Hyperglycemia assessment in the post-anesthesia care unit / Avaliação de hiperglicemia na sala de recuperação pós-anestésica

Abstract Background and objectives Hyperglycemia in surgical patients may cause serious problems. Analyzing this complication in this scenario contributes to improve the management of these patients. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of hyperglycemia in the post-anesthetic care unit (PACU) in non-diabetic patients undergoing elective surgery and analyze the possible risk factors associated with this complication. Methods We evaluated non-diabetic patients undergoing elective surgeries and admitted in the PACU. Data were collected from medical records through precoded questionnaire. Hyperglycemia was considered when blood glucose was >120 mg.dL-1. Patients with hyperglycemia were compared to normoglycemic ones to assess factors associated with the problem. We excluded patients with endocrine-metabolic disorders, diabetes, children under 18 years, body mass index (BMI) below 18 or above 35, pregnancy, postpartum or breastfeeding, history of drug use, and emergency surgeries. Results We evaluated 837 patients. The mean age was 47.8 ± 16.1 years. The prevalence of hyperglycemia in the postoperative period was 26.4%. In multivariate analysis, age (OR = 1.031, 95% CI 1.017-1.045); BMI (OR = 1.052, 95% CI 1.005-1.101); duration of surgery (OR = 1.011, 95% CI 1.008-1.014), history of hypertension (OR = 1.620, 95% CI 1.053-2.493), and intraoperative use of corticosteroids (OR = 5.465, 95% CI 3.421-8.731) were independent risk factors for postoperative hyperglycemia. Conclusion The prevalence of hyperglycemia was high in the PACU, and factors such as age, BMI, corticosteroids, blood pressure, and duration of surgery are strongly related to this complication.

Resumo Justificativa e objetivos Hiperglicemia em pacientes cirúrgicos pode ocasionar graves problemas. Nesse contexto, analisar essa complicação contribui para o melhor manejo desses pacientes. O objetivo do estudo foi avaliar a prevalência de hiperglicemia na sala de recuperação pós-anestésica (SRPA) em pacientes não diabéticos submetidos a cirurgias eletivas e analisar os possíveis fatores de risco associados a essa complicação. Métodos Foram avaliados pacientes não diabéticos submetidos a cirurgias eletivas e admitidos na SRPA. Os dados foram coletados dos prontuários por meio de questionário pré-codificado. Foi considerada hiperglicemia quando a glicemia era > 120 mg.dL-1. Pacientes com hiperglicemia foram comparados com os normoglicêmicos para avaliar fatores associados ao problema. Foram excluídos os pacientes com distúrbios endócrino-metabólicos, diabéticos, menores de 18 anos, índice de massa corpórea (IMC) menor do que 18 ou maior do que 35, gestação, puerpério ou aleitamento materno, antecedente de uso de drogas e cirurgias de urgência. Resultados Foram avaliados 837 pacientes. A média de idade foi 47,8 ± 16,1 anos. A prevalência de hiperglicemia no pós-operatório foi de 26,4%. Na análise multivariada, idade (OR = 1,031; IC 95% 1,017-1,045); IMC (OR = 1,052; IC 95% 1,005-1,101); tempo cirúrgico (OR = 1,011; IC 95% 1,008-1,014); antecedente de hipertensão (OR = 1,620; IC 95% 1,053-2,493) e uso de corticoides intraoperatório (OR = 5,465; IC 95% 3,421-8,731) representaram fatores de risco independentes para hiperglicemia no pós-operatório. Conclusão Hiperglicemia apresentou alta prevalência na SRPA e fatores como idade, IMC, corticoides, hipertensão arterial e tempo de cirurgia são fortemente relacionados a essa complicação.

[Hyperglycemia assessment in the post-anesthesia care unit]. / Avaliação de hiperglicemia na sala de recuperação pós­anestésica.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Hyperglycemia in surgical patients may cause serious problems. Analyzing this complication in this scenario contributes to improve the management of these patients. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of hyperglycemia in the post-anesthetic care unit (PACU) in non-diabetic patients undergoing elective surgery and analyze the possible risk factors associated with this complication. METHODS: We evaluated non-diabetic patients undergoing elective surgeries and admitted in the PACU. Data were collected from medical records through precoded questionnaire. Hyperglycemia was considered when blood glucose was>120mg.dL-1. Patients with hyperglycemia were compared to normoglycemic ones to assess factors associated with the problem. We excluded patients with endocrine-metabolic disorders, diabetes, children under 18 years, body mass index (BMI) below 18 or above 35, pregnancy, postpartum or breastfeeding, history of drug use, and emergency surgeries. RESULTS: We evaluated 837 patients. The mean age was 47.8±16.1 years. The prevalence of hyperglycemia in the postoperative period was 26.4%. In multivariate analysis, age (OR=1.031, 95% CI 1.017-1.045); BMI (OR=1.052, 95% CI 1.005-1.101); duration of surgery (OR=1.011, 95% CI 1.008-1.014), history of hypertension (OR=1.620, 95% CI 1.053-2.493), and intraoperative use of corticosteroids (OR=5.465, 95% CI 3.421-8.731) were independent risk factors for postoperative hyperglycemia. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of hyperglycemia was high in the PACU, and factors such as age, BMI, corticosteroids, blood pressure, and duration of surgery are strongly related to this complication.