Perioperative Hyperglycemia and Glucose Variability in Gynecologic Laparotomies

The glycemic response and its relation to postoperative complications following gynecologic laparotomies is unknown, although these surgeries carry a substantial risk for postoperative morbidity. Therefore, our objective was to assess the prevalence of perioperative hyperglycemia and glucose variability in women undergoing a gynecologic laparotomy.

In this prospective cohort study, capillary glucose was measured every hour during the perioperative period. The primary outcome measures were the proportion of patients with postoperative hyperglycemia (glucose >180 mg d l(-1)) and the glucose variability in the intra- and postoperative period. Postoperative complications were assessed as secondary outcome measure.

We included 150 women undergoing a gynecologic laparotomy. Perioperative hyperglycemia occurred in 33 patients without diabetes (23.4%) and in 8 patients with diabetes (89%). Glucose variability was significantly higher (mean absolute glucose change [MAG] 11 mg dl(-1) hr(-1) [IQR 8-18]) in the intraoperative compared to the postoperative period (MAG 10 mg dl(-1) hr(-1) [IQR 3-16], P = .03). Neither hyperglycemia nor glucose variability was associated with postoperative complications.

Hyperglycemia and glucose variability seem to be a minor problem during gynecologic laparotomy. Based on the current data, we would not advocate standardized glucose measurements in every patient without diabetes undergoing gynecologic laparotomy.