Continuous monitoring of blood glucose concentration during open-heart surgery

Continuous monitoring of blood glucose concentration was compared with frequent intermittent sampling in 12 non-diabetic adult patients undergoing open-heart surgery with cardiopulmonary by-pass using priming fluids free of glucose. Continuous monitoring revealed several changes which were not detected on intermittent sampling. Blood glucose concentration decreased by 2 mmol litre-1 +/- 0.5 (SEM) (P less than 0.01) immediately on the institution of CPB, and increased during the succeeding minutes. Rewarming from hypothermic by-pass was associated with a 3 (+/- 0.5)-mmol litre-1 increase in blood glucose concentration (P less than 0.01). Commencement of infusions of sympathomimetic agents resulted in a similar increase.