Bilateral adrenal hemorrhage after an open heart operation

Acute adrenal insufficiency following arthroplasty: a case report and review of the literature

Background

Acute adrenal insufficiency is a potentially lethal condition rarely caused by bilateral adrenal haemorrhage due to heparin use. Most of the times, it is difficult to establish the diagnosis, as symptoms are not specific. Few cases have been reported in the literature.

Case presentation

A 52-year-old Caucasian woman presented with abdominal pain, vomiting and weakness nine days after arthroplasty and heparin use. Hyperkalemia, low cortisol and high adrenocorticotropic hormone levels were found, indicating adrenal insufficiency. Magnetic resonance imaging of the upper abdomen was compatible with preceding adrenal haemorrhage. Hydrocortisone and fludrocortisone were administered. Review of the literature revealed 36 cases of postoperative adrenal haemorrhage which are presented briefly.

Conclusion

Postoperative acute adrenal insufficiency due to haemorrhage is a rare condition. If patients are treated based on clinical suspicion, they have good chances to survive. Hydrocortisone is given permanently in the majority of the patients.

Bilateral massive adrenal hemorrhage

A systematic review of the etiopathogenesis of adrenal hemorrhage reveals that the factors that determine the occurrence of this complication in a patient can be identified prospectively. Such prospective diagnostic suspicion allows the significance of the otherwise nonspecific clinical features heralding this catastrophe to be appreciated in the precrisis interval. Confirmation of the diagnosis is achieved by visual demonstration of bilaterally enlarged and hyperdense adrenal glands on a CT scan and by demonstration of adrenocortical failure on hormonal evaluation. Preemptive steroid therapy and diagnostic evaluation during the precrisis period prevent the occurrence of a potentially disastrous adrenal crisis in a patient who is seriously ill from other problems and who cannot afford a setback of this severity. Because steroid therapy delayed until the stage of crisis may be unsuccessful in salvaging such a patient, prospective recognition must be based on identifying the patient at risk for BMAH and recognizing the significance of the nonspecific clinical features that accompany it in the appropriate clinical context.