title: Management of diabetes in surgery: a survey of current practice by anaesthetists.
abstract: A questionnaire survey of anaesthetists, based at the three main hospitals in Bristol, was undertaken to determine what methods are currently being used by anaesthetists to manage diabetes in patients for surgery. Replies were received from 56 of the 90 anaesthetists (62%). Surgical procedures were defined as minor, moderate, and major. Two areas were identified where considerable differences in management between anaesthetists occurred, namely insulin-treated patients requiring minor surgery, and non-insulin-treated patients requiring moderate surgery. In addition, no consensus view was apparent for the preferred intra-operative blood glucose range or for the threshold blood glucose level at which to postpone an operation. It was apparent that anaesthetists preferred to administer intravenous insulin by a syringe pump rather than by a drip bag containing insulin, potassium, and glucose, particularly if more severe metabolic upset was anticipated. No difference in management was apparent between different hospital grades or between the three hospitals.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Bristol Royal Infirmary, UK.
authors.forename: J D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Clark
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Currie
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hartog
mesh_terms: D000776:Anesthesiology; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D048909:Diabetes Complications; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000628:therapy*; D003922:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / Q000628:therapy; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D007328:Insulin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007430:Intraoperative Care; D016343:Monitoring, Intraoperative; D011182:Postoperative Care; D011300:Preoperative Care; D013514:Surgical Procedures, Operative; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose; D007328:Insulin