Adrenal Crisis-Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia (CAH)

From Guide to YKHC Medical Practices

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Pediatric Critical Care Guide


Acute adrenal crisis presents as vomiting, diarrhea, dehydration, hypotension and shock. Crisis can be precipitated by illness, trauma and hyperthermia.

Adult Adrenal Crisis

Shock, with hypotension, hypovolemia and possible nonspecific symptoms such as anorexia, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, weakness, fatigue, lethargy, fever, confusion, or coma

  • Establish intravenous access with a large-gauge needle.
  • Get accucheck glucose and give instaglucose 15-20 gms (1 tube) if needed
  • Infuse 2 to 3 liters of saline as quickly as possible.
  • Give dexamethasone 4 mg IM.
  • Continue NS IV fluid hydration
  • Frequent hemodynamic monitoring and measurement glucose to avoid fluid overload and hypoglycemia


Pediatric Adrenal Crisis with Hypopit/Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia

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Shock, with hypotension, hypovolemia and possible nonspecific symptoms such as anorexia, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, weakness, fatigue, lethargy, fever, confusion, or coma

  • Establish intravenous access.
  • Get accucheck glucose. If glucose result is unknown (ie machine not working), low or undetectable give instaglucose per table. Repeat glucose 15min after giving the glucose gel to confirm that it has normalized
  • Give 20ml/kg NS bolus quickly as possible.
  • Give dexamethasone IM per table, prescribed home emergency solucortef dose IM or give solucortef per table below
  • Monitor hemodynamics, BP and glucose q1h until medevac arrives.
  • Continue 1.5 x maintenance NS IV
  • Use supportive measures as needed

General Information about CAH