Sutures and Wound Repair/ General Surgery (ABSA) Practice Test

Which statement about a post-hypophysectomy patient is true?

1. Replacement of thyroid hormone is required

2. Diabetes insipidus may occur

3. Prostate removal is necessary

4. None of the above

The correct answer is: Diabetes insipidus may occur

In a patient who has undergone hypophysectomy, which is the surgical removal of the pituitary gland, it is important to understand the potential complications and hormonal deficiencies that can arise from such a procedure. One of the possible complications is diabetes insipidus, a condition characterized by the excretion of an excessive amount of dilute urine, leading to increased thirst and the need to drink large volumes of fluids. This occurs due to the loss of antidiuretic hormone (ADH), which is primarily produced in the hypothalamus and stored in the pituitary gland. With the removal of the pituitary gland, the regulation of fluid balance is disrupted, leading to this condition. The need for replacement thyroid hormone is not universally required because thyroid hormone production is mainly governed by the thyroid gland itself and not necessarily impacted directly by the pituitary. While the pituitary does control thyroid hormone release through thyrotropin, direct replacement might not always be necessary immediately following surgery unless the patient has pre-existing hypothyroidism. Prostate removal is not a relevant consideration in the context of a hypophysectomy, as this procedure does not typically affect the prostate or necessitate its removal. Therefore, the statement regarding the risk of diabetes insipidus accurately reflects