Endocrine management of the cardiac surgical patient

Endocrine disorders in the cardiac surgical patient are more common than on e usually thinks. Hyperglycemia in the postoprative period is often overloo ked, not treated, or not considered serious. But postoperative consequences of hyperglycemia, such as acidosis and infection, are not trivial and prop er management of glucose metabolsim is important. Both hyper- and hypothyro idism are important; endocrine abnormalities; if not properly diagnosed and properly treated, they can lead to severe consequences and increased morbi dity. Finally adrenal dysfunction in the cardiac surgical patient is not un common and it is important to know which patients to treat with steroids an d also how to recognize and diagnose adrenal insufficiency. The purpose of this article is to assist the caregivers of the cardiac surgical patients a nd provide them with information regarding the diagnosis, treatment, and aw areness of the clinical effects of some of these common endocrine abnormali ties.