Diabetic Surgical Patients Research Articles

Detection and Management of Perioperative Hyperglycemia at a Tertiary Cancer Center.

To improve the detection and management of perioperative hyperglycemia at our tertiary cancer center, we implemented a glycemic control quality improvement initiative. The primary goal was to decrease the percentage of diabetic patients with median postoperative glucose levels > 180 mg/dL during hospitalization by 15% within 2 years. A multidisciplinary team standardized preoperative screening, preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative hyperglycemia management. We included all patients undergoing nonemergent inpatient and outpatient operations. We used a t test, rank sum, chi-square, or Fisher's exact test to assess differences in outcomes between patients at baseline (BL) (10/2018-4/2019), during the first phase (P1) (10/2019-4/2020), second phase (P2) (5/2020-12/2020), and maintenance phase (M) (1/2021-10/2022). The analysis included 9891 BL surgical patients (1470 with diabetes), 8815 P1 patients (1233 with diabetes), 10,401 P2 patients (1531 with diabetes) and 30,410 M patients (4265 with diabetes). The percentage of diabetic patients with median glucose levels >180 mg/dL during hospitalization decreased 32% during the initiative (BL, 20.1%; P1, 16.9%; P2, 12.1%; M, 13.7% [P<.001]). We also saw reductions in the percentages of diabetic patients with median glucose levels >180 mg/dL intraoperatively (BL, 34.0%; P1, 26.6%; P2, 23.9%; M, 20.3% [P<.001]) and in the postanesthesia care unit (BL, 36.0%; P1, 30.4%; P2, 28.5%; M, 25.8% [P<.001]). The percentage of patients screened for diabetes by hemoglobin A1C increased during the initiative (BL, 17.5%; P1, 52.5%; P2, 66.8%; M 74.5% [P<.001]). Our successful initiative can be replicated in other hospitals to standardize and improve glycemic control among diabetic surgical patients.

LBODP043 Analysis Of Plastic Surgery Websites And Their Recommendations For Diabetics

Abstract Diabetic patients are predisposed to adverse complications after surgery, especially when their A1c is above 8. 0% (1). Despite the heightened risk for post-operative complications such as wound dehiscence and infection (2), no formal recommendations by the American Council of Academic Plastic Surgeons (ACAPS) exist regarding preoperative A1c thresholds. This study reviews the current online recommendations for diabetic patients undergoing plastic surgery and examines the readability and technical metrics presented on these webpages. We hypothesized that these webpages would enforce stricter preoperative A1c levels (&amp;lt; 8%) in comparison to the 8% threshold put forth by Diabetes Care in 2014. An anonymous, depersonalized Google search with the search term "diabetes and plastic surgery" was run. The initial 50 results were analyzed and 11 webpages meeting inclusion criteria extracted. 45.45% (5/11) of the webpages stated specific A1c recommendations, with 4 of the webpages recommending an A1c &amp;lt;7% and one webpage recommending an A1c &amp;lt;6%. A number of the websites recommended that patients consult their primary care physician (PCP) or endocrinologist, 63.6% (7/11). 100% (11/11) of webpages discussed poor wound healing and 45% (5/11) discussed the heightened risk of postoperative infection in diabetic surgical patients. Webpage average readability scores for seven readability measures greatly exceeded the 6th grade reading level recommended for medical information. This study determined that online resources for diabetic patients undergoing plastic surgery utilized stricter than standard preoperative criteria and exceeded recommended readability levels. Standardizing requirements for diabetic patients and improving readability may help patients better understand the preoperative expectation for better surgical outcomes.

The effect of type 2 diabetes mellitus on early postoperative cognitive functions

Background/Aim: Postoperative cognitive dysfunction (POCD) is an important problem that is encountered perioperatively and has a complex pathophysiology. Diabetes mellitus (DM) can cause adverse effects on cognitive functions, such as memory dysfunctions, psychomotor retardation, slower information processing, impairment of complex motor functions, deterioration of verbal rationality, and attention deficit. We assume that DM will have a triggering effect on POCD. Mild cognitive dysfunction caused by diabetes mellitus may increase the risk of POCD. For this purpose, we aimed to investigate the effect of type 2 DM on early POCD. Methods: Fifty literate patients who ranked 1-2 on the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) scale were included in our prospective case-control study. They ranged in age from 35 to 70. All were scheduled for elective laparoscopic cholecystectomy at the İstanbul Training and Research Hospital. Patients were divided into two groups: the diabetes mellitus group and the control group. The DM group consisted of 25 patients who had been diagnosed with type 2 DM and had been on regular oral antidiabetic medication or insulin for at least five years. To examine the patients neuropsychologically, the Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE) and the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) Test were conducted one day before the surgery. The MMSE and MoCA were repeated at the 4th and 24th hours postoperatively. The patients were monitored to record their depth of anesthesia, peak heart rate, mean arterial pressure, oxygen saturation, end-tidal carbon dioxide value, and expiratory sevoflurane concentration prior to perioperative intubation and every five minutes after intubation until the end of the operation. The state of postoperative pain and total analgesic dose used for the patients were also recorded. Results: Demographic data in both groups were similar in terms of age, gender, body mass index, and duration of surgery (P > 0.05 for each). Perioperative depth of anesthesia, hemodynamic data, and postoperative pain scores were similar in both groups (P > 0.05 for each). While there was initially no significant difference between the groups in terms of preoperative cognitive function, compared with the control group, the DM group had significantly lower values of MMSE and MoCA at the postoperative 4th (P = 0.014 and P = 0.014) and 24th hour (P = 0.026 and P = 0.01) . Conclusion: Our study shows that the early postoperative cognitive functions of diabetic patients are affected more than non-diabetic patients in laparoscopic surgery. MMSE and MoCA tests are appropriate for screening type 2 diabetic patients. Thus, complications can be prevented in diabetic surgical patients by detecting cognitive dysfunction in the early stages, so that appropriate treatment can be initiated.

The Diabetic Surgical Patient

Diabetes mellitus is the seventh leading cause of death in the United States; diabetic patients have a 50% chance of undergoing a surgical procedure during their lifetime, and operations in this patient population have been associated with a reported mortality of 4% to 13%. Careful planning of operative management and perioperative care must be taken into account when scheduling surgery for diabetic patients, especially patients taking insulin or oral hypoglycemic agents. Debate continues and inconsistencies remain regarding the management of both diabetes and hyperglycemia in the surgical setting. The review covers the evaluation of the diabetic patient, preoperative management, intraoperative management, postoperative management, total parenteral nutrition and blood glucose, cardiovascular and renal assessment, infection, and special populations. This review contains 2 figures, 5 tables, and 21 references Keywords: Glucose, Hyperglycemia, perioperative period, surgery, diabetes mellitus, surgical site infection, preoperative management, postoperative management, wound healing

The Diabetic Surgical Patient

Diabetes mellitus is the seventh leading cause of death in the United States; diabetic patients have a 50% chance of undergoing a surgical procedure during their lifetime, and operations in this patient population have been associated with a reported mortality of 4% to 13%. Careful planning of operative management and perioperative care must be taken into account when scheduling surgery for diabetic patients, especially patients taking insulin or oral hypoglycemic agents. Debate continues and inconsistencies remain regarding the management of both diabetes and hyperglycemia in the surgical setting. The review covers the evaluation of the diabetic patient, preoperative management, intraoperative management, postoperative management, total parenteral nutrition and blood glucose, cardiovascular and renal assessment, infection, and special populations. This review contains 2 figures, 5 tables, and 21 references Keywords: Glucose, Hyperglycemia, perioperative period, surgery, diabetes mellitus, surgical site infection, preoperative management, postoperative management, wound healing

The Diabetic Surgical Patient

Diabetes mellitus is the seventh leading cause of death in the United States; diabetic patients have a 50% chance of undergoing a surgical procedure during their lifetime, and operations in this patient population have been associated with a reported mortality of 4% to 13%. Careful planning of operative management and perioperative care must be taken into account when scheduling surgery for diabetic patients, especially patients taking insulin or oral hypoglycemic agents. Debate continues and inconsistencies remain regarding the management of both diabetes and hyperglycemia in the surgical setting. The review covers the evaluation of the diabetic patient, preoperative management, intraoperative management, postoperative management, total parenteral nutrition and blood glucose, cardiovascular and renal assessment, infection, and special populations. This review contains 2 figures, 5 tables, and 21 references Keywords: Glucose, Hyperglycemia, perioperative period, surgery, diabetes mellitus, surgical site infection, preoperative management, postoperative management, wound healing

Effect of 0.9% saline and Ringer’s lactate on mean change in blood glucose levels under spinal anaesthesia among diabetic patients

Context: It is common practice to avoid lactate-containing intravenous fluids in diabetic patients as it was hypothesized to cause hyperglycaemia by the conversion of lactate to glucose by hepatic gluconeogenesis. However, absence of sound theoretical basis, conflicting reports from numerous clinical trials and improved understanding of biochemistry have necessitated a closer scrutiny of this hypothesis. Aims: The present study aims to determine the effect of 0.9% saline and Ringer’s lactate on blood glucose levels in the fasting diabetic surgical patients receiving spinal anaesthesia. Settings and design: The study is a prospective randomized trial conducted on adult patients aged 30 – 85 years with well-controlled type 2 diabetes mellitus receiving spinal anaesthesia. Methods and material: 120 patients with well-controlled type 2 diabetes mellitus receiving spinal anaesthesia were randomized to receive either 1 litre of 0.9% saline or Ringer’s lactate. Blood glucose levels were recorded using a glucometer by the pinprick method before and after infusion of 1 litre of the selected intravenous fluid. Statistical analysis: Data analysis was done using SPSS statistical package - Version 22.0. Student’s unpaired ‘t’ test was used to test the significance of difference between quantitative variables. A 'p' value less than 0.05 was taken to denote statistical significance. Results: Mean change in blood glucose levels after infusion of the intravenous fluid in 0.9% saline and Ringer’s lactate groups were 3.68±15.2 mg/dl and - 0.15±16.5 mg/dl, respectively. The difference between the two groups was not statistically significant with a 'p' value of 0.188. Conclusions: Ringer’s lactate solution, when compared to 0.9% saline, does not cause significant change in the mean blood glucose levels in fasting diabetic patients receiving spinal anaesthesia.

Protective effect of intraoperative re-dose of prophylactic antibiotics on surgical site infection in diabetic patients: a retrospective cohort study.

Surgical site infection (SSI) has a high incidence in diabetic surgical patients. Preoperative antibiotic prophylaxis followed by an intraoperative re-dose was a common strategy in diabetic prolonged procedures. However, there were lacking studies on the relative benefits of this strategy on SSI. Our study aimed to clarify the effect of intraoperative re-dose of prophylactic antibiotics on SSI in diabetic patients. A total of 1,840 diabetic patients with prolonged surgeries were included and Cefazolin was the only type of antibiotic prophylaxis. We assessed the relationship between intraoperative re-dose of cefazolin and 30-day incidence of SSI using a retrospective cohort study method. There were 361 diabetic cases with preoperative antibiotics only and 1,479 cases with pre- plus intraoperative antibiotics, in which 60 subjects suffered from SSI. Pre- plus intraoperative prophylaxis group had a lower rate of SSI in the overall and subgroup analyses when compared with preoperative only group. Operation location, combined with hypertension, poor blood glucose control, high WBC count and ASA score >2 were significantly associated with an increased risk of SSI for diabetic surgical patients (all P<0.05). Intraoperative re-dose of prophylactic antibiotics was statistically related to a lower incidence rate of SSI than preoperative prophylaxis alone (crude RR =0.47; 95% CI, 0.27-0.82; P<0.01), while the association remained significant even after adjusting the potential confounders (adjusted RR =0.51; 95% CI, 0.29-0.90; P=0.02). For diabetic patients, intraoperative re-dose of prophylactic antibiotics may be an independent protective factor for the prevention of SSI. A specific perioperative antibiotics injection strategy should be encouraged for diabetic patients with prolonged surgeries to minimize the possibility of SSI.

Su1024 - Improved Outcomes in Diabetic Surgical Patients with Perioperative Glucose Management

Su1024 - Improved Outcomes in Diabetic Surgical Patients with Perioperative Glucose Management

Elevated circulating fasting glucagon-like peptide-1 in surgical patients with aortic valve disease and diabetes

BackgroundDiabetes is a risk factor for peripheral, coronary, and cerebrovascular disease. In contrast, results also indicate that patients with diabetes have reduced prevalence of aortic aneurysms, although the mechanisms remain largely unknown. We hypothesize that altered endogenous secretion of the intestinal hormone glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1)—previously shown to protect from aneurysm formation, and governing many of the mechanisms thought to be involved in aneurysm formation—may provide insights into the mechanisms underlying the inverse relationship of diabetes and aneurysm.MethodsWe undertook a case–control study to characterize circulating plasma GLP-1 levels in diabetic and non-diabetic surgical patients with aortic valve disease, and with or without ascending aortic dilation. The cohort included patients with a bicuspid aortic valve (BAV), a common congenital disorder associated with ascending aortic aneurysm, as well as patients with a tricuspid aortic valve (TAV).ResultsIn our patient group, diabetes was characterized by a significant increase in fasting plasma GLP-1 levels. Further, we show that aortic dilation in these patients was associated with a significant increase in fasting plasma GLP-1, although a significant increase in the intact and bioactive peptide could not be detected in BAV patients with aortic dilation.ConclusionA subgroup of diabetic patients with aortic valve pathology have increased fasting plasma GLP-1 levels, which may be of importance for the low prevalence of aortic dilation in this patient group. Further, in TAV patients, GLP-1 secretion and plasma levels of intact GLP-1 are upregulated in association with aortic dilation, possibly indicating a compensatory mechanism.

Management of Diabetic Surgical Patients in a Deployed Field Hospital: A Model for Acute Non-Communicable Disease Care in Disaster.

Sudden onset disasters (SODs) have affected over 1.5 billion of the world's population in the past decade. During the same time, developing nations have faced a sustained increase in the burden of non-communicable disease (NCD) with extra pressure placed on health systems. The combined increase in SODs and the NCD epidemic facing the world's most disaster-prone nations will present new challenges to emergency medical teams (EMTs) during disaster response. This report details the experience as an EMT during the Typhoon Haiyan disaster of 2013, with particular reference to the challenges of diabetic management in a surgical field hospital. The incidence of diabetes in this surgical cohort exceeded that of the population by a factor of four. The steps to prepare for and treat diabetes in the field provide a useful model for the management of NCD in the deployed field hospital environment after a disaster. McDermott KM , Hardstaff RM , Alpen S , Read DJ , Coatsworth NR . Management of diabetic surgical patients in a deployed field hospital: a model for acute non-communicable disease care in disaster. Prehosp Disaster Med. 2017;32(6):657-661.

Short-term glycemic control is effective in reducing surgical site infection in diabetic rats.

Patients and animals with diabetes exhibit enhanced vulnerability to bacterial surgical infections. Despite multiple retrospective studies demonstrating the benefits associated with glycemic control in reducing bacterial infection after cardiac surgery, there are fewer guidelines on the use of glycemic control for noncardiac surgeries. In the current study, we investigated whether long-term (begun 2 weeks before surgery) or immediate (just before surgery) glycemic controls, continued postoperatively, can reduce surgical site infection in type 1 diabetic-induced rats. Rats were injected with streptozotocin to induce type 1 diabetes. Four groups of animals underwent surgery and thigh muscle Staphylococcus aureus bacteria challenge (1 × 10 colony forming units) at the time of surgery. Group 1 diabetic rats received insulin treatment just before surgery and continued until the end of study (short-term glycemic control group). Group 2 diabetic rats received insulin treatment 2 weeks before surgery and continued until the end of study (long-term glycemic control). Group 3 diabetic rats received no insulin treatment (no glycemic control group). Group 4 nondiabetic rats served as a healthy control group. Rats were euthanized at 3 or 6 days after surgery. Blood glucose and muscle bacterial burden were measured at 3 or 6 days after surgery. Glycemic control was achieved in both long- and short-term insulin-treated diabetic rats. Compared with untreated diabetic rats, the bacterial burden in muscle was significantly lower in both groups of glycemic controlled diabetic rats at 3 (all P < 0.003) and 6 (all P < 0.0001) days after surgery. A short-term glycemic control regimen, initiated just before surgery and bacterial exposure, was as effective in reducing surgical site infection as a long-term glycemic control in type 1 diabetic rats. These data suggest that immediately implementing glycemic control in type 1 diabetic surgical patients before undergoing noncardiac surgery may decrease the risk of infection.

Effects of intrathecal bupivacaine–fentanyl versus bupivacaine–dexmedetomidine in diabetic surgical patients

BackgroundDiabetes mellitus is the most common endocrine disorder encountered during anesthesia. Experimental researches showed that the functional μ opioid receptors in the dorsal horn of spinal cord in diabetics are either reduced or impaired in their function. This prospective study was postulated to differentiate between the effects of either opioid like fentanyl versus nonopioid like dexmedetomidine agents added to spinal bupivacaine in diabetic patients.MethodsSixty diabetic patients of either sex were submitted for elective lower limb orthopedic surgery. Patients were randomly allocated into three equal groups (each group 20 patient): bupivacaine group in which patients received 2.5 ml of hyperbaric bupivacaine 0.5% plus 0.5 mL of normal saline, bupivacaine–fentanyl group in which patients received 2.5 ml of hyperbaric bupivacaine 0.5% plus 25 μg fentanyl in 0.5 mL of normal saline and bupivacaine–dexmedetomidine group in which patients received 2.5 ml of hyperbaric bupivacaine 0.5%, plus 10 μg dexmedetomidine in 0.5 mL of normal saline. Duration and quality of sensory and motor block were assessed.ResultsThe duration of sensory and motor block as well as duration of effective analgesia was significantly longer in the bupivacaine–dexmedetomidine group as compared with both bupivacaine–fentanyl and control bupivacaine groups.ConclusionAddition of intrathecal dexmedetomidine to heavy bupivacaine 0.5% was more advantageous than fentanyl with special regard to its analgesic properties in diabetic surgical patients.

Evaluating the Role of Serum 1,5-Anhydroglucitol Concentrations as an Indicator of Hyperglycemic Changes in Diabetic and Non Diabetic Surgical Patients

Purpose: We investigated the relationship between plasma glucose and serum 1,5-anhydroglucitol (1,5-AG) concentrations in surgical patients to determine the role of 1,5-AG concentrations in perioperative glycemic control. Methods: We enrolled 57 patients (19 with and 38 without diabetes) in the study, who underwent hepatectomy under general anesthesia with sevoflurane and remifentanil. Plasma glucose and serum 1,5-AG concentrations were measured and their correlations were evaluated. Results: In all patients, plasma glucose concentrations increased significantly during hepatectomy, but serum 1,5-AG concentrations declined after surgery. Linear regression analysis revealed a weak but significant correlation between the decrease rate of 1,5-AG concentrations and the increase rate of plasma glucose concentrations. Regression analyses revealed this correlation to be more intense in patients without diabetes than in all patients, whereas no correlation was observed in patients with diabetes. These results suggest that serum 1,5- AG concentrations decrease significantly in proportion to increase in plasma glucose concentrations in patients without diabetes, but are less sensitive to such changes in patients with diabetes. Consequently, this indicates that preoperative serum 1,5-AG concentrations in patients with diabetes are too low to be influenced by glycemic fluctuations. In both patient groups, decreased 1,5-AG concentrations did not normalize until 72 h after initiation of surgery. Conclusion: Measurement of 1,5-AG concentrations may be a useful for evaluating glycemic control during anesthesia in patients with normal glycemic metabolism; however, this approach may not be as useful in patients with diabetes as in those without diabetes.

Isoflurane’s effect on interfacial dynamics in GAPDH influences methylglyoxal reactivity

Diabetic surgical patients are at risk for peri- and post-operative complications, which can be prevented by maintaining tight glycemic control during anesthesia. Control of blood sugar would decrease unwanted chemical reactions, such as protein glycation, minimizing tissue dysfunction. Methylglyoxal (MG) is a major contributor to protein modification and tissue dysfunction seen in diabetic patients. We hypothesized that inhaled anesthetics may play a role in protein glycation and examined the effects of isoflurane on MG-induced modification of glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH). Isoflurane promoted MG-induced modification of GAPDH as evidenced by an increase in fluorescent glycation products, a change in chromatographic elution patterns and a loss of enzyme activity. Isoflurane’s effect may be mediated by altering interfacial events. Our working model involves the binding of isoflurane to GAPDH, increasing the susceptibility to MG-induced modification of residues involved in oligomerization. These findings suggest a molecular basis for maintaining glycemic control during anesthesia.

The diabetic surgical patient

This review summarizes the current progress in disease classification, pathophysiology and management of diabetes mellitus with a special focus on treatment modalities and recommendations for the practicing anesthesiologist. The revised classification of diabetes mellitus emphasizes disease cause and eliminates any reference to age-of-onset and insulin therapy. Hyperglycemia has emerged as an important marker of outcome in the operating room. Intensive insulin therapy promises to reduce health risk in the surgical and critical care setting. Perioperative beta-blocker and statin therapy are likely to reduce cardiac morbidity and mortality in diabetic patients. Promotility therapy (with metoclopromide) intended to reduce the aspiration risk of diabetic gastroparesis is likely over-utilized and may only be indicated for diabetics with poor glucose control and high hemoglobin A1c levels. According to World Health Organization projections, anesthesiologists can expect to care for more diabetic patients than ever before. Diabetes and its associated complications present unique challenges to the perioperative physician. As biomedical research continues to unravel the genetic, cellular and molecular mechanisms of this complex metabolic disease, our specialty must be prominently involved in the design and testing of innovative treatments to protect the diabetic patient from the risks of surgery and anesthesia.

Relation with preoperative fructosamine and autonomic nerve function and blood pressure during anesthesia in diabetics: a retrospective study.

Many diabetics may have a high risk involving the cardiovascular system. In an attempt to predict the intraoperative risks of diabetics during anesthesia, we evaluated retrospectively the relationship among the biochemical assay or autonomic nerve function obtained as parts of the preoperative examination, and the blood pressure changes relating to the stimulation of intubation and extubation for anesthesia. In 40 diabetic surgical patients examined the biochemical assay (HbA1c, fructosamine level and blood glucose level) beforehand, the autonomic nerve function was quantified preoperatively by analysis of ECG R-R variability recorded in supine and subsequent standing position using an HRV analyzer, and some parameters of autonomic nerve function especially responsive sympathetic nerve activities were obtained. We assessed the correlation with systolic blood pressure changes in these cases at intubation for general anesthesia comparing to similar conditioned 40 non-diabetics. A diabetics with low vagal activity became larger systolic blood pressure afterdrop at tracheal intubation for anesthesia (r=0.513, p<0.001). Otherwise the blood pressure afterdrop at extubation became larger in a non-diabetics with high sympathetic activity (r=0.502, p<0.001). The preoperative fructosamine concentration in diabetics correlated positively with the responsive sympathetic nerve irritability index; "mRR(sup)-RRmin(std)" (r=0.432, p<0.05) and the responsive sympathetic nerve excitability index; "mRR(sup-std)" (r=0.448, p<0.05). However HbA1c had no correlation with these parameters of autonomic nerve function and blood pressure rise at tracheal intubation. Because of above correlation with blood pressure rise at intubation for anesthesia induction, the preoperative fructosamine examination and the responsive sympathetic nerve function test must be useful preoperative examination for detection of the unexpected heart events of diabetic patients during operation.

Surgery in the Diabetic Pet

The surgical needs of the diabetic dog and cat parallel those affecting the general pet population. Most minor procedures can be managed in which the patient is admitted and discharged on the same day with special measures being taken to avoid the consequences of excess insulin administration. Those diabetic patients in need of major surgical procedures, however, require meticulous medical management and an intensive care environment. This article describes how the specific needs of the diabetic surgical patient can be provided effectively.

Insulin use in the diabetic surgical patient

AORN JournalVolume 52, Issue 5 p. 1055-1059 Department Insulin use in the diabetic surgical patient John D. Benz RPH, John D. Benz RPHSearch for more papers by this author John D. Benz RPH, John D. Benz RPHSearch for more papers by this author First published: November 1990 https://doi.org/10.1016/S0001-2092(07)69170-4Citations: 1AboutPDF ToolsRequest permissionExport citationAdd to favoritesTrack citation ShareShare Give accessShare full text accessShare full-text accessPlease review our Terms and Conditions of Use and check box below to share full-text version of article.I have read and accept the Wiley Online Library Terms and Conditions of UseShareable LinkUse the link below to share a full-text version of this article with your friends and colleagues. Learn more.Copy URL Share a linkShare onFacebookTwitterLinked InRedditWechat Citing Literature Volume52, Issue5November 1990Pages 1055-1059 RelatedInformation

Managing diabetic surgical patients with glucose-free saline and insulin

Sixty-one people with glucose intolerance received a glucose-free solution during surgery. If their blood glucose levels rose above 200 mg/dl, they were given insulin intravenously, according to a rate algorithm reported elsewhere. None of the cases judged to be borderline required any insulin during their operations. Ten percent of the diabetics who were being treated with diet alone, and 40% of those using hypoglycemic agents or insulin, did require insulin. Insulin was delivered at an average rate of 2.1 +/- 5.2 U/h and controlled the serum glucose levels within a range of 132 +/- 32 mg/dl. This suggests that half of all diabetics undergoing surgery require only a glucose-free solution for fluid replacement to maintain their glucose levels below 200 mg/dl, and that insulin infusion is an appropriate means to control hyperglycemia during surgery.