Diabetes
Diabetes is a metabolic disorder resulting from insulin deficiency or intolerance Associated with acute and long term systemic problems Diagnosed by a random plasma glucose >11.1mmol/l and a fasting glucose>7.0mmol/l (WHO criteria) The two most common forms of diabetes are Insulin Dependant Diabetes Mellitus (Type 1) and Non Insulin Dependant Diabetes Mellitus (Type 2)
Polygenic disorder thought to be of auto immune aetiology Results in destruction of cells in the Islets of Langerhans in the Pancreas, with subsequent insulin deficiency Young onset 0.4% prevalence Endogenous insulin is required to maintain plasma glucose levels to within physiological levels
Hypoglycaemia resulting from reduced insulin secretion and peripheral insulin resistance Some genetic concordance Older onset, associated with central obesity Depending on severity, may be controlled with:
diet and exercise to lose weight oral hypoglycaemics insulin
Surgery is a form of physical trauma It results in catabolism, increased metabolic rate, increased fat and protein breakdown, glucose intolerance and starvation. In a diabetic patient, the pre existing metabolic disturbances are exacerbated by surgery The type of diabetes, amount of insulin dose, diet or oral hypoglycaemic agents must be considered as this will change the overall management plan
The risk of significant end-organ damage increases with the duration of diabetes, although the quality of glucose control is more important than the absolute time
Anxiety Starvation Anaesthetic drugs Infection Metabolic response to trauma Diseases underlying need for surgery Other drugs e.g. steroids
Hormonal
Secretion of stress hormones
Cortisol Catecholamines Glucagon Growth Hormone Cytokines
Metabolic
Increased gluconeogenesis and glycogenolysis Hyperglycaemia Lipolysis Protein breakdown
Hypoglycaemia
May develop perioperatively due to the residual effects of preoperative long acting oral hypoglycaemic agents or insulin.
Exacerbated by preoperative fast or insufficient glucose administration Counter-regulatory mechanisms may be defective because of autonomic dysfunction Can lead to irreversible neurological deficits
Management
Give i.v dextrose and monitor glucose levels
Hyperglycaemia
Glucagon, cortisol and adrenaline secretion as part of the neuroendocrine response to trauma, combined with iatrogenic insulin deficiency or glucose overadministration may result in hyperglycaemia Causes osmotic diuresis, making volume status difficult to determine and risking profound dehydration and organ hypoperfusion, and increased risk of UTI osmotic diuresis, delayed wound healing, exacerbation of brain, spinal cord and renal damage by ischaemia Results in hyperosmolality with hyperviscocity, thrombogenesis and cerebral oedema
Management
Frequently measure blood glucose and administer insulin
Ketoacidosis
Any patient who is in a severe catabolic state and has an insulin deficiency (absolute or relative) can decompensate into keto-acidosis
characterised by hyperglycaemia, hyperosmolarity, dehydration (may lead to shock and hypotension) and excess ketone body production resulting in an anion gap metabolic acidosis.
Management
restore intravascular volume eliminate ketonaemia control blood glucose replace electrolytes monitor glucose and ketone levels Mortality from DKA 5-10% Electrolyte abnormalities Anticipate imbalances in potassium, magnesium and phosphate
Hypertension
Diabetic patients must be considered as being at high risk of MI Silent MI in autonomic neuropathy as Cardiac Autonomic Neuropathy may abolish the hearts response to stress Induction of anaesthesia and tracheal intubation can lead to a reduction in cardiac output
Management
Most cardiac and antihypertensive drugs should be continued throughout the perioperative period except, aspirin, diuretics and anticoagulants History to determine effort tolerance, clinical examination for cardiac failure and an electrocardiogram in all patients.
Renal
Renal dysfunction
Intrinsic renal disease including glomerulosclerosis and renal papillary necrosis enhance the risk of acute renal failure perioperatively Proteinuria is an early manifestation Dialysis should optimally be done the day before surgery.
Urinary infection
Management
Urea and electrolyte determination. Dipstix urinalysis for proteinuria
Nervous System
Counter-regulatory response to hypoglycaemia Peripheral glove and stocking neuropathy with an increased susceptibility to iatrogenic nerve injuries Cardiac Autonomic Neuropathy
Management
History of postural dizziness, post gustatory sweating, nocturnal diarrhoea and impotence.
Careful documentation of peripheral sensation
The small joints of the fingers and hands are also affected
failure to approximate the palmar surfaces of the interphalangeal joints are indicators of a difficult laryngoscopy (positive prayer sign)
Management
Clinical assessment of neck extension, examination of the small joints of the hand and a good evaluation of the ease of intubation
Immune and infectious risk Diabetics are susceptible to infection and have delayed wound healing Hyperglycaemia facilitates proliferation of bacteria and fungi depresses the immune system management Proteolysis and decreased amino acid transport retards wound healing. Loss of phagocytic function increases the risks of post-operative infection
Management Need very strict sterile techniques and need to assess risk/benefit ratio for procedures e.g catheterisation
Gastrointestinal
Gastroparesis
Ophthalmology Cataracts, glaucoma and retinopathy decrease visual acuity and increase the unpleasantness of the perioperative period
Management of preoperative insulin therapy depends on baseline blood glucose, level of diabetic control, severity of illness and the proposed surgical procedure However, aims for all diabetic patients are:
No excess mortality
No increase in post-op complications Normal wound healing
Pre-operative Assessment
This is the most important step in the management of the diabetic patient
Pre-Operative Management
Admit as early as possible prior to surgery Avoid long-acting glucose lowering agents chlorpropamide glibenclamide ultralente insulins Avoid metformin Closely monitor blood glucose levels 2 hourly for Type 1 4 hourly for type 2 Test urine every 8 hours for ketones Place first on morning operating list if possible Aim for a blood glucose of 5-10mmol/L
Aim to keep blood glucose 5 to10mmol/L Pre operative NBM for 6 hrs prior to surgery (4 hrs for clear fluids) Anti aspiration prophylaxis Initiate glucose/ potassium/ insulin regime after commencing NBM (check K+ as well) 500ml 10% glucose solution with 20mmol K+ at 1ml.kg1.hr-1 connected to Y piece with insulin syringe Make up insulin syringe as 50 units insulin in 50 ml saline in a 50 ml syringe pump and run through Y piece with 10% glucose at between 1 to 5 u hr-1 (1 5 ml). Base on existing insulin regime Use sliding scale e.g. 1 u hr-1 if BG between 5 to 10 Hourly capillary glucose is measured until operation
Intra-operative
Hourly glucose monitoring
keep between 5-10 mmol/L
Anaesthesia determined by patient physiology and surgical requirements Set up additional IV for resuscitation fluids
Post-operative
Continue Glucose/Potassium/Insulin regime until patient can take orally Oral medication with first meal Allow for pain resulting in increased insulin requirements
Treat as insulin dependant if: poorly controlled (blood glucose >10 mmo/L) major surgery Pre-operative Biguanides must be stopped 48 hours before hand for fear of lactic acidosis
NBM for 12 hours prior to operation Start i.v maintenance fluid
Post-operative
Restart oral hypoglycaemics with first meal
Conclusion
The diabetic patient presents numerous challenges to management during surgery Awareness of the complications should enable tight metabolic control Correct management of the diabetic patient during surgery reduces morbidity and length of admission, as well as resulting in better wound healing