In: Nursing
The client was involved in a motor vehicle accident and sustained a significant head injury as well as severe damage to his back. The health care provider has ordered a stimulation test. (Learning Objectives: 3, 6, and 7)
What is the rationale for ordering the stimulation test for this client?
Why would you be concerned if the client sustained damage to his pituitary gland?
Explain the difference between positive and negative feedback in the endocrine system.
List advantages and disadvantages of various diagnostic tests for endocrine dysfunction.
Many head injury patients or traumatic brain injury patient suffer from injury to hypothalamus and pituitary gland. To rule out pituitary injury stimulation test is ordered.
Damage to pituitary gland afterTBI often goes unnoticed for months. Pituitary damage can cause adrenal insufficiency, diabetes insipedus and hyponatremia. It also impairs release of growth hormones.
There are two kinds of feedback system positive and negative. In positive feedback the signals pass to the effector organ to continue doing its work in same direction. In negative feedback the direction of work is reversed through signalling and thus keeps a check on system. For eg, pituitary produces TSH which in turn stimulate thyroid hormone production. Rising level of thyroid hormone in blood sends negative feedback to pituitary to inhibit TSH production.
Diagnostic tests of endocrine system helps us to know about the diseases of endocrine glands. It help us to know about the working condition, hormone production of endocrine glans.
These tests also have disadvantages. Repeated imaging and exposure to radiations can damage the glands and exposes them to high risk of malignancy. Stimulation tests can sometime overstimulate tge gland and impair its function.