Subject(s)
Evidence-Based Nursing/standards , Practice Guidelines as Topic , Thyroid Crisis/diagnosis , Thyroid Crisis/nursing , Adult , Aged , Aged, 80 and over , Female , Humans , Male , Middle AgedABSTRACT
Thyroid storm is a life-threatening complication of thyroid dysfunction that is manifested by signs of cardiac arrhythmias, fever, and neurological impairment. These symptoms can easily be attributed to a multitude of factors commonly seen in neurological intensive care units, making the recognition and diagnosis of this event difficult. In this case study, a patient presents with a complicated course of hospitalization exacerbated by thyroid storm. Early nursing care and medical collaboration offset a potentially fatal condition.
Subject(s)
Consciousness Disorders/nursing , Critical Care/methods , Intracranial Aneurysm/nursing , Nursing Assessment/methods , Thyroid Crisis/nursing , Aged , Consciousness Disorders/etiology , Female , Humans , Intracranial Aneurysm/complications , Thyroid Crisis/complications , Thyroid Crisis/diagnosisABSTRACT
Thyroid storm is the major risk to pregnant women with thyrotoxicosis. This life-threatening condition is more likely to occur with another precipitating factor such as labor and delivery, surgical delivery, infection, or trauma. Thyroid storm most often occurs in patients with undertreated or undiagnosed hyperthyroidism. As many as 20% to 30% of cases can end in maternal and fetal mortality. Therefore, critical care nurses must be able to recognize and initiate proper medical and nursing interventions promptly.
Subject(s)
Critical Care/methods , Pregnancy Complications/nursing , Pregnancy Complications/prevention & control , Thyroid Crisis/nursing , Thyroid Crisis/prevention & control , Adult , Female , Graves Disease/complications , Graves Disease/nursing , Humans , Infant, Newborn , Pregnancy , Pregnancy Complications/etiology , Thyroid Crisis/etiology , Thyroid Gland/physiology , Thyrotoxicosis/complications , Thyrotoxicosis/nursingSubject(s)
Emergency Nursing , Thyroid Crisis/nursing , Adult , Educational Measurement , Emergency Nursing/education , Female , HumansSubject(s)
Thyroid Crisis/nursing , Adult , Emergencies , Female , Follow-Up Studies , Humans , Nursing DiagnosisSubject(s)
Emergency Nursing/methods , Thyroid Crisis/nursing , Female , Humans , Middle Aged , Nursing Assessment , Thyroid Crisis/therapyABSTRACT
A 48-year-old woman with a known history of hypothyroidism was admitted to the intensive care unit with a diagnosis of thyroid storm secondary to acute thyroid hormone poisoning and the possible hyperfunction of a singular thyroid nodule. Her clinical manifestations included pyrexia, tachycardia, tachypnea, hypertension, RUQ abdominal pain, psychotic behavior, and pharyngitis. She was successfully treated with sodium iodide, PTU, propranolol, antibiotics, and a hypothermia mattress, with her serum T4 level returning to normal range prior to discharge. The patient was discharged 9 days after admission in good medical health with no medication. This article clearly shows that the functions of the endocrine system remain a frontier in today's medicine. With research, perhaps one day we might fully understand the intricate pathophysiology that results in thyroid storm. The potential problem format has been utilized in the development of the nursing care plan to assist the nurse with identifying and defining her patient's problems, as well as directing her assessment and nursing intervention. As more is learned about thyroid storm, nurses should update their knowledge so that they will be prepared to care for the patient with these difficult nursing problems.
