2. Thyroid Gland
Butterfly-shaped organ
Present in lower neck
Anterior to the trachea
Two lateral lobes connected by isthmus
Gland is about 5 cm long and 3 cm wide
Weighs about 30 g
3. Hormones
The thyroid gland produces three hormones:
Thyroxine (T4)
Triodothyronine (T3)
Calcitonin.
The blood flow to the thyroid is very high (about 5 mL/min per gram of
thyroid tissue), approximately five times the blood flow to the liver.
4. Functions of Thyroid Hormones
Control cellular metabolic activity
Influence cell replication
Important in brain development
Necessary for normal growth
5. Functions of Thyroid Hormones
Heat production
Regulates metabolism of carbohydrates, proteins and fats
Enhance the effects of adrenaline and nor adrenaline
T4, a relatively weak hormone
T3 is about five times as potent as T4
6. Related Disorders
Cretinism
Inadequate secretion of thyroid hormone
During fetal and neonatal development results in
Stunted physical and mental growth (cretinism)
General depression of metabolic activity
7. Related Disorders
Goiter
“Goiter also commonly occurs with iodine deficiency”
Lack of iodine reduces thyroid hormones
Increased release of TSH
Elevated TSH
Hypertrophy of the thyroid gland
9. Procedure Patient is instructed to extend the neck
slightly and swallow
Thyroid tissue rises normally
The thyroid is then palpated for:
Size
Shape
Consistency
Symmetry
Presence of tenderness
12. Thyroid Tests
Serum Free T4
The test most commonly used to confirm an abnormal TSH
result is free T4.
Normal
Range: 0.9 to
1.7 ng/dL
13. Thyroid Tests
Serum T3 and T4
Measurement of total T3 or T4 includes protein bound and
free hormone levels that occur in response to TSH
secretion.
Normal Range T4: 4.5 to 11.5 g/dL
Normal Range T3: 70 to 220 ng/dL
14. Thyroid Tests
T3 Resin Uptake Test:
Determine the amount of thyroid hormone bound to
TBG
The number of available binding sites.
This provides an index of the amount of thyroid
hormone already present in the circulation.
Normal Range:
Normal T3 uptake value is 25% to 35%
15. Thyroid Tests
Thyroid Antibodies:
Antithyroid antibodies are positive in chronic
autoimmune disease
Radioactive Iodine Uptake Test:
The radioactive iodine uptake test measures the rate
of iodine uptake by the thyroid gland.
16. Thyroid Tests
Fine Needle Aspiration Biopsy
Use of a small-gauge needle to sample the thyroid tissue for
biopsy is a safe and accurate method of detecting
malignancy.
Thyroid Scan
Scans are helpful in determining the location, size, shape,
and anatomic function of the thyroid gland.
17. Hypothyroidism
Hypothyroidism results from suboptimal levels of
thyroid hormone.
Thyroid deficiency can affect all body functions
It ranges from mild to
advanced stage
(Myxedema)
18. Autoimmune disease (Hashimoto’s thyroiditis,
post Graves’ disease)
Atrophy of thyroid gland with aging
Therapy for hyperthyroidism
Radioactive iodine (131I)
Thyroidectomy
Lithium
Causes
19. Lithium
Iodine compounds
Antithyroid medications
Radiation to head and neck
Infiltrative diseases of the thyroid
(amyloidosis, scleroderma, lymphoma)
Iodine deficiency and iodine excess
Causes
20. Types
Primary or thyroidal hypothyroidism:
Refers to dysfunction of the thyroid gland itself
95% of people have thyroidal hypothyroidism
Central Hypothyroidism:
Due to failure of the pituitary gland
Failure of hypothalamus, or both
21. Types
Pituitary or Secondary Hypothyroidism
Cause is entirely a pituitary disorder
It is pituitary or secondary hypothyroidism
Hypothalamic or Tertiary Hypothyroidism
Disorder of the hypothalamus
Inadequate secretion of TSH
It is hypothalamic or tertiary hypothyroidism
22. Extreme fatigue
Difficulty in completing daily activities
Hair loss
Brittle nails
Dry skin
Numbness and tingling of finger
Husky voice
Menorrhagia
Amenorrhea
Loss of libido
Clinical
Manifestations
23. Subnormal body temperature
Subnormal pulse rate
Weight gain
Cachexia
Thickened skin (mucopolysaccharides
accumulation)
Masklike face
Hypothermia
Irritability
Dull mental processing
Clinical
Manifestations
24. Slow speech
Tongue enlargement
Hand and feet enlarges in size
Deafness
Constipation
Clinical
Manifestations
27. Myxedema Coma
Rare life-threatening condition
Decompensated state of severe hypothyroidism
Patient is hypothermic and unconscious
Develop with undiagnosed hypothyroidism
28. Precipitating Factors
Infection
Systemic disease
Use of sedatives
Opioid analgesic agents
Among elderly women in the winter months
Appears to be precipitated by cold
31. Nursing Alert
In all patients with hypothyroidism, the effects of analgesic
agents, sedatives, and anesthetic agents are prolonged;
special caution is necessary in administering these agents
to elderly patients because of concurrent changes in liver
and renal function!
32. Primary objective in the management is to restore
normal metabolic state by replacing the missing
hormone
Pharmacological Therapy
Synthetic levothyroxine (Synthroid or Levothroid)
Desiccated thyroid
Medical
Manangement
33. Prevention
Cardiac Dysfunction
Hypothyroidism for a long period elevates serum
cholesterol, atherosclerosis, and coronary artery disease
As thyroid hormone is administered, the oxygen demand
increases.
But oxygen delivery cannot be increased unless, or until,
the atherosclerosis improves.
34. Prevention
The occurrence of angina is the signal that the oxygen needs
of the myocardium exceed its blood supply.
If angina or dysrhythmias occur, thyroid hormone
administration must be discontinued immediately.
Nurse must be alert for
the signs of myocardial
ischemia
35. Prevention
Medication Interaction
Thyroid hormones increase blood glucose levels
Necessitate adjustment in the dosage of insulin
Increase the effects of digitalis glycosides, anticoagulant
agents, and Indomethacin (Indocin)
36. Medication Interaction
Phenytoin (Dilantin) and Tricyclic
antidepressant agents increase the effects of
thyroid hormone
Bone loss and osteoporosis may also occur
37. Arterial blood gases (to determine carbon dioxide)
Oxygen saturation levels should be monitored
using pulse oximetry
Fluids are administered cautiously to avoid water
intoxication
To prevent hypoglycemia provide glucose without
precipitating fluid overload
Supportive
Therapy
38. Teaching Patient’s Self Care
Oral and written instructions should be provided
regarding the following:
Desired actions and side effects of medications
Correct medication administration
Importance of continuing medications
When to seek medical attention
Importance of nutrition and diet to promote weight
loss and normal bowel patterns
Importance of periodic follow-up testing
Nursing
Management