Objective  

We investigated the usefulness of perioperative blood glucose control in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG).

Methods  

DM patients were aggressively treated with intensive insulin therapy to achieve a preoperative fasting blood glucose level of 140 mg/dl and a postoperative level of 200 mg/dl. For comparison, patients were divided as follows: (1) DM group vs. non-DM group, and (2) for mean blood glucose level in the intensive care unit (ICU), lower than 200 mg/dl (IL) vs. 200 mg/dl or higher (IH).

Results  

(1) In the DM group, the amount of insulin (U) used during surgery was greater (P < 0.05), and the duration of ICU stay was longer (P < 0.05). The incidence of all complications was higher in the DM group (P < 0.05). (2) Between the IH group (54) and the IL group (82), the proportion of DM patients was higher in the IH group (75% vs. 38%, P < 0.05). In the IH, the duration of ICU stay (P < 0.01) was longer, and the incidence of all complications was higher (P < 0.05). (3) In the DM group, the incidence of complications tended to be higher in the IH group. The incidence of complications was extremely low in the non-DM group.

Conclusion  

Strict perioperative blood glucose control may help to improve the outcomes of CABG.