Neerupealiste kriis ja hüdrokortisooni erakorraline süstimine¶
Hädaabinumbrid on riigiti erinevad. Sellel lehel kasutatakse numbrit 911, mis on USA ja Kanada number. Paljud teised riigid kasutavad numbrit 112, 999 või muud numbrit. Leidke oma riigi number.
An adrenal crisis (acute adrenal insufficiency) is a time-critical endocrine emergency in which the body's levels of cortisol drop so low that blood pressure collapses, blood glucose plummets, and fatal circulatory shock develops within hours. It strikes people with Addison's disease (primary adrenal insufficiency), congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH), pituitary disorders (secondary adrenal insufficiency), or patients on long-term steroid medications when their body faces sudden physical stress such as vomiting, diarrhea, fever, infection, trauma, or surgery. Because cardiovascular collapse occurs rapidly if cortisol is not replaced, immediate treatment with an intramuscular injection of 100 milligrams of hydrocortisone (for adults) and emergency hospital transport for intravenous saline resuscitation must happen without delay.
Inject hydrocortisone first: there is zero risk of overdose from a single emergency dose
Kui teadaoleva neerupealiste puudulikkusega inimene muutub tugevalt nõrgaks, pearingluseks, segaduses, kahvatuks või hakkab oksendama või kõhulahtisust tundma, sisestage kohe erakorraline hüdrokortisoonisüst, isegi kui te pole 100 protsenti kindel, et tegemist on neerupealiste kriisiga. Endokrinoloogid üle maailma (sealhulgas Endokriinide Ühing Ameerika Ühendriikides, Ühendkuningriigi Endokrinoloogia Selts ja Euroopa neerupealiste võrgustikud) rõhutavad, et ühekordne 100-milligrammine hüdrokortisooni erakorraline annus on täiesti ohutu isegi siis, kui see on ebavajalik, samas kui süstimise edasilükkamine "ootamiseks ja vaatamiseks" või haiglasse jõudmiseni ootamine reflektoorsest šokist tingitud hüpokaleemia põhjustab ennetatavat surma arreteerimine.
Tehke seda kohe¶
- Helistage viivitamatult kohalikule hädaabinumbrile ja teatage "kahtlustatav neerupealiste kriis, vajab IV hüdrokortisooni ja 0,9% soolalahust." Helistage 911 Ameerika Ühendriikides ja Kanadas, 112 kogu Euroopa Liidus, 999 Ühendkuningriigis või vaadake kõiki hädaabinumbrid. Öelge dispetšerile, et patsient on steroididest sõltuv ja tal on äge neerupealiste puudulikkus, kuna standardsed kiirabiprotokollid ei pruugi oksendavat patsienti eelistada, välja arvatud juhul, kui neerupealiste kriis on selgesõnaliselt öeldud.
- Pane inimene pikali, jalad üles tõstetud, või külili, kui ta oksendab või on teadvuseta. Ärge laske neerupealiste kriisis inimesel püsti seista ega istuda, sest äärmuslikult madal vererõhk (ortostaatiline hüpotensioon) võib põhjustada kohese teadvusekaotuse ja südameseiskumise. Kui nad on ärkvel ega oksenda aktiivselt, asetage nad pikali ja toetage nende jalgu 15-30 sentimeetrit (6-12 tolli), et veri südamesse tagasi saata; kui nad on uimased, teadvuseta või oksendavad, keerake nad taastumisasendisse külili, et hoida hingamisteed vabad.
- Otsige üles patsiendi hädaabi steroidide süstimise komplekt ja kontrollige tema steroidide hädaabikaarti. Otsige tema käekotist, seljakotist, öökapisahtlist või mantlitaskust erkpunast või kollast Neerupealiste kriisi hädaabikomplekti, mis sisaldab süstitavat hüdrokortisooni (kas kahekambriline **hüdrokorinatisoonsoolaakt) Solu-Cortef, hüdrokortisoonnaatriumfosfaadi eeltäidetud vedelampull või pulbriviaal eraldi steriilse veeampulliga, nõelte ja süstaldega.
- Valmistage ette ja süstige erakorraline intramuskulaarne hüdrokortisoon kohe reie välimisse keskossa. Manustage standardne erakorraline annus suurde vastus lateralis lihasesse reie keskmise kolmandiku välisküljel: 100 milligrammi täiskasvanutele ja 12-aastastele ja vanematele noorukitele (või **50 milligrammi **1-1 milligrammi 21-aastastele lastele). alla 1 aasta, järgides lapse personaalset neerupealiste tegevuskava). Lükake nõel 90-kraadise nurga all otse sisse ja vajutage kolbi ühtlaselt.
- Kontrollige kapillaarvere glükoosisisaldust või ravige kahtlustatavat madalat veresuhkru taset, kui inimene suudab neelata. Kortisooli puudus kahjustab maksa võimet toota glükoosi, põhjustades sageli rasket hüpoglükeemiat (veresuhkur alla \(3,9\text{ mmol/L}\) või $70\text{ mg/dL}), eriti lastel. Kui inimene on täiesti ärkvel ja suudab ohutult alla neelata, ilma ummistuseta, andke 15-20 grammi kiiretoimelist suukaudset suhkrut (nt 120-180 milliliitrit [4-6 untsi] puuviljamahla või tavalist mittedieedivaba soodat või 3-4 glükoositabletti) või elektrolüüdilahust; ära pane kunagi vedelikku või toitu unise, segaduses või oksendava inimese suhu.
- Hoidke inimene soojas ja andke tema steroidsete hädaabikaart ja tühi viaal kiirabiarstidele. Kata patsient kiirabi ootamise ajal hüpotermia vältimiseks tekiga. Kui parameedikud saabuvad, andke neile üle patsiendi ametlik Steroid Emergency Card (NHS Steroid Emergency Card (Ühendkuningriigis NHS Steroid Emergency Card), Ameerika Ühendriikides NADF Emergency Protocol Letter või European Emergency Card) ning öelge neile hüdrokortisooni süstimise täpne aeg ja annus, et nad saaksid kohe alustada **1000 milliliitrit steroidi ja pidevat intravenoosset saliini (10 liiter) .
Neerupealiste kriisi tuvastamise ja hädaolukorra süstimise otsuste puu¶
Kasutage seda kliinilist vooskeemi, et otsustada mõne sekundi jooksul, kas steroididest sõltuv patsient vajab suukaudset "Sick Day Rule" tableti kahekordistamist või kohest intramuskulaarset hüdrokortisooni päästesüsti.
flowchart TD
Start["Addisoni tõve, CAH-i, hüpofüüsi puudulikkusega<br/>või pikaajalise steroidraviga patsiendil tekib äge stress või haigus"] --> CrisisCheck{"Kas on olemas punase lipu kriisimärke?<br/>1. Püsiv oksendamine või tugev kõhulahtisus<br/>2. Tugev pearinglus, minestamine või kahvatu niiske nahk<br/>3. Segadus, äärmine letargia või ebaselge kõne<br/>4. Tugev kõhu-, külje- või seljavalu<br/>5. Suur trauma, luumurd või reageerimatus"}
CrisisCheck -->|"JAH: esinevad kõik üksikud märgid<br/>VÕI ei saa pille alla hoida"| InjectNow["KOHENE NEEPERENALISTE KRIISI PROTOKOLL:<br/>1. Heitke lamadale (oksendamise/teadvusetu korral lamamisasendisse)<br/>2. Süstige IM hüdrokortisooni reie välimisse keskossa KOHE:<br/> - Täiskasvanud ja teismelised (12+ aastat): 100 mg<br/> - Lapsed (1-11-aastased): 50 mg<br/> - Imikud (< 1-aastased): 25 mg"]
InjectNow --> CallEMS["Helistage viivitamatult numbril 911 / 112 / 999:<br/>Märkige 'eluohtlik neerupealiste kriis'<br/>taotlege parameediku IV 0,9% tavalist soolalahust + haiglatransporti"]
CallEMS --> GlucoseStep{"Kas patsient on ärkvel ja suudab<br/>neelata ilma oksendamata?"}
GlucoseStep -->|"Jah"| GiveSugar["Kontrollige veresuhkru taset, kui glükomeeter on saadaval<br/>Hüpoglükeemia korral andke väikeste lonksudega elektrolüütide jooki või mahla<br/>Lamage lamades, kuni kiirabi kanderaami saabub"]
GlucoseStep -->|"Ei: oksendamine või unisus"| AirwayProtect["Ärge hoidke midagi suu kaudu (NPO)<br/>Säilitage külgmine asend ja hoidke soojas<br/>Käsi steroidide hädaabikaart kiirabi meeskonnale"]
CrisisCheck -->|"EI: ainult kerge kuni mõõdukas haigus,<br/>täielikult erk, ei oksenda"| OneVomitCheck{"Kas patsient on 30 minuti jooksul pärast suukaudse steroidi võtmist oksendanud KORDA<br/>?"}
OneVomitCheck -->|"Jah: ainult ühekordne oksendamine"| RepeatOral["Võtke koheselt suukaudse hüdrokortisooni topeltannus koos lonksudega veega<br/>Oodake 30 minutit: kui oksendate TEIST korda,<br/>minge kohe IM Injection + 911 / 112 / 999 juurde."]
OneVomitCheck -->|"Ei: suukaudsete pillide hoidmine"| SickDayRules["Rakendage suuhaigete päevade reegleid:<br/>- Palavik >= 37,5 C (99,5 F): KAKSPELT päevas suukaudne hüdrokortisoon<br/>- Kõrge palavik >= 39,0 C (102,2 F): KOLMEkordne ööpäevane suukaudne annus<br/>- Jaotage annuseid iga 4 kuni 6 tunni järel, sealhulgas ööpäevaringselt (elektrooniline joomine ööpäevaringselt); jälgige hoolikalt kriisipunalippe"]
Mõistmine, miks neerupealiste kriis tapab nii kiiresti: kortisooli ja aldosterooni kaskaad¶
Tervete neerupealistega inimesel eritab neerupealiste koor pidevalt kortisooli (glükokortikoidhormoon) ja aldosterooni (mineralokortikoidhormoon). Tavalistes puhketingimustes toodab terve täiskasvanu ligikaudu 15-25 milligrammi kortisooli päevas. Kui kõrge palavik, infektsioon, trauma või oksendamine tabab tervet hüpofüüsi, annab neerupealistele korralduse suurendada kortisooli tootmist 3- kuni 10-kordselt, kuni 100-300 milligrammi päevas.
Neerupealiste puudulikkusega patsiendil ei suuda neerupealised seda tõusu tekitada. Kui täiendavat asendussteroidi ei manustata suu või süstiga, ilmneb samaaegselt neli füsioloogilist ebaõnnestumist:
1. Veresoonte toonuse kaotus ja katehhoolamiinide mittereageerimine (vasoplegic šokk)¶
Kortisool säilitab veresoonte ja südame alfa-1 ja beeta-1 adrenergiliste retseptorite tundlikkuse. Ilma kortisoolita ei suuda looduslik adrenaliin (epinefriin) ja noradrenaliin (norepinefriin) artereid ahendada. Veresooned laienevad kontrollimatult, perifeerne resistentsus variseb kokku ja vererõhk langeb raskesti vastutulelikuks vasoplegiliseks šokiks, mis takistab vasopressori tilkumist kuni veenisisese hüdrokortisooni manustamiseni.
2. Neerude massiline soola ja vee raiskamine (hüpovoleemiline šokk)¶
Primaarse neerupealiste puudulikkuse (Addisoni tõbi ja soolade raiskamist põhjustav kaasasündinud neerupealiste hüperplaasia) korral puudub neerupealiste koores ka aldosteroon, mis käsib neerudel säilitada naatriumi ja vett, samal ajal eritades kaaliumi. Ilma aldosterooni ja kortisoolita lasevad neerud naatriumi ja vett uriiniga. Koos oksendamise või kõhulahtisusega väheneb ringleva vere maht 20-30 protsenti (täiskasvanul 3-5 liitrit) mõne tunni jooksul, põhjustades hüpovoleemilise šoki ja ägeda neerukahjustuse.
3. Ohtlikud elektrolüütide häired: hüponatreemia ja hüperkaleemia¶
Kuna naatrium kaob uriiniga ja antidiureetilise hormooni (ADH) tase tõuseb, langeb vere naatriumisisaldus järsult (äge hüponatreemia, sageli alla 130 $\text{ mmol/L} $), põhjustades ajuturset, segasust ja krampe. Samal ajal tõuseb primaarse neerupealiste puudulikkuse korral vere kaaliumisisaldus üle \(5,5\text{ kuni }7,0\text{ mmol/L}\) (hüperkaleemia), mürgitades südamejuhtivust ja vallandades T-lainete tipptasemed, bradükardia ja äkilise vatsakeste virvendusarütmia.
4. Maksa glükoneogeneesi ebaõnnestumine (raske hüpoglükeemia)¶
Kortisool juhendab maksa tootma aminohapetest ja glütseroolist glükoosi (glükoneogenees). Kui kortisool kaob paastumise või haiguse ajal, tühjeneb maksa glükogeen kiiresti ja veresuhkru tase langeb alla \(3.0\text{ mmol/L}\) (\(54\text{ mg/dL}\)). Kaasasündinud neerupealiste hüperplaasia (CAH) või hüpopituitarismiga imikutel ja väikelastel on neuroglükopeeniline hüpoglükeemia sageli esimene kriisi märk, mis avaldub lonkamise, reageerimatuse või krambihoogudena.
Kolme tüüpi neerupealiste puudulikkuse võrdlus¶
| Funktsioon | Primaarne neerupealiste puudulikkus (Addisoni tõbi ja CAH) | Sekundaarne neerupealiste puudulikkus (hüpofüüsi puudulikkus) | Tertsiaarne / steroididest põhjustatud neerupealiste puudulikkus |
|---|---|---|---|
| Anatomical site of failure | Adrenal cortex itself is destroyed or enzymatically blocked. | Pituitary gland fails to secrete ACTH. | Hypothalamus and pituitary suppressed by long-term prescription steroids. |
| Common underlying causes | Autoimmune adrenalitis (Addison's disease), Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia (21-hydroxylase deficiency), bilateral adrenalectomy, adrenal hemorrhage, tuberculosis, or checkpoint inhibitor immunotherapy. | Pituitary tumors, pituitary surgery or radiation, Sheehan's syndrome, traumatic brain injury, or hypophysitis. | Long-term use (\(>3\text{ to }4\text{ weeks}\)) of oral prednisone, prednisolone, dexamethasone, methylprednisolone, or high-dose inhaled/injected corticosteroids. |
| Cortisol & Aldosterone | Both cortisol and aldosterone deficient (takes daily hydrocortisone + fludrocortisone). | Cortisol deficient; aldosterone preserved (controlled by kidney renin-angiotensin system). | Cortisol blunted; aldosterone preserved. |
| Classic skin appearance | Hyperpigmentation ("bronzing") of skin creases, knuckles, scars, and gums due to high ACTH. | Pale skin that fails to tan due to low ACTH. | Often shows Cushingoid features (rounded face, thin skin) from prior therapeutic steroids. |
| Specific lab hazards | Severe dehydration, hyponatremia, hyperkalemia, and hypoglycemia. | Severe hyponatremia and hypoglycemia; normal potassium. | Severe hypotension, hyponatremia, and shock if steroids are stopped abruptly or not stress-dosed. |
| Emergency IM Hydrocortisone | 100 mg IM immediately (50 mg for ages 1 to 11 yrs; 25 mg for \(<1\text{ yr}\)). | 100 mg IM immediately (50 mg for ages 1 to 11 yrs; 25 mg for \(<1\text{ yr}\)). | 100 mg IM immediately (50 mg for ages 1 to 11 yrs; 25 mg for \(<1\text{ yr}\)). |
Recognizing an impending or active adrenal crisis: symptom progression¶
Watch for these symptoms, especially when triggered by gastroenteritis (vomiting/diarrhea accounts for over 50 percent of all adrenal crises), urinary or respiratory infections, dental extractions, extreme heat, or trauma.
Early warning signs (Pre-crisis window: minutes to a few hours)¶
- Sudden, overwhelming physical exhaustion and muscle weakness: Difficulty lifting the head or walking across a room.
- Severe nausea, loss of appetite, and abdominal cramping: Often mistaken for simple indigestion.
- Postural dizziness and lightheadedness: Vision darkens whenever sitting up or standing.
- Severe headache, irritability, restlessness, or confusion: Early signs of falling blood pressure, hyponatremia, and low brain cortisol.
- Unexplained fever or subnormal body temperature (chills and shivering): Cortisol loss disrupts thermoregulation.
Full-blown adrenal crisis red flags (Life-threatening medical emergency)¶
- Repeated vomiting or watery diarrhea: Once oral tablets are vomited up, the gut cannot absorb oral replacement, making an intramuscular injection mandatory.
- Severe, sharp abdominal, lower back, or flank/leg pain: A hallmark of adrenal crisis that can mimic an acute surgical abdomen.
- Pale, cold, clammy, mottled skin with delayed capillary refill (\(>2\text{ seconds}\)).
- Tachycardia and profound hypotension: Fast weak pulse (\(>110\text{ to }130\text{ bpm}\)) with systolic blood pressure below \(90\text{ mmHg}\).
- Encephalopathy, slurred speech, stupor, seizures, or coma: Often mistaken for intoxication, stroke, või sepsis.
Gastroenteriidi lõks: miks suukaudsed pillid oksendamise ja kõhulahtisuse ajal ebaõnnestuvad
Isegi kui patsient neelab kõhuhaiguse ajal alla kahe- või kolmekordse annuse suukaudseid hüdrokortisooni tablette, takistavad äge oksendamine ja kiire vesine kõhulahtisus maos ja peensooles ravimi vereringesse imendumast. Täpselt sel hetkel, kui keha vajab dehüdratsiooni ja soolepõletiku üleelamiseks 3-5 korda normaalsest kortisoolitaset, langeb tsirkuleeriv kortisool nulli. Rusikareegel: kui patsient oksendab ühe korra 30 minuti jooksul pärast suukaudse steroidiannuse võtmist, võib ta kohe võtta ühe korduva kahekordse suukaudse annuse koos väikeste lonksude veega; kui nad oksendavad teist korda või kui neil on tugev vesine kõhulahtisus, ärge proovige uuesti suukaudseid pille: tehke kohe 100 mg intramuskulaarne hüdrokortisooni süst ja helistage 911 / 112 / 999.
Samm-sammuline juhend: kuidas valmistada ja süstida intramuskulaarset hüdrokortisooni¶
Hüdrokortisooni hädaabikomplektid on kolmes põhivormingus, olenevalt teie riigist ja apteegist. Kuna ravimi valmistamine värisevate kätega hädaolukorras on stressirohke, järgige allolevaid konkreetseid juhiseid patsiendi komplektis oleva viaalitüübi kohta.
Laste ja täiskasvanute erakorralise doseerimise võrdlustabel¶
Enne süsti koostamist kinnitage patsiendi vanusepõhine annus (mis on koostatud Ühendkuningriigi Endokrinoloogia Seltsist, Briti Pediaatrilise Endokrinoloogia ja Diabeedi Ühingust [BSPED] ja Ameerika Ühendriikide Endokriinsüsteemi Ühingu konsensusjuhistest):
| Patsiendi vanus ja ligikaudne kaalurühm | Hüdrokortisooni erakorraline intramuskulaarne annus | Süstitav maht (segamisel standardse kontsentratsiooniga \(100\text{ mg} / 2\text{ mL}\) [\(50\text{ mg/mL}\)]) | Süstitav kogus (kui kasutate eeltäidetud 100 $\text{ mg} / 1\text{ ml} $ vedelampulli) | Soovitatav nõela suurus reie välimise keskosa jaoks (vastus lateralis) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Täiskasvanud ja 12-aastased ja vanemad noorukid | 100 milligrammi | Kogu \(2\text{ ml}\) viaal | Kogu \(1\text{ ml}\) ampull | 21G kuni 23G, pikkus 25-38 millimeetrit (1-1,5 tolli) (sinine või roheline jaotur). |
| 6-11-aastased lapsed (või algkooliealised) | 50 milligrammi (Märkus: mõned USA protokollid kasutavad kehapinna alusel 50-100 mg [\(50\text{ kuni }100\text{ mg/m}^2\)]; järgige lapse kirjalikku hooldusplaani) | \(1.0\text{ mL}\) (pool \(2\text{ mL}\) segaviaalist) | \(0.5\text{ mL}\) (pool \(1\text{ mL}\) ampullist) | 23G to 25G, length 25 millimeters (1 inch) (blue or orange hub). |
| Young Children aged 1 to 5 years | 50 milligrammi | \(1.0\text{ mL}\) (pool \(2\text{ mL}\) segaviaalist) | \(0.5\text{ mL}\) (pool \(1\text{ mL}\) ampullist) | 23G kuni 25G, pikkus 16-25 millimeetrit (⅝ kuni 1 tolli). |
| Alla 1-aastased imikud | 25 milligrammi | \(0,5\text{ mL}\) (üks neljandik \(2\text{ mL}\) segaviaalist) | \(0.25\text{ mL}\) (one-quarter of the \(1\text{ mL}\) ampoule) | 25G, pikkus 16 millimeetrit (⅝ tolli) (oranž rummu). |
Meetod A: kuidas kasutada kahekambrilist Act-O-Viaali (Solu-Cortef 100 mg / 2 ml)¶
Solu-Cortef Act-O-Vial (hüdrokortisoonnaatriumsuktsinaat) on kõige levinum hädaabiseade Ameerika Ühendriikides, Kanadas, Austraalias ja osades Euroopas. See on üks klaaspudel, mis on keskmise kummikorgiga jagatud kaheks pooleks: alumine pool mahutab valget hüdrokortisoonipulbrit ja ülemine pool \(2\text{ milliliitrit}\) steriilset vett.
- Wash or sanitize your hands if quick, and set the kit on a flat surface. Do not waste minutes scrubbing if the patient is collapsing; speed is more important than sterile perfection.
- Press down firmly on the plastic activator cap at the top of the vial. Place the bottle upright on a hard table and push straight down with the heel of your palm on the top plastic cap until you feel it click and see the middle rubber divider drop into the bottom chamber, releasing the sterile water into the white powder.
- Gently rock and swirl the vial for 10 to 15 seconds until the liquid is clear. Do not shake violently (which creates foam bubbles), just tilt and roll the bottle between your palms until all white powder dissolves completely.
- Flip off the small plastic center tab on top of the cap. This exposes the flat rubber circle in the center of the top cap. (If an alcohol swab is handy, wipe the rubber top once and let it dry for a second.)
- Attach the needle tightly to the syringe, remove the needle cap, and pull back the plunger to the 2 mL mark (air). Putting \(1\text{ to }2\text{ mL}\) of air into the syringe first makes drawing the liquid out of the pressurized vial much easier.
- Push the needle straight down through the center of the rubber circle and inject the air into the vial. Keep the needle tip inside the bottle.
- Pöörake viaal ja süstal tagurpidi (viaal peal, süstal all) silmade kõrgusel. Veenduge, et nõela ots jääks pudelikaela sees olevast vedelikutasemest allapoole, nii et tõmbate vedelikku, mitte õhku.
- Pull the plunger straight down to draw out the full dose. Pull all the way to the \(2\text{ mL}\) mark for an adult/adolescent (100 mg), the \(1.0\text{ mL}\) mark for a child aged 1 to 11 (50 mg), or the \(0.5\text{ mL}\) mark for an infant under 1 year (25 mg).
- Tap out large air bubbles and remove the needle from the vial. With the needle still pointing toward the ceiling, flick the barrel of the syringe with your finger so any large air bubbles rise to the top, push the plunger up slightly until a tiny bead of liquid appears at the needle tip, and pull the needle straight out of the bottle. (Do not panic over tiny champagne-sized micro-bubbles; in an intramuscular thigh injection, small air bubbles are completely harmless.)
Meetod B: Kuidas kasutada eelsegatud vedelklaasist ampulli (hüdrokortisoonnaatriumfosfaat 100 mg / 1 ml)¶
Ühendkuningriigis (nt Efkortesool või geneeriline hüdrokortisoonnaatriumfosfaat) ja osades Euroopas tavaliselt välja kirjutatud see on kasutusvalmis läbipaistev vedelik väikeses suletud klaasist kaelaga ampullis, mis ei vaja segamist.
- Koputage küünega klaasampulli ülemist kaelaosa. See tagab, et kogu vedelik langeb klaasampulli põhikorpusesse ja ükski ei jää ülemisse korki kinni.
- Leidke ampulli kaelast värviline täpp ja klõpsake klaasist kate punktist eemale. Hoidke ampulli põhja ühes käes, asetage teine pöial otse kaelal oleva värvilise täpi kohale (sõrmede kaitsmiseks klaasi eest mähkige salvrätik, marlilapp või särgi nurk ülemise osa ümber) ja lükake puhast klaasi ülaosast kindlalt eemale **tagasi.
- Sisestage süstla küljes olev nõel avatud ampulli katkist klaasist serva puudutamata. Vajadusel kallutage ampulli veidi ja tõmmake kolbi tagasi, et tõmmata täis vedelik \(1\text{ mL}\) täiskasvanu jaoks (või \(0,5\text{ mL}\) 1-11-aastase lapse puhul, $0,25 $/text in{0,25 $\text). Kui teie komplekt sisaldab filtrinõela klaasist tõmbamiseks, vahetage enne jalga süstimist intramuskulaarse süstenõela vastu.
- ** Suunake süstal üles, koputage silindrit ja suruge veidi kolbi, kuni selle otsa ilmub tilk.**
Step-by-step: Injecting into the outer mid-thigh (vastus lateralis)¶
Once your syringe is loaded with hydrocortisone, administer the injection into the outer middle third of the thigh immediately:
- Locate the target zone on the thigh. Visually divide the patient's thigh from the hip bone crease at the top to the kneecap at the bottom into three equal horizontal bands. The safe target is the middle third, on the outer side (lateral aspect) of the thigh. Expose the skin if quick, though in a dire emergency you can inject through thin, clean single-layer clothing if removing tight pants would delay care.
- Stretch the skin flat (or gently bunch the muscle in a very thin person or young child). Place your non-dominant hand on the thigh and stretch the skin taut between your thumb and index finger.
- Dart the needle straight in at a 90-degree angle. Hold the syringe barrel like a dart between your thumb and fingers and push the needle smoothly and firmly straight into the thigh muscle at a 90-degree angle to the skin surface, inserting roughly two-thirds to the full length of the needle so the tip sits deep inside the muscle belly. Modern guidelines from the World Health Organization, CDC, and UK NHS confirm that you do NOT need to pull back/aspirate for blood before injecting into the lateral thigh because no major blood vessels run through this zone.
- Push the plunger all the way down smoothly over 3 to 5 seconds. A steady, moderate push reduces muscle stinging while getting the steroid into the rich capillary bed of the thigh muscle rapidly.
- Wait 2 seconds, pull the needle straight out at the same 90-degree angle, and press the spot. Press a piece of gauze, tissue, or your clean finger firmly over the injection site for 10 to 20 seconds. Do not rub or massage the site vigorously, as rubbing can force the medication back up into the subcutaneous fat layer where it absorbs more slowly.
- Make the needle safe immediately. Activate the hinged safety shield if using a safety needle, or place the uncapped syringe directly into a hard plastic container or sharps box so neither you nor the paramedics suffer an accidental needlestick.
Subcutaneous Injection Alternative (Off-Label Emergency Backup)
Standard intramuscular injection into the thigh muscle is the gold standard and reaches peak therapeutic cortisol levels in roughly 15 to 30 minutes. However, pharmacokinetic trials conducted in Europe have demonstrated that if a patient or caregiver only has a shorter subcutaneous needle or cannot perform a deep muscle injection when alone, injecting \(100\text{ mg}\) of hydrocortisone subcutaneously into a pinched fold of abdominal fat reaches safe crisis-protective blood cortisol concentrations (\(>1,000\text{ nmol/L}\) or \(36\text{ mcg/dL}\)) in approximately 22 minutes (compared to 11 to 15 minutes intramuscularly). Never let fear of intramuscular injection stop you from getting the hydrocortisone under the skin.
Why hospital transport and IV 0.9% normal saline are mandatory after the injection¶
A common and dangerous misconception is that once a patient receives their 100 milligram hydrocortisone injection at home and starts feeling slightly better 30 minutes later, they can stay home and rest. Every patient who receives an emergency hydrocortisone injection for suspected adrenal crisis must be transported by ambulance to an emergency department.
Here is why the home injection is only the bridge to hospital resuscitation:
- A single IM dose of hydrocortisone wears off in 4 to 6 hours: Intramuscular hydrocortisone has a short biological half-life. If the underlying trigger (such as viral gastroenteritis, bacterial sepsis, influenza, or pneumonia) is still active when that single injection wears off 4 hours later, the patient will crash straight back into a second, deeper adrenal crisis unless they are on continuous hospital intravenous hydrocortisone (\(200\text{ mg}\) per 24 hours by continuous IV infusion, or \(50\text{ mg}\) IV/IM every 6 hours).
- Hydrocortisone alone cannot replace lost blood volume: A patient in adrenal crisis has lost liters of intravascular fluid and sodium. Standard emergency medicine guidelines (Endocrine Society, UK Society for Endocrinology, and NICE) mandate an immediate intravenous bolus of \(1,000\text{ milliliters}\) (\(1\text{ liter}\)) of isotonic \(0.9\%\) sodium chloride (normal saline) infused within the first 30 to 60 minutes for adults (or \(20\text{ mL/kg}\) isotonic saline bolus for children), followed by 3 to 4 additional liters over the first 24 hours, often paired with \(5\%\) dextrose (\(D5\text{NS}\)) to correct hypoglycemia.
- Life-threatening electrolyte shifts require hospital ECG and lab monitoring: Only a hospital laboratory can measure serum potassium (to prevent hyperkalemic cardiac arrest), serum sodium (to prevent correcting chronic hyponatremia faster than \(8\text{ to }10\text{ mmol/L}\) per 24 hours, which causes osmotic demyelination syndrome), and identify occult bacterial infections requiring intravenous antibiotics.
Prevention: Mastering the "Sick Day Rules" before a crisis starts¶
Up to half of all hospital admissions for adrenal crisis can be prevented when patients and families aggressively apply Oral Sick Day Rules at the very first sign of physical illness, fever, or trauma. Because a steroid-dependent body cannot raise its own cortisol, you must manually mimic nature's stress response:
Summary of standard international Sick Day Rules (Adult & Pediatric Principles)¶
| Clinical Stress / Illness Scenario | Oral Glucocorticoid Adjustment (Hydrocortisone or Prednisone/Prednisolone) | Timing and Duration of Adjustment |
|---|---|---|
| Mild Illness without Fever (Common cold with runny nose only, minor bruise) | Usually NO change needed. If unusually fatigued or nauseated, move to Sick Day Rule 1. | Return to normal dose once symptoms clear. |
| Sick Day Rule 1: Moderate Illness or Fever \(\ge 37.5^\circ\text{C}\) (\(99.5^\circ\text{F}\)) (Flu-like illness, bronchitis, UTI, ear infection, starting oral antibiotics) | DOUBLE the total daily oral steroid dose (e.g., if normal daily hydrocortisone is \(20\text{ mg}\), increase to \(40\text{ mg}\) per day; if taking \(5\text{ mg}\) prednisone/prednisolone once daily, increase to \(10\text{ mg}\) per day). | Spread doses evenly every 4 to 6 hours around the clock, including overnight so cortisol never drops to zero. Continue until fever-free for 48 hours. Never double fludrocortisone. |
| Sick Day Rule 2: Severe Fever \(\ge 39.0^\circ\text{C}\) (\(102.2^\circ\text{F}\)) | TRIPLE the total daily oral hydrocortisone dose (up to \(60\text{ mg/day}\) in adults), split every 6 hours day and night, and seek medical evaluation. | Maintain until fever drops below \(37.5^\circ\text{C}\) (\(99.5^\circ\text{F}\)), then step down to double dose for 2 days. |
| Single Episode of Vomiting or Mild Diarrhea | Immediately take an extra double oral dose (\(20\text{ mg}\) hydrocortisone in an adult) right after vomiting subsides, with small sips of electrolyte solution. | If vomiting occurs a SECOND time within 30 to 60 minutes, inject 100 mg IM hydrocortisone immediately and call 911 / 112 / 999. |
| Dental Procedures, Surgery, or Childbirth | Dental cleaning: Extra \(10\text{ to }20\text{ mg}\) oral hydrocortisone 1 hour prior. Tooth extraction: Up to \(100\text{ mg}\) oral/IM prior, plus double dose for 24 hours. Major surgery or active labor: \(100\text{ mg}\) IV or IM hydrocortisone at induction, followed by \(200\text{ mg}\)/24 hours continuous IV infusion. |
Taper over 2 to 3 days post-procedure if recovery is uncomplicated. |
How to advocate with paramedics and emergency room doctors¶
When accompanying a patient in adrenal crisis to the hospital, use these three steps: 1. Present the official Steroid Emergency Card immediately at triage: In the United Kingdom, hand over the red NHS Steroid Emergency Card. In the United States and Canada, hand over the National Adrenal Diseases Foundation (NADF) or Endocrine Society Emergency Room Protocol Letter. These cards instruct triage staff that IV hydrocortisone (\(100\text{ mg}\)) and IV \(0.9\%\) normal saline (\(1,000\text{ mL}\) bolus) must be given within 15 to 30 minutes of arrival, BEFORE waiting for laboratory blood test results. 2. Keep the patient lying flat on a stretcher: Never let a dizzy or hypotensive patient sit upright in a waiting room chair, as sitting upright pools blood in the lower extremities and can trigger syncope or cardiac arrest. 3. Carry two unexpired kits at all times: Check expiration dates every 6 months, keep one kit at home and one in a travel bag, and store vials between \(20^\circ\text{C}\) and \(25^\circ\text{C}\) (\(68^\circ\text{F}\) to \(77^\circ\text{F}\)).
Võtke kursus
Taking a hands-on first aid course from the Red Cross, St John Ambulance, or a local emergency training organization, combined with practicing intramuscular injection technique on an orange or training pad with your endocrinology nurse, builds the muscle memory needed to act calmly during a real medical crisis.
Korduma kippuvad küsimused¶
Can I accidentally harm or overdose someone by giving them a 100 mg hydrocortisone injection if it turns out they were not having an adrenal crisis?
No, a single emergency intramuscular injection of 100 milligrams of hydrocortisone (or the age-appropriate pediatric dose) will not cause any severe or lasting harm, even if the person turns out to have a simple illness rather than a true adrenal crisis. The notorious side effects of steroids (such as bone thinning, weight gain, or immune suppression) only happen after weeks or months of high-dose use, whereas withholding or delaying a single rescue injection during an actual adrenal crisis can lead to irreversible shock and death within hours.
Why can a person with Addison's disease not just take extra oral hydrocortisone pills when they have a stomach virus and are vomiting?
When a person has acute gastroenteritis with repeated vomiting or severe watery diarrhea, swallowed tablets are either expelled before dissolving or pass through the inflamed digestive tract without being absorbed into the bloodstream. At the exact same time, the infection and fluid loss double or triple the body's urgent demand for cortisol; therefore, any vomiting that prevents keeping oral tablets down for at least 30 minutes requires an immediate intramuscular injection that bypasses the gut completely.
What if I accidentally inject a small air bubble into the thigh muscle during the emergency injection?
Do not panic or waste precious minutes trying to flick out every microscopic bubble in the syringe. While large air pockets should be tapped to the top and pushed out so that you draw the full liquid medication volume, injecting a small air bubble into the dense thigh muscle (intramuscular route) is completely harmless and simply gets absorbed by the body's tissues; air bubbles are only a hazard when large volumes of air are injected directly into a major vein.
Can I use an EpiPen (epinephrine auto-injector) instead of hydrocortisone for an adrenal crisis?
No, an EpiPen contains epinephrine (adrenaline) for severe allergic anaphylaxis and does NOT replace cortisol or treat an adrenal crisis. In fact, when a person is in an adrenal crisis, their blood vessels lose the ability to respond properly to adrenaline until cortisol is restored; only an injectable corticosteroid (hydrocortisone, or if hydrocortisone is unavailable in a remote setting, injectable methylprednisolone, dexamethasone, or prednisolone) can reverse an adrenal crisis.
If the person feels much better 30 minutes after the home hydrocortisone injection, do we still have to go to the emergency room?
Yes, you must still go to the hospital by ambulance every single time an emergency hydrocortisone injection is given. A single intramuscular injection of hydrocortisone only protects the body for 4 to 6 hours and does nothing to replace the 2 to 4 liters of fluid and sodium lost from the bloodstream; hospital doctors must administer intravenous 0.9 percent normal saline, check blood potassium and glucose levels, treat the underlying infection, and maintain continuous IV or repeated IM steroid coverage until the patient can keep oral pills and fluids down for 24 hours.
Should a patient double their fludrocortisone (Florinef) tablets when they double their hydrocortisone for a fever?
No, patients with primary adrenal insufficiency generally do not need to double their daily fludrocortisone tablets when they double or triple their oral hydrocortisone for a fever or illness. Once total daily hydrocortisone reaches 40 to 50 milligrams or more (and certainly after a 100 milligram emergency injection), the hydrocortisone itself binds strongly to mineralocorticoid receptors and provides all the extra salt-retaining aldosterone activity the body needs.
Allikad kontrollitud¶
- Endocrine Society (United States) and European Society of Endocrinology: Clinical Practice Guideline on the Diagnosis and Treatment of Primary Adrenal Insufficiency (Bornstein et al., Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism) and Joint Clinical Practice Guideline on Glucocorticoid-Induced Adrenal Insufficiency (2024).
- Society for Endocrinology (United Kingdom) and Royal College of Physicians (United Kingdom): Emergency Guidance for the Management of Acute Adrenal Insufficiency (Adrenal Crisis) in Adult Patients and National Patient Safety Alert: Steroid Emergency Card to Support Early Recognition and Treatment of Adrenal Crisis in Adults.
- British Society for Paediatric Endocrinology and Diabetes (BSPED, United Kingdom) and National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE, United Kingdom): Guideline for the Management of Adrenal Insufficiency in Children and Young People (NG243: Adrenal Insufficiency: Identification and Management, 2024).
- National Adrenal Diseases Foundation (NADF, United States) and Addison's Disease Self-Help Group (ADSHG, United Kingdom): Emergency Injection Instructions for Solu-Cortef Act-O-Vial and Hydrocortisone Sodium Phosphate Ampoules, Sick Day Rules, and EMS Handover Protocols.
- World Health Organization (WHO): Best Practices for Injections and Related Procedures Toolkit (intramuscular vastus lateralis anatomical landmarks and non-aspiration recommendations).