Skip to main content Accessibility help
×
Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-94fs2 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-05T06:56:47.226Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Section 3 - Endocrine disorders in the critically ill

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  06 July 2010

George M. Hall
Affiliation:
St George's Hospital, London
Jennifer M. Hunter
Affiliation:
University of Liverpool
Mark S. Cooper
Affiliation:
University of Birmingham
Get access

Summary

The endocrine system functions as a communicator and an effector. It allows 'action at a distance' in response to changes in the external and internal environment: communicating a change and effecting a response through the actions of hormones. There is reciprocity in the relationship between the endocrine and metabolic responses to critical illness. The endocrine system drives change while, in turn, the metabolic responses impact on hormone production and action. Critical illness constitutes a severe pathophysiological stressor that elicits a diverse though characteristic pathophysiological response. Patients with critical illness are exposed to the very frontier of medical technology. They are assessed thoroughly, progress is monitored closely, and outcomes are measured accurately. Despite the heterogeneity of critical illness, it is clear we must engage with it as a legitimate field of study if we are to resolve our uncertainties over the significance of endocrine and metabolic end points.
Type
Chapter
Information
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2010

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

Save book to Kindle

To save this book to your Kindle, first ensure [email protected] is added to your Approved Personal Document E-mail List under your Personal Document Settings on the Manage Your Content and Devices page of your Amazon account. Then enter the ‘name’ part of your Kindle email address below. Find out more about saving to your Kindle.

Note you can select to save to either the @free.kindle.com or @kindle.com variations. ‘@free.kindle.com’ emails are free but can only be saved to your device when it is connected to wi-fi. ‘@kindle.com’ emails can be delivered even when you are not connected to wi-fi, but note that service fees apply.

Find out more about the Kindle Personal Document Service.

Available formats
×

Save book to Dropbox

To save content items to your account, please confirm that you agree to abide by our usage policies. If this is the first time you use this feature, you will be asked to authorise Cambridge Core to connect with your account. Find out more about saving content to Dropbox.

Available formats
×

Save book to Google Drive

To save content items to your account, please confirm that you agree to abide by our usage policies. If this is the first time you use this feature, you will be asked to authorise Cambridge Core to connect with your account. Find out more about saving content to Google Drive.

Available formats
×