Perioperative Glycemic Control:
CDA Recommendations
Diabetes management at the time of surgery poses a number of challenges to the healthcare team. The physical stress associated with surgery typically results in acute hyperglycemia, which adversely affects immune function (1) and wound healing (2). Furthermore, hyperglycemia in the perioperative period may increase the risk of postoperative infections (3,4) and other adverse clinical outcomes, including renal allograft rejection (5).

Major Surgery

Improved postoperative glycemic control (plasma glucose [PG] levels of 4.5 to 6.0 mmol/L) using a continuous intravenous (IV) insulin infusion along with continuous feeding significantly decreases mortality and morbidity in patients who require postoperative intensive care and mechanical ventilation after major surgery (6). This benefit is observed even in those without a prior diagnosis of diabetes. Postoperative PG levels >6.1 mmol/L in patients with diabetes undergoing cardiac surgery are associated with an increased risk of in-hospital adverse outcomes (7). In this population, improved perioperative (both intraoperative and postoperative) glycemic control with a continuous IV insulin infusion also decreases the rate of deep sternal wound infections—a major complication of cardiac surgery (8). However, the safe implementation of intensive glycemic control with a continuous IV insulin infusion requires an appropriate protocol and staff training to ensure effectiveness and to minimize hypoglycemia.

Minor And Moderate Surgery

The appropriate perioperative glycemic targets for minor or moderate surgeries are less clear. To date, no intervention studies have assessed the impact of different BG levels on morbidity or mortality in this setting. However, a number of small studies that compared different methods of achieving glycemic control during minor and moderate surgeries did not demonstrate any adverse effects of maintaining perioperative glycemic levels between 5.0 and 11.0 mmol/L (9-11). Given the data supporting tight perioperative glycemic control during major surgeries and the compelling data showing the adverse effects of hyperglycemia, it is reasonable to target glycemic levels between 5.0 and 11.0 mmol/L for minor and moderate surgeries.

Risk Of Hypoglycemia

The benefits of improved perioperative glycemic control must be weighed against the risk of perioperative hypoglycemia, which may be masked by the actions of the anesthetic agents. This risk can be reduced by frequent capillary monitoring.

Recommendations

  • A continuous IV insulin infusion should be used to achieve glycemic levels of 4.5 to 6.0 mmol/L in postoperative patients who require intensive care and mechanical ventilation and demonstrate hyperglycemia (random PG >6.1 mmol/L) [Grade A, Level 1A (6)].
  • A continuous IV insulin infusion should be used to maintain intraoperative glycemic levels between 5.0 and 11.0 mmol/L for patients with diabetes undergoing cardiac surgery [Grade C, Level 3 (8)].
  • Perioperative glycemic levels should be maintained between 5.0 and 11.0 mmol/L for most other surgical situations [Grade D, Consensus].

References

  1. Kwoun MO, Ling PR, Lydon E, et al. Immunologic effects of acute hyperglycemia in nondiabetic rats. JPEN J Parenter Enteral Nutr. 1997;21:91-95.
  2. Verhofstad MH, Hendriks T. Complete prevention of impaired anastomotic healing in diabetic rats requires preoperative blood glucose control. Br J Surg. 1996;83:1717-1721.
  3. Golden SH, Peart-Vigilance C, Kao WHL, et al. Perioperative glycemic control and the risk of infectious complications in a cohort of adults with diabetes. Diabetes Care. 1999;22:1408-1414.
  4. Pomposelli JJ, Baxter JK III, Babineau TJ, et al. Early postoperative glucose control predicts nosocomial infection rate in diabetic patients. JPEN J Parenter Enteral Nutr. 1998;22:77-81.
  5. Thomas MC, Mathew TH, Russ GR, et al. Early peri-operative glycaemic control and allograft rejection in patients with diabetes mellitus: a pilot study. Transplantation. 2001;72:1321-1324.
  6. Van den Berghe G, Wouters P, Weekers F, et al. Intensive insulin therapy in critically ill patients. N Engl J Med. 2001;345:1359-1367.
  7. McAlister FA, Man J, Bistritz L, et al. Diabetes and coronary artery bypass surgery: an examination of perioperative glycemic control and outcomes. Diabetes Care. 2003;26:1518-1524.
  8. Furnary AP, Zerr KJ, Grunkemeier GL, et al. Continuous intravenous insulin infusion reduces the incidence of deep sternal wound infection in diabetic patients after cardiac surgical procedures. Ann Thorac Surg. 1999;67:352-360, 360-362.
  9. Raucoules-Aimé M, Lugrin D, Boussofara M, et al. Intraoperative glycaemic control in non-insulin-dependent and insulin-dependent diabetes. Br J Anaesth. 1994;73:443-449.
  10. Hemmerling TM, Schmid MC, Schmidt J, et al. Comparison of a continuous glucose-insulin-potassium infusion versus intermittent bolus application of insulin on perioperative glucose control and hormone status in insulin-treated type 2 diabetics. J Clin Anesth. 2001;13:293-300.
  11. Christiansen CL, Schurizek BA, Malling B, et al. Insulin treatment of the insulin-dependent diabetic patient undergoing minor surgery. Continuous intravenous infusion compared with subcutaneous administration. Anaesthesia. 1988;43:533-537.