Glucose and insulin supply before cardiopulmonary bypass in cardiac surgery: a double-blind study

A double-blind study versus placebo was carried out to evaluate the effects of a 500-mL infusion of 30% glucose containing 300 units of ordinary insulin and 5 g of potassium chloride administered at a rate of 1.66 mL.kg-1.h-1 for 1 hour before cardiopulmonary bypass. The hemodynamic parameters measured before and after administration of the solution, after cardiopulmonary bypass, after administration of protamine, and 3 hours after leaving the operating room showed the beneficial effect of the glucose-insulin-potassium infusion on cardiac index (+23.6% after protamine infusion) and left (+16.3% 3 hours postoperatively) and right (+47.3% after cardiopulmonary bypass) ventricular workload index with a decrease in systemic vascular resistance. For patients with a cardiac index of less than 2.5 L.min-1.m-2 before administration of the glucose-insulin-potassium solution, the beneficial effect on the cardiac index was further increased 3 hours postoperatively (+33%). During the postoperative period, the requirements in inotropic drugs and disturbances of rhythm were not significantly different between the two groups, although they were twofold lower in patients receiving glucose-insulin-potassium. Laboratory tests showed that postoperative hypoglycemia was more common in the glucose-insulin-potassium group but had no detrimental effects; it no longer occurs since we began administering the glucose infusion at 15 g/h over 8 hours. The data reflect the beneficial effect associated with the action of glucose-insulin-potassium on myocardial protection during heart operations and were confirmed by the hemodynamic results. This argues in favor of the routine use of this technique, especially in patients with poor ventricular function.