Postoperative extremity gangrene in a patient with type 2 diabetes taking SGLT2 inhibitors: A case report

RATIONALE: Sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors have been approved and marketed since March 2013. The proportion of patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D) taking SGLT2 inhibitors is increasing. The perioperative adverse effects of SGLT2 inhibitors, especially euglycemic diabetic ketoacidosis (euDKA), should be taken into consideration in perioperative patient evaluation in both elective and emergency surgeries. PATIENT CONCERNS: A 57-year-old woman taking SGLT2 inhibitors for T2D developed euDKA after undergoing an emergency orthopedic surgery; the euDKA diagnosis was delayed, thereby causing extremity gangrene. DIAGNOSES: EuDKA was diagnosed based on the presence of strongly positive ketonuria, elevated blood beta-hydroxybutyrate level, and severe metabolic acidosis. INTERVENTION: EuDKA was treated with insulin infusion with dextrose solution and intravenous fluid resuscitation. OUTCOME: Due to a delayed diagnosis of euDKA, the patient received a high-dose vasopressor, which led to limb gangrene and amputation 6 months later. LESSONS: EuDKA is often misdiagnosed due to the absence of hyperglycemia. Serum beta-hydroxybutyrate levels or urinalysis could be used as screening tools for euDKA in patients scheduled for emergency surgery, in order to preoperatively administer rapid fluid resuscitation and insulin infusion with dextrose solution, which should continue postoperatively along with serum beta-hydroxybutyrate monitoring.