Mini-pump: method of diabetic control during minor surgery under general anaesthesia

Area of Science:

• Endocrinology
• Metabolic Disorders
• Surgical Patient Care

Background:

• Maintaining glycemic control in diabetic patients undergoing surgery is crucial for preventing complications.
• Traditional insulin regimens can be challenging to manage during the perioperative period, especially with general anesthesia.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate a simple, standardized mini-pump insulin infusion method for perioperative glycemic control in insulin-treated diabetic patients undergoing minor surgery.
• To assess the safety and efficacy of this method in preventing hypoglycemia and maintaining target blood glucose levels.

Main Methods:

• A prospective study involving 20 insulin-treated diabetic patients undergoing minor surgery under general anesthesia.
• Patients received a continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion of 0.5 units/h via a mini-pump from the morning of surgery until the evening.
• Long-acting insulin was omitted the night before surgery; standard evening insulin and meals were administered post-operatively before pump cessation.

Main Results:

• All 20 patients demonstrated a steady decline in blood glucose concentrations throughout the day of surgery.
• No instances of hypoglycemia were recorded in any of the study participants.
• The mini-pump method effectively maintained satisfactory blood glucose control using a standardized insulin dose.

Conclusions:

• The described mini-pump method offers a simple and effective approach for managing blood glucose in insulin-treated diabetics during and after minor surgery.
• This standardized, low-rate insulin infusion is safe and reliable, eliminating the need for complex regimen adjustments.
• The technique holds promise for routine clinical application in perioperative diabetes management.