Dynamic tight glycemic control during and after cardiac surgery is effective, feasible, and safe.
BACKGROUND
Tight blood glucose control reduces mortality and morbidity in critically ill patients, but intraoperative glucose control during cardiac surgery is often difficult, and risks hypoglycemia. In this study, we evaluated the safety and efficacy of a nurse-driven insulin protocol (the Aalst Glycemia Insulin Protocol) for achieving a target glucose level of 80-110 mg/dL during cardiac surgery and in the intensive care unit (ICU).


METHODS
We included 483 nondiabetics and 168 diabetics scheduled for cardiac surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass. To anticipate rapid perioperative changes in insulin requirement and/or sensitivity during surgery, we developed a dynamic algorithm presented in tabular form, with rows representing blood glucose ranges and columns representing insulin dosages based on the patients' insulin sensitivity. The algorithm adjusts insulin dosage based on blood glucose level and the projected insulin sensitivity (e.g., reduced sensitivity during cardiopulmonary bypass and normalizing sensitivity after surgery).


RESULTS
A total of 18,893 blood glucose measurements were made during and after surgery. During surgery, the mean glucose level in nondiabetic patients was within targeted levels except during (112 +/- 17 mg/dL) and after rewarming (113 +/- 19 mg/dL) on cardiopulmonary bypass. In diabetics, blood glucose was decreased from 121 +/- 40 mg/dL at anesthesia induction to 112 +/- 26 mg/dL at the end of surgery (P < 0.05), with 52.9% of patients achieving the target. In the ICU, the mean glucose level was within targeted range at all time points, except for diabetics upon ICU arrival (113 +/- 24 mg/dL). Of all blood glucose measurements (operating room and ICU), 68.0% were within the target, with 0.12% of measurements in nondiabetics and 0.18% in diabetics below 60 mg/dL. Hypoglycemia < 50 mg/dL was avoided in all but four (0.6%) patients (40 mg/dL was the lowest observed value).


CONCLUSIONS
The Aalst Glycemia Insulin Protocol is effective for maintaining tight perioperative blood glucose control during cardiac surgery with minimal risk of hypoglycemia.
Lecomte
Patrick
P
Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine, Onze-Lieve-Vrouw Hospital, Moorselbaan 164, 9300 Aalst, Belgium.
Foubert
Luc
L
Nobels
Frank
F
Coddens
José
J
Nollet
Guy
G
Casselman
Filip
F
Crombrugge
Paul Van
PV
Vandenbroucke
Geert
G
Cammu
Guy
G
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000465:Algorithms; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000032:analysis*; D006348:Cardiac Surgical Procedures; D002315:Cardiopulmonary Bypass; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007328:Insulin / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D007362:Intensive Care Units; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016343:Monitoring, Intraoperative; D011184:Postoperative Period
D001786:Blood Glucose; D007328:Insulin