In diabetic patients, HbA(1c) levels predict insulin sensitivity during surgery and possibly outcome. Intraoperative insulin resistance is associated with an increased risk of complications, independent of the patient's diabetic state.

No abstract

We used the hyperinsulinemic normoglycemic clamp technique, i.e., infusion of insulin at a constant rate combined with dextrose titrated to clamp blood glucose at a specific level, to preserve normoglycemia during elective cardiac surgery. Ten nondiabetic and seven diabetic patients entered the clamp protocols. Perioperative glucose control was also assessed in 19 nondiabetic and 11 diabetic patients (control group) receiving a conventional insulin infusion sliding scale. In patients of the clamp group, a priming bolus of insulin (2 U) was started before the induction of anesthesia followed by infusions of insulin at 5 mU. kg(-1). min(-1) and of variable amounts of dextrose. Arterial blood glucose was measured every 5 min in the clamp group and every 20 min in the control group. Control of normoglycemia was defined as > or =95% of the glucose levels within 4.0-6.0 mmol/L. Glucose concentration was recorded before surgery, 15 min before cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB), during early and late CPB, and at sternal closure. Patients of the control group became progressively hyperglycemic during surgery (late CPB; nondiabetics, 9.0 +/- 3.2 mmol/L; diabetics, 10.1 +/- 3.6 mmol/L), whereas normoglycemia was achieved in the study group (late CPB; nondiabetics, 5.5 +/- 0.7 mmol/L; diabetics, 4.9 +/- 0.6 mmol/L; P < 0.05 versus control group). In conclusion, it seems that normal blood glucose concentration during open heart surgery can be reliably maintained in nondiabetic and diabetic patients by using the hyperinsulinemic normoglycemic clamp technique.

Protein catabolism after colorectal surgery is increased in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus as reflected by an increased oxidative protein loss.