Steroids and the surgical patient.

In patients undergoing surgery, a thorough history is important to obtain, including use of any steroid therapy within the previous year. If there is a history of steroid use, and if time permits, testing of the HPA axis should be performed. If adrenal unresponsiveness is documented or if clinical suspicion of [table: see text] adrenal insufficiency is high (without testing), a stress dose of steroids should be administered during the perioperative period to prevent an adrenal crisis.