Vascular Surgery Complications Increased by Hyperglycemia

Hyperglycemia can increase complications and mortality in patients undergoing vascular procedures, including those who are not diabetic, according to a new study.

Researchers at the University of Missouri (MU; Columbia, USA) conducted a study in 3,586 patients with peripheral artery disease (PAD) admitted for elective lower extremity surgical procedures performed between September 2008 and March 2014, in order to evaluate the relationship of postoperative hyperglycemia--defined as blood glucose over 180 mg/dL--with sociodemographic characteristics, acute and chronic diagnoses, infections, hospital length of stay, and 30-day readmission.

The results of the study indicated that 22% of patients undergoing vascular procedures had suboptimal glucose control (hyperglycemia), which was associated with poorer outcomes in patients both with and without diabetes, including increased infection rates (23% vs 14%) and more acute complications such as fluid and electrolyte disorders, acute renal failure, postoperative respiratory complications; increased hospital stays (6.9 vs 5.1 days); and an 8.4-times odds of dying in the hospital. More...