Adrenal Insufficiency After a Traumatic Accident
Adrenal insufficiency after a traumatic accident can be a life-threatening medical condition. The adrenal glands play an essential role in regulating the body’s functions. The body has two adrenal glands with one sitting on top of each kidney. If somebody suffers from adrenal insufficiency, the consequences could be severe. Some of the signs and symptoms of adrenal insufficiency include:
- An abnormal level of sodium in the bloodstream, which could lead to seizures.
- An abnormal level of potassium circulating in the blood, which might lead to cardiac arrhythmias.
- An absence of cortisol, which could lead to low blood sugar and altered mental status.
- Hypotension, or low blood pressure, which might lead to cardiovascular collapse and death.
Mechanisms and Causes of Adrenal Insufficiency
There are several ways that someone might develop adrenal insufficiency following an accident. The two most common mechanisms include:
- Traumatic Brain Injury: A traumatic brain injury could lead to damage to the pituitary gland. The pituitary gland secretes hormones that regulate the adrenal glands. Damage to the pituitary could lead to acute adrenal insufficiency.
- Adrenal Hemorrhage: The other way that someone might develop adrenal insufficiency is through direct trauma to the adrenal glands themselves. The adrenal glands are in an exposed position, resting on top of the kidneys. Blunt or penetrating trauma could cause them to hemorrhage.
The symptoms of adrenal insufficiency could be both abrupt and severe. Emergency medical treatment is often required.
Treatment of Adrenal Insufficiency
If someone presents with acute adrenal insufficiency after a traumatic accident, the first priority is to get the individual stabilized. This could require:
- Additional intravenous fluids to keep the blood pressure up.
- Specific medications to keep the heart rate and blood pressure compatible with life.
- Replacement of the missing adrenal hormones using steroids.
Once the individual is stabilized, the adrenal glands can be repaired. If the individual has pituitary damage, this could require emergency surgery as well. In some cases, the adrenal glands might be damaged beyond the point of repair. In this case, individuals might require medical replacement of these hormones for the rest of their life.
Watch YouTube Video: What is Adrenal Insufficiency? This short video provides an overview of adrenal insufficiency, its symptoms, causes, and treatment.
Contacting an Injury Lawyer
Adrenal insufficiency is a serious and life-threatening medical condition that requires the immediate attention of a doctor. Depending on the causes of adrenal insufficiency, a loved one could be placed in the intensive care unit or require emergency surgery. This can leave families with a lot of questions. During this stressful time, families should reach out to a personal injury lawyer in Sacramento. Some of the ways that an injury lawyer could help include:
- Guiding families in pursuing damages related to the accident, its injuries, and its complications.
- Helping families make difficult decisions that will set them up during the recovery process.
- Shifting a case to trial when required.
Reach out to a Sacramento personal injury lawyer and review all of the options available. You could be owed a monetary award.
Sacramento Personal Injury Lawyers
I’m Ed Smith, a Sacramento Personal Injury Lawyer. Adrenal insufficiency could place someone into hemodynamic shock, which is a life-threatening situation. If you or someone you care about has developed life-threatening complications following an accident, please reach out to me at (800) 404-5400 or (916) 921-6400 for free, friendly legal advice.
I am a member of the Million Dollar Advocates Forum and of the Top One Percent, a National Association of Distinguished Counsel.
Feel free to see our past verdicts or settlements and client reviews on Yelp, Avvo, & Google.
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