Intraoperative Dexmedetomidine effectively controls perioperative blood sugar in diabetics undergoing cardiac surgery: Study

The study included 100 adult diabetic patients undergoing cardiac surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass, divided into two groups: group D receiving DEX infusion and group C receiving normal saline infusion. Various parameters including blood glucose levels, heart rate, mean arterial pressure, serum potassium levels, insulin requirements, duration of mechanical ventilation, and incidence of complications such as arrhythmias and delirium were monitored and compared between the two groups.

The study findings were as follows:

• DEX infusion significantly reduced the mean dose of insulin required compared to saline infusion (36.03 ± 22.71 IU vs 47.82 ± 30.19 IU, P = 0.0297).

• The incidence of arrhythmias was lower in the DEX group compared to the saline group (20% vs 46%, P = 0.0059).

• Similarly, the incidence of delirium was significantly lower in the DEX group (6% vs 20%, P = 0.0384).

• No significant differences were observed in other clinical parameters such as duration of mechanical ventilation and severity of illness scores (VIS).

This approach not only helps in glycemic control but also contributes to a lower incidence of postoperative complications such as arrhythmias and delirium. The findings underscore the potential benefits of DEX infusion in optimizing outcomes in diabetic patients undergoing cardiac procedures.

Reference:

Panidapu, N., Babu, S., Gadhinglajkar, S. V., Thomas, D., Aspari, A. M., & Sen, B. (2024). Effects of dexmedetomidine on perioperative glycemic control in adult diabetic patients undergoing cardiac surgery. Annals of Cardiac Anaesthesia, 27(3), 228–234. https://doi.org/10.4103/aca.aca_209_23