People with adrenal insufficiency who need surgery usually do well during and after the procedure. Patients with adrenal insufficiency require certain precautions while going through surgery, such as receiving injections of hydrocortisone and saline before and during the procedure. As long as these precautions are taken, the combination of adrenal insufficiency and surgery is usually manageable.
Patients with adrenal insufficiency who need surgery with general anesthesia are treated with injections of hydrocortisone and saline. Injections begin on the evening before surgery and continue until the patient is fully awake and able to take medication by mouth. The dosage is adjusted until the maintenance dosage given before surgery is reached.