Intraoperative protein sparing with glucose.
We examined the hypothesis that glucose infusion inhibits amino acid oxidation during colorectal surgery. We randomly allocated 14 patients to receive intravenous glucose at 2 mg x kg(-1) x min(-1) (glucose group) starting with the surgical incision or an equivalent amount of normal saline 0.9% (control group). The primary endpoint was whole body leucine oxidation; secondary endpoints were leucine rate of appearance and nonoxidative leucine disposal as determined by a stable isotope tracer technique (L-[1-(13)C]leucine). Circulating concentrations of glucose, lactate, insulin, glucagon, and cortisol were measured before and after 2 h of surgery. Leucine rate of appearance, an estimate of protein breakdown, and nonoxidative leucine disposal, an estimate of protein synthesis, decreased in both groups during surgery (P < 0.05). Leucine oxidation intraoperatively decreased from 13 +/- 3 to 4 +/- 3 micromol x kg(-1) x h(-1) in the glucose group (P < 0.05 vs. control group) whereas it remained unchanged in the control group. Hyperglycemia during surgery was more pronounced in patients receiving glucose (9.7 +/- 0.5 mmol/l, P < 0.05 vs. control group) than in patients receiving normal saline (7.1 +/- 1.0 mmol/l). The administration of glucose caused an increase in the circulating concentration of insulin (P < 0.05) resulting in a lower glucagon/insulin quotient than in the control group (P < 0.05). Intraoperative plasma cortisol concentrations increased in both groups (P < 0.05), whereas plasma concentrations of lactate and glucagon did not change. The provision of small amounts of glucose was associated with a decrease in amino acid oxidation during colorectal surgery.
Schricker
Thomas
T
Dept. of Anaesthesia, Mcgill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada. thomas.schricker@mcgill.ca
Lattermann
Ralph
R
Carli
Franco
F
D000005:Abdomen / Q000601:surgery*; D000596:Amino Acids / Q000097:blood*; D001798:Blood Proteins / Q000032:analysis*; D003107:Colorectal Surgery / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D005947:Glucose / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006801:Humans; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D007430:Intraoperative Care / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction
D000596:Amino Acids; D001798:Blood Proteins; D005947:Glucose