[Hyperglycemia in critically ill patients. Sample of choice, controls and values: literature review]

The hyperglycemia is one of the most common problems in the critically ill patient, hence the importance of a good control of it in the ICUs.

To identify the sample of choice for glycemic control in the critically ill patient; To distinguish the necessary controls to ensure the correct levels of glucose in the critically ill patient; To determine the range of blood glucose values suitable for the critically ill patient.

This review was made in different databases: MEDLINE with the assistance of specific search PubMed and ProQuest, CUIDEN-PLUS and ELSEVIER Publishing website.

24 articles were collected: descriptive, analytic and cohort studies, and also literature reviews. The golden sample for the glucose determination in this patient is the arterial one, and can be also used the venous one, excluding the capillary sample. The analysis should be carried out in a clinical laboratory. However, glucometers can be used to provide instantaneous measurements. Blood glucose controls in the critically ill patient are initially set each hour until their stabilization, and then, they are spaced to periods of two-three hours. The glycemic index is moderate, with values between 140-180 mg/dl.

The arterial sample is the chosen one for glucose determination in this patient. Blood glucose controls should be initially set each hour, until their stabilization, and then they are spaced to periods of two-three hours. The glycemia in the critically ill patient should be included in a index of 140-180 mg/dl, which is considered a moderate control.