Anatomy and Physiology
Adrenal insufficiency
Cortex and Medulla
Surgical principles
Everything else
100

How many adrenal arteries and veins are there per side?

3 arteries, 1 vein

100

_ syndrome is a condition characterized by pituitary infarction following postpartum hemorrhage

Sheehan
100

Screening test of choice in suspected pheochromocytoma?

plasma free metanephrines

100

What is the most important predictor of survival in resectable adrenal carcinoma?

adequacy of resection

100

Diagnostic tests for Cushing syndrome? (3)

1mg overnight dexamethasone suppression test, salivary cortisol, 24hr urinary-free cortisol excretion

200

The right adrenal vein drains into the _ while the left adrenal vein drains into the _

vena cava; left renal vein

200

_ adrenal insufficiency is due to low ACTH, often due to endogenous steroid use

Secondary 

200

Most common cause of Cushing syndrome

pharmacologic glucocorticoid use

200

Open surgical resection is indicated over laparoscopy in what size adrenal tumor?

>8cm

200

Mechanism of phenoxybenzamine?

nonspecific, noncompetitive (irreversible), long-acting (half-life of 24 hours) α-adrenergic antagonist

300

What are the three zones of the cortex and what do they secrete?

Glomerulosa - aldosterone

Fasciculata - cortisol

Reticularis - androgens (DHEA)


300

This type of adrenal insufficiency is characterized by deficient glucocorticoids and mineralocorticoids, often from an autoimmune process

Primary (Addison disease)

300

Most common site of extra-adrenal pheochromocytomas?

Organ of Zuckerkandl (paraganglion tissue between IMA and aortic bifurcation)

300

This single-access adrenalectomy technique is an option for a lean pt with a tumor <4cm

Posterior retroperitoneoscopic adrenalectomy

300

An adrenal incidentaloma of what size warrants surgical resection in a healthy patient?

4cm or greater

400

What cell type secretes epinephrine?

chromaffin cells in the adrenal medulla

400

Patients with adrenal insufficiency have hypotension due to lack of stimulation of what hormone receptor

alpha-1

400

Hypertension refractory to multiple meds can be caused by this adrenal neoplasm (not pheo)

aldosteronoma 

400

The _ technique is used to laparoscopically orient oneself when dissecting between the spleen and kidney during left adrenalectomy

Open book technique

400

A ratio of _:1 is positive for aldosteronoma when conducting adrenal vein sampling

4:1

500

What is the primary test for adrenal insuffiency and how is it done?

Cosyntropin test:

  1. Measure baseline cortisol (usually at 8 AM).

  2. Give 250 µg of cosyntropin IV or IM.

  3. Measure cortisol at 30 and 60 minutes after injection.

No rise in cortisol = insufficient response by adrenals

500

A patient that has been taking prednisone 10mg daily for the last 2 weeks presents for elective lap chole. How much prednisone do you give for stress dose steroids pre-op?

None. Pts taking <20mg steroids for less than 3 weeks don't require stress dosing for 'minor' procedures

500

This enzymatic mutation can lead to familial pheochromocytomas (not MEN)

Succinate dehydrogenase (B and D)

500

During laparoscopic resection for pheochromocytoma, early ligation of _ prevents unnecessary catecholamine release?

adrenal vein

500

First-line pharm management for intraoperative hypertensive crisis during pheochromocytoma resection?

IV nitroprusside