Time requirements for perioperative glucose management using fully closed-loop versus standard insulin therapy: A...

Area of Science:

• Endocrinology
• Medical Technology
• Surgical Care

Background:

• Perioperative glucose management is critical for surgical patients.
• Standard insulin therapy requires significant staff time and resources.
• Optimizing glucose control protocols can improve patient outcomes and resource allocation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare the time demands of perioperative glucose management between fully automated closed-loop (FCL) insulin therapy and standard insulin therapy.
• To quantify the staff time required for blood glucose management across different perioperative care settings.

Main Methods:

• A time-motion study was conducted using theoretical scenarios for elective minor and major abdominal surgeries.
• Staff workflows and task durations for FCL and standard insulin therapy were measured.
• Cumulative staff time was calculated based on task frequency and average duration.

Main Results:

• FCL insulin therapy substantially reduced the time for perioperative glucose management compared to standard therapy (2.1–4.5 times less).
• For major abdominal surgery, FCL required 248.5 min versus 753.9 min for standard therapy.
• For minor abdominal surgery, FCL required 68.6 min versus 133.2 min for standard therapy.

Conclusions:

• Fully automated closed-loop insulin delivery can significantly decrease the workload associated with inpatient glucose management.
• This technology has the potential to alleviate staff burden in diabetes care settings.
• Implementation requires adequately trained staff to maximize benefits.