Intensive insulin protocol improves glucose control and is associated with a reduction in intensive care unit mortality.
BACKGROUND
Intensive insulin therapy to maintain serum glucose levels between 80 and 110 mg/dL has previously been shown to reduce mortality in the critically ill; recent data, however, have called this benefit into question. In addition, maintaining uniform, tight glucose control is challenging and resource demanding. We hypothesized that, by use of a protocol, tight glucose control could be achieved in the surgical trauma intensive care unit (STICU), and that improved glucose control would be beneficial.


METHODS
During the study period, a progressively more rigorous approach to glucose control was used, culminating in an implemented protocol in 2005. We reviewed STICU patients' blood glucose levels, measured by point-of-care testing, from 2003 to 2006. Mortality was tracked over the course of the study, and patient charts were retrospectively reviewed to measure illness and injury severity.


RESULTS
Mean blood glucose levels steadily improved (p < 0.01). In addition to absolute improvements in glucose control, total variability of glucose ranges in the STICU steadily diminished. A reduction in STICU mortality was temporally associated with implementation of the protocol (p < 0.01). There were fewer intraabdominal abscesses and fewer postinjury ventilator days after implementation of the protocol. There was a small increase in the incidence of clinically relevant hypoglycemia.


CONCLUSIONS
Improvements in glucose control in the ICU can be achieved by using a protocol for intensive insulin therapy. In our ICU, this was temporally associated with a significant reduction in mortality.
Reed
Charles C
CC
Surgical Trauma Intensive Care Unit, University Health System, San Antonio, TX 78229, USA.
Stewart
Ronald M
RM
Sherman
Michele
M
Myers
John G
JG
Corneille
Michael G
MG
Larson
Nanette
N
Gerhardt
Susan
S
Beadle
Randall
R
Gamboa
Conrado
C
Dent
Daniel
D
Cohn
Stephen M
SM
Pruitt
Basil A
BA
D018806:APACHE; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000187:drug effects*; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D016638:Critical Illness; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007328:Insulin / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D007362:Intensive Care Units; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D001786:Blood Glucose; D007328:Insulin