Comparison of intensive insulin therapy and conventional glucose management in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Hyperglycemia during cardiac surgery is a risk factor for postoperative outcomes. Because incidence of diabetes mellitus is increasing in Indian population, we tried to evaluate the western protocol for strict control of blood sugar perioperatively. The main aim of the study was to evaluate glycemic control during coronary artery bypass grafting and to determine whether intensive insulin therapy (IIT) is better than the conventional one. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A prospective randomized comparative study was conducted to evaluate IIT and conventional management of glucose in 40 patients undergoing on-pump coronary artery bypass grafting. Outcomes measured were incidence of hyperglycemia or hypoglycemia, incidence of hypokalemia, prolonged intubation, wound infections, strokes, acute renal failure, new onset arrhythmias, length of stay in ICU and hospital, cardiac arrest and mortality. The statistical analysis was done by using Chi-square test, and paired and unpaired t test. RESULTS: The diabetic patients had significantly higher mean blood sugar and insulin requirement. The incidence of hyperglycemia was significantly higher in conventional management of blood sugar (P = 0.001), whereas hypoglycemia (P = 0.047) and hypokalemia (P = 0.020) were significantly higher in IIT. There were no significant difference in the incidence of prolonged intubation, wound infection, length of ICU and hospital stay, strokes, acute renal failure, new onset arrhythmias, cardiac arrest, and mortality. CONCLUSION: The IIT did not improve the morbidity and mortality in our patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting.