Continuous perioperative insulin infusion therapy for patients with type 2 diabetes undergoing bariatric surgery

Background Continuous insulin infusion (CII) is proven to decrease morbidity and mortality in surgical critical care patients. This study compared standard insulin therapy with CII in type 2 diabetes patients undergoing elective bariatric surgical procedures in a community hospital. Methods A retrospective review investigated 350 bariatric surgical patients with type 2 diabetes who underwent perioperative treatment of hyperglycemia using either standard insulin therapy or CII. The 182 patients in group 1 underwent glucose monitoring and subcutaneous insulin treatment every 6 h, whereas the 168 patients in group 2 had CII treatment beginning in the preoperative holding area and monitored hourly for the next 24 h. The two groups were similar in demographic characteristics. Results There were no significant hypoglycemic episodes with perioperative CII. The mean perioperative insulin required was 5.8 U/h. The patients receiving CII had fewer postprocedure cholecystectomies, but a higher number of port-site infections. Conclusions Perioperative CII can be administered safely to diabetic patients undergoing bariatric surgery. The insulin requirements in this population are higher than expected. Our study showed a decrease in the number of postoperative cholecystectomies in the CII group, but no effect on the stricture rate and an increase in the number of patients with postoperative port-site infections.