NP235 TOP Exam Guide Questions and CORRECT Answers

What is Adrenal Crisis? - Physical stress from the flu or other infection, or from surgery, can send a patient with Addison disease into Addisonian crisis. Another situation that can cause symptoms of acute lack of cortisol results from prescribed treatment. What are s/s of adrenal crisis? - The patient experiences generalized malaise and muscle weakness, muscle pain, orthostatic hypotension, and vulnerability to cardiac dysrhythmias. Insufficiency of the glucocorticoids affects blood glucose levels and causes symptoms of hypoglycemia. There is also decreased secretion of gastrointestinal enzymes, which results in anorexia, nausea and vomiting, flatulence, and diarrhea. These symptoms, as well as anxiety, depression, and loss of mental acuity, have been correlated with the absence of the peaks of cortisol output that normally occur every 24 hours. What is DIC? - Damaged tissue liberates tissue thromboplastin, creating a state of excessive clotting in the microcirculation throughout the body. When excessive clotting depletes the body's clotting factors, hemorrhage follows, leading to hypotension or shock