Diabetic patients who are undergoing open heart surgery frequently require insulin infusions to maintain regular blood sugar levels. Like other types of cardiovascular surgery, open heart surgery can instigate a variety of metabolic changes, such as decreased insulin response. For best results, follow the treatment guidelines offered by your surgeon or out-patient doctor.
Definition
According to the Patient Education Institute, open heart surgery is a highly complicated procedure that involves opening the heart to operate on ventricles and other internal structures. Following an open heart surgery, patients are placed in a Cardiac Surgery Intensive Care Unit, where the healing progress is monitored using a variety of tubes and machines. In addition to devices such as the chest tube, which is used to drain excess fluid from the chest cavity, other tubes may be used to provide insulin intravenously to stabilize your blood sugar and metabolism.
Why Insulin?
A study published in the “British Journal of Anaesthesia” linked a variety of metabolic changes in patients recovering from cardiovascular surgery. During surgery, eight patients were found to experience a failure of insulin response to the glucose used in bypass pump priming. Following the surgery, a dramatic drop in blood sugar and serum potassium levels occurred, resulting in a peak in insulin levels. Although more research is required to identify the specific cause, the study suggests that the trauma of surgery and hypothermia cause an increase in catecholamine secretion, a known insulin inhibitor.
Effectiveness
By injecting an insulin infusion, doctors can effectively stabilize your body’s insulin levels following surgery. In addition to improving recovery by normalizing your metabolism, insulin infusions can also decrease the likelihood of complications from open heart surgery. According to a study presented at the 34th Meeting of The Society of Thoracic Surgeons in 1998, continuous intravenous insulin treatments were linked with a reduced risk of deep sternal wound infections in diabetic patients who undergo cardiovascular surgery. While typically used on patients suffering from diabetes and hyperglycemia, insulin infusions may also be necessary in other cases. A separate study published in a 1970 issue of the “Thorax” medical journal found that a therapy combining potassium, glucose and insulin may offer benefits for post-surgery patients suffering from myocardial infarction.
Safety Concerns
Due to the delicate nature of open heart surgeries, patients may require a variety of intravenous infusions or treatment therapies. In most cases, the patient remains unconscious during most of these procedures, and long-term insulin therapies are not required. Always follow the guidelines recommended by your surgeon or out-care doctor when recovering from open heart surgery.
References
- Patient Education Instutute: X-Plain, Open Heart Surgery: What To Expect
- British Journal of Anaesthesia: Changes In Insulin Secretion During Open Heart Surgery
- The Society of Thoracic Surgeons: Insulin Reduces Diabetic Infections
- Thorax: Circulatory Effects Of Potassium, Glucose And Insulin Following An Open-Heart Surgery
- British Heart Journal: Insulin Secretion After Open-Heart Surgery With Particular Respect To Pathogenesis Of Low Cardiac Output State
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