clinical features of patients treated with early adjunctive systemic corticosteroids and its clinical impact in very severe CAP.

Methods

One hundred and one consecutive CAP patients having a pneumonia severity index of >130 points were enrolled from August 2010 through February 2013. Early adjunctive systemic corticosteroids were defined as administration of systemic corticosteroids equivalent to prednisone of ≥20 mg/day added to initial antibiotics. The multivariate analysis was performed to evaluate the independent factors associated with mortality.

Results

Thirty-two patients (31.7%) died within 28 days of admission. Early adjunctive systemic corticosteroids were administered in 30 patients (29.7%), who more frequently had alteration of mental status, serious respiratory failure, or underlying lung diseases and received fluoroquinolones as initial antibiotics. In most patients treated with early adjunctive systemic corticosteroids, the dosage was less than 60 mg/day of an equivalent to prednisone by bolus intravenous infusion for a period shorter than 8 days. The occurrence of adverse events did not differ between the groups. Factors independently associated with mortality were blood urea nitrogen (hazard ratio [HR] 1.02, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.00–1.04), serum albumin (HR 0.44, 95% CI 0.22–0.86), a requirement for intensive care (HR 4.93, 95% CI 1.75–13.87), and the therapy with early adjunctive systemic corticosteroids (HR 0.29, 95% CI 0.11–0.81).

Conclusion

Early adjunctive systemic corticosteroids may have an effect to reduce the mortality in very severe CAP, although a larger-scale study is necessary.

Anesthetic emergencies in oral surgery: malignant hyperthermia, endocrinopathy, and neurologic events

Despite the impressive safety of office-based anesthesia, serious emergencies still occur. Early and appropriate treatment is likely to improve outcomes. This article discusses selected emergencies with backgrounds and rationale for emergent treatment.

Applications of Steroid in Clinical Practice: A Review

Steroids are perhaps one of the most widely used group of drugs in present day anaesthetic practice, sometimes with indication and sometimes without indications. Because of their diverse effects on various systems of the body, there has been renewed interest in the use of steroids in modern day anaesthetic practice. This paper focuses on the synthesis and functions of steroids and risks associated with their supplementation. This paper also highlights the recent trends, relevance, and consensus issues on the use of steroids as adjunct pharmacological agents in relation to anaesthetic practice and intensive care, along with emphasis on important clinical aspects of perioperative usefulness and supplementation.

Are guidelines for glucocorticoid coverage in adrenal insufficiency currently followed?

OBJECTIVES

To search for evidence of acute adrenal failure linked to inappropriate use of stress management protocols.

STUDY DESIGN

Patients followed up for primary adrenal insufficiency (n = 102) or secondary adrenal insufficiency (n = 34) between 1973 and 2007 were included. All hospitalizations, both urgent (n = 157) and elective (n = 90), were examined. We recorded clinical evidence of acute adrenal failure, parental management before admission, and details of glucocorticoid prescription and administration in the hospital setting.

RESULTS

For urgent hospitalizations, subgroup and time period did not influence the percentage of patients hospitalized (primary adrenal insufficiency 45%; secondary adrenal insufficiency 38%; P = .55). The use of stress glucocorticoid doses by parents increased significantly after 1997 (P < .05), although still only 47% increased glucocorticoids before hospitalization. Stress doses were more frequently administered on arrival in our emergency department after 1990 (P < .05); patients with signs or symptoms of acute adrenal failure decreased to 27% after 1997 (P < .01). Twenty-four percent of all hospitalizations were marked by suboptimal adherence to glucocorticoid stress protocols, with rare but significant clinical consequences.

CONCLUSIONS

In spite of an increased use of glucocorticoid stress dose protocols by parents and physicians, patients remain at risk of morbidity and death from acute adrenal failure. This risk may be minimized with conscientious application of stress protocols, but other patient-specific risk factors may also be implicated.

Variations in Perioperative Steroid Management among Surgical Subspecialists

Previously we demonstrated consistency in perioperative steroid dosing among colon and rectal surgeons. To determine whether patterns have changed and if dosing schedules differ across surgical specialties, we evaluated multiple specialties. Questionnaires were mailed to members of the American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons (CRS) (n = 1523), American Society of Transplant Surgeons (TS) (n = 988), American Society of General Surgeons (GS) (n = 2750), and American Association of Endocrine Surgeons (ES) (n = 278). Surveys addressed demographic factors and factors in dosing, whether steroids are managed by surgeon alone or in collaboration with colleagues, and the most common taper regimens used. Four hundred fifty surveys were returned. Sixty-four respondents had retired or answered less than 50 per cent; 386 (211CRS, 116GS, 45TS, and 14ES) were available for analysis. The majority managed both perioperative (85.5%) and tapers (77%) themselves; TS and ES were significantly less likely to use other physicians ( P < 0.001). The preoperative dose used most frequently was 100 mg hydrocortisone intravenously (76% CRS, 64% GS, 22% TS, and 93% ES). Most CRS (44.5%) and GS (24.1%) taper intravenous steroids over 3 days, whereas TS (33.3%) and ES (50%) return patients to prednisone within 1 to 2 days. Discharge steroid use was inconsistent with CRS (46.4%) tapering prednisone over greater than 21 days, GS (19%) over less than 21 days, and TS (20%) and ES (21.4%) taper over 21 days to preoperative prednisone doses ( P < 0.001). In the absence of standard guidelines for perioperative corticosteroid administration, significant variations exist in the regimens used by surgeons in multiple specialties.