Glucose-insulin-potassium in cardiac surgery: a meta-analysis.
BACKGROUND
Glucose-insulin-potassium therapy (GIK) has been suggested to reduce mortality and improve postoperative recovery after cardiac surgery. We performed a meta-analysis of all randomized studies using GIK in cardiac surgery.


METHODS
A systematic Medline search for all GIK studies in cardiac surgery was carried out. Randomized studies investigating the recovery of contractile function as a primary endpoint were included in the meta-analysis.


RESULTS
Thirty-five GIK trials were identified. Twenty-four studies were excluded because of lack of randomization, supplementary administration of other substances, or due to other primary endpoints. Eleven studies were included with a total of 468 patients who underwent either coronary artery bypass grafting or heart valve replacement. Six studies noted a significant improvement in postoperative recovery. One study demonstrated no effect. In four studies, no comparable statistical analysis was available. GIK patients required similar or lesser doses of catecholamines. From the available data we estimated a weighted mean of relative improvement in postoperative recovery of cardiac index for GIK patients versus controls of 11.4%. Five of 11 studies reported the incidence of postoperative atrial fibrillation (AF). AF occurred in 23% (20/86) in GIK versus 42% (36/86) in control patients (p = 0.009).


CONCLUSIONS
The findings indicate that GIK may considerably improve postoperative recovery of contractile function and reduce the incidence of atrial arrhythmias after cardiac surgery. However, several factors limit the power of this analysis and large, randomized multicenter trials are needed to fully assess the efficacy of GIK after cardiac surgery.
Bothe
Wolfgang
W
Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany.
Olschewski
Manfred
M
Beyersdorf
Friedhelm
F
Doenst
Torsten
T
D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D006348:Cardiac Surgical Procedures; D002314:Cardioplegic Solutions / Q000494:pharmacology; D002316:Cardiotonic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004341:Drug Evaluation; D005947:Glucose / Q000494:pharmacology; D006439:Hemodynamics; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007328:Insulin / Q000494:pharmacology; D009200:Myocardial Contraction / Q000187:drug effects*; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000401:mortality / Q000517:prevention & control; D011188:Potassium / Q000494:pharmacology; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D020127:Recovery of Function / Q000187:drug effects
D002314:Cardioplegic Solutions; D002316:Cardiotonic Agents; D007328:Insulin; C030396:glucose-insulin-potassium cardioplegic solution; D005947:Glucose; D011188:Potassium