Haakinson, Danielle J.

Objective: The objective was to assess processes of care for patients with diabetes undergoing elective surgery. Methods: A retrospective review of medical records was conducted to determine frequency of perioperative glucose monitoring, changes in glucose control, and treatment of intraoperative hyperglycemia. Results: A total of 268 patients underwent 287 elective procedures. Mean age was 67 years, 63% were men, 97% had type 2 diabetes, and most (57%) were treated with oral hypoglycemic agents. Average perioperative time was approximately 8 h. Mean preoperative hemoglobin A1c was 7.0%; however, this value was checked in only 52% of cases. A glucose measurement was obtained in 89% of cases in the preoperative area and in 87% in the postanesthesia care unit, but in only 33% of cases did a value get checked intraoperatively. Average glucose was 139 mg/dl preoperatively, increasing to 166 mg/dl postoperatively ( p <.001). Glucose levels increased regardless of type of outpatient medical therapy used to treat hyperglycemia, except for those on combination oral agents plus insulin ( p =.06). Conclusions: These data indicate suboptimal documentation of outpatient hemoglobin A1c. Intraoperative glucose monitoring seldom occurred, despite prolonged periods under anesthesia and perioperative deterioration of glycemic control. Standards need to be developed and interventions are needed to enhance management of diabetes patients undergoing elective procedures.

Objective: Our objective was to assess the application of insulin regimens in surgical postoperative patients with diabetes. Methods: A chart review was conducted of patients with diabetes who were hospitalized postoperatively between January 1 and April 30, 2011. Analysis was restricted to patients hospitalized for ≥3 days and excluded cases with an endocrinology consult. Insulin regimens were categorized as “basal plus short acting,” “short acting only,” or “none,” and the pattern of use was evaluated by hyperglycemia severity according to tertiles of both mean glucose and the number of glucose measurements >180 mg/dl. Results: Among cases selected for analysis ( n = 119), examination of changes in insulin use based on tertiles of mean glucose showed that use of basal plus short-acting insulin increased from 10% in the lowest tertile (mean glucose, 120 mg/dl) to 18% in the highest tertile (mean glucose, 198 mg/dl; p < .01); however, 70% of patients in the highest tertile continued to receive short-acting insulin only, with 12% receiving no insulin. Intensification of insulin to a basal plus short-acting regimen was also seen when changes were evaluated by the number of measurements >180 mg/dl ( p < .01), but 70% and 12% of patients in the highest tertile still remained only on short-acting insulin or received no insulin, respectively. Conclusions: Use of basal plus short-acting insulin therapy increased with worsening hyperglycemia, but many cases did not have therapy intensified to the recommended insulin regimen—evidence of clinical inertia. Strategies should be devised to overcome inpatient clinical inertia in the treatment of postoperative patients with diabetes.

AbstractKidney transplant (KT) programs have extended recipient eligibility to those who were previously excluded due to advanced age. We aimed to determine the outcomes of the patients ≥70 years undergoing KT and investigate factors predicting survival. Two thousand six hundred and twenty‐four KT patients between 2003 and 2013 at two institutions were divided into two groups; those ≥70 years (n=300) and those <70 years (n=2324) at the time of KT. Patient survival at 1, 3, and 5 years was 95%, 86%, and 77% in ≥70 years of age group and 98%, 95%, and 90% in the <70 years group (P<.001). When graft loss due to death was censored, graft survival was not significantly different between the two groups (P=.18). On multivariable analysis, the significant predictors of inferior survival in patients ≥70 years included: body mass index (BMI)>30 kg/m2 (hazard ratio [HR] 1.07; P=.01), panel reactive antibody (PRA)>20% (HR 2.38; P=.01), previous coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG; HR 1.95; P=.03) and peripheral vascular disease (PVD; HR 2.60; P=.04). Acceptable outcomes can be achieved in KT recipients ≥70 years. Caution should be used when listing these patients if they have BMI>30 kg/m2, PRA>20%, CABG or PVD.