OBJECTIVE -To determine if glucose management in postcardiothoracic surgery patients with a combined intravenous (IV) and subcutaneous (SC) insulin regimen reduces mortality and morbidity in patients with diabetes and stress-induced hyperglycemia.RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS -Retrospective review of 614 consecutive patients who underwent cardiothoracic (CT) surgery in 2005 was performed to evaluate the incidence and treatment of postoperative hyperglycemia and operative morbidity and mortality. Hyperglycemic patients (glucose Ͼ6.05 mmol/l) were treated with IV insulin in the intensive care unit (ICU) followed by SC insulin (outside ICU). Subgroup analysis was performed on 159 coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG)-only patients.RESULTS -Among all CT surgeries, patients with a preoperative diagnosis of diabetes had higher rates of postoperative mortality (7.3 vs. 3.3%; P ϭ 0.03) and pulmonary complications (19.5 vs. 11.6%; P ϭ 0.02) but had similar rates of infections and cardiac, renal, and neurological complications on univariate analysis. However, on multivariate analysis, a preoperative diagnosis of diabetes was not a significant factor in postoperative mortality or pulmonary complications. In CABG-only patients, no significant differences were seen in outcomes between diabetic and nondiabetic patients. Independent of diabetic status, glucose Ն11 mmol/l on ICU admission was predictive of higher rates of mortality and renal, pulmonary, and cardiac postoperative complications.CONCLUSIONS -A combination of IV insulin (in the ICU) and SC insulin (outside the ICU), a less costly and less nursing-intensive therapy than 3 days of IV insulin postoperatively, results in a reduction of the increased surgical morbidity and mortality in diabetic patients after CT surgery. Diabetes Care 30:823-828, 2007

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Glycemic control of 140 mg/dL safely resulted in a reduced incidence of infection after transplantation compared with 180 mg/dL, but with an increase in moderate hypoglycemia.

Objective Intensive glycemic control with a dedicated glucose management service (GMS) has been used to manage hyperglycemic inpatients. We present an analysis of glycemic control before and after introduction of a GMS and outcomes within one year after liver transplantation (LT). Methods A retrospective review of patients undergoing LT who were treated with insulin infusions post-LT, before and after introduction of a GMS. Outcome measures within one year post-LT included rejection, infection, prolonged ventilation, and graft survival. A multiple logistic regression was used to examine the relationship between GMS use and outcomes. Results 73 (35 GMS, 38 non-GMS) recipients were included. The mean perioperative blood glucose in the GMS group was lower than non-GMS group: unadjusted by 31.1 mg/dL (p=0.001) and adjusted for pre-insulin drip glucose, age, gender, MELD-score (Model for End Stage Liver Disease), type of transplant by 23.4 mg/dL (p=0.020). There were 27 rejection episodes, 48 infections, 26 episodes of prolonged ventilation, and 64 with graft survival at one year. Infection rate in the GMS group was lower than for non-GMS group: unadjusted OR=0.28 (p=0.015), when adjusted for pre-drip glucose, pre-transplant glucose, age, gender, MELD score, type of transplant and diabetes status prior to transplantation OR=0.24 (95% CI, [0.06, 0.97], p=0.045). There were no significant associations between GMS group and rejection rates, prolonged ventilation, or graft survival. Conclusions In this study of LT patients, a GMS was associated with improved glycemic control and reduced postoperative infections. Further studies investigating effects of strict glycemic control after LT are warranted.