RESUMEN
The COVID-19 pandemic has rapidly changed the landscape of medical care and the healthcare system needs to quickly adapt in order to continue providing optimal medical care to hospitalized patients in an efficient, effective, and safe manner. Endocrinology diseases are commonly present in patients with COVID-19 and often are major risk factors for development of severe disease. The use of electronic consultation and telemedicine have already been well-established in the outpatient setting but yet not commonly implemented in the inpatient arena. This type of remote medical care has the potential to provide a reliable delivery of endocrine care while protecting providers and patients from spreading infection. This short review intends to provide the initial steps for the development of an inpatient telemedicine endocrine service to patients with endocrine diseases. Telehealth will become part of our daily practices and has a potential to provide a safe and efficient method of consultative service.
RESUMEN
OBJECTIVE: To report 5 cases of empty sella syndrome (ESS) manifesting with various degrees of pituitary dysfunction. METHODS: We describe the initial manifestations in 5 patients with primary ESS and in previous cases of ESS reported in the English language literature. RESULTS: Review of our recent medical records identified 5 patients referred for evaluation of pituitary deficiencies in whom ESS was diagnosed. Glucocorticoid replacement was required in 3 patients, 2 of whom presented initially with symptoms of severe glucocorticoid deficiency. In each case, magnetic resonance imaging of the brain demonstrated an empty sella. CONCLUSION: Our cases suggest that endocrine abnormalities are not rare as the initial manifestation of ESS and that, contrary to many studies in the literature, the endocrine abnormalities may be quite severe.