Related Experiment Video
Updated: Apr 18, 2026

Isolation of Human Islets from Partially Pancreatectomized Patients
Published on: July 30, 2011
Acute cellular insulin resistance and hyperglycemia associated with hypophosphatemia after cardiac surgery
Esther Garazi1, Suzanne Bridge, Anthony Caffarelli
1From the Departments of *Anesthesiology, Perioperative and Pain Medicine, and ‖Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Stanford University Medical Center, Stanford, California; †Department of Critical Care, Lakeridge Health, Oshawa, Ontario, Canada; ‡Department of Medicine, Queen's University, Ontario, Canada; and §Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Hoag Memorial Hospital, Newport Beach, California.
Abstract:
Successful glycemic control reduces morbidity and mortality in cardiac surgery patients. Protocols that include insulin infusions are commonly followed to achieve target blood glucose levels. Insulin resistance has been reported and linked to low serum phosphate levels in animal models and studies in diabetic outpatients, but not in postoperative patients. The following case series is a retrospective observational review of 8 cardiac surgery patients who developed insulin resistance early after surgery; this resistance was reversed by correcting serum hypophosphatemia. We discuss the multiple underlying mechanisms causing hypophosphatemia.
Related Concept Videos
Hypoglycemia and Glucagon
Type II Diabetes II: Pathophysiology
Hyperglycemia
Type I Diabetes III: Clinical Manifestations
Hypoglycemia
Glucose Homeostasis: Pancreatic Islets and Insulin Secretion
Insulin and C-peptide are...

