Preoperative Assessment of Adrenal Insufficiency in Glucocorticoid Therapy
Abstract
Abstract To the Editor.—Despite the recent findings of Cunningham et al,1 the synthetic adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) test remains the best technique for establishing whether a patient with possible adrenal insufficiency secondary to exogenous glucocorticoid therapy can undergo the stress of surgery without supplemental steroid coverage. Jasani et al2 found in 1968 that the metyrapone and insulin-induced hypoglycemia tests were more sensitive than the ACTH stimulation test in...