Diabetes mellitus and cardiothoracic surgical site infections
1Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, TN 37232, USA. tom.talbot@vanderbilt.edu
Abstract:
Persons afflicted with diabetes mellitus compose over one fourth of patients undergoing cardiothoracic surgery and create a particular challenge to surgical and critical care practitioners. This paper reviews the impact of diabetes mellitus on cardiothoracic surgical site infection (SSI) risk, with specific attention to recent data regarding the role of perioperative hyperglycemia as well as the use of continuous insulin infusion for SSI risk reduction in the cardiothoracic surgical population.
Related Concept Videos
Cardiomyopathy VII: Pre and Post Operative Nursing Management
Peripheral Artery Disease V: Postoperative Nursing Management
Diabetes Mellitus: Type 2 and Gestational
Diabetes Mellitus: Overview and Type I Subtype
Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease in which the immune system mistakenly attacks and destroys the insulin-producing beta cells in the pancreas. As a result, the body is unable to produce sufficient insulin, and individuals with...
Pathophysiology of Diabetes
Type 1 diabetes is characterized by autoimmune-mediated destruction of pancreatic β cells, with environmental factors potentially triggering this process in genetically susceptible individuals. Despite many not having a family history, certain genes increase susceptibility,...
Diabetes: Symptoms, Diagnosis, and Complications


