Defining normal adrenal function testing in the intensive care unit setting: a canine study.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

To determine whether intensive care medicine therapies and testing influence hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal test results. It is routine in intensive care medicine to measure hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal function, commonly utilizing the adrenocorticotropic hormone stimulation test to diagnose absolute or relative adrenal insufficiency.

Design

Prospective, 96-hr animal study.

Setting

Research laboratory.

Subjects

Twenty-four healthy canines.

Interventions

Animals were randomized into two groups--awake and unrestrained or treated with intensive care medicine therapies, including sedation, intubation, and mechanical ventilation. Animals were further randomized to receive dexamethasone (or placebo) or undergo either a total of four or seven adreno

SUBMITTER: Sweeney DA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3635109 | biostudies-literature | 2010 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature