Previous randomised control trials in a surgical
ICU showed that strict control of blood glucose
levels with insulin significantly reduced morbidity
and mortality in critically ill patients.6,7 The contribution
of postoperative hyperglycaemia after
hepatic surgery to the risk of SSI has not previously
been assessed. Our data show that strict postoperative
glycaemic control, using the STG-22 artificial
pancreas, is associated with a significantly lower
risk of SSI after hepatic resection. All patients in
the programmed insulin group were supplied with
postoperative nutrition using a continuous drip
infusion of glucose, which was equivalent to the
level of calories calculated according to the
HarriseBenedict equation. Hypoglycaemia during
intensive insulin therapy at a surgical ICU is
normally problematic. Using the STG-22, postoperative
glucose levels are maintained under strict
control thereby preventing hypoglycaemia. In the
sliding scale group, the required level of calories
is not always achieved as it is difficult to control
postoperative blood glucose levels using the sliding
scale method for plasma glucose detection. Our
results suggest that control of postoperative
glucose levels and maintenance of an adequate
calorie intake with good glycaemic control using
insulin therapy is important during postoperative
management in order to reduce postoperative
complications.
In conclusion, the incidence of superficial/deep
SSI was 14.5% in this consecutive series of 152
hepatectomised cases from a single institution.
Limitations of this study include the associated
errors and biases inherent in a small retrospective
study design. These findings should assist in
predicting SSI in patients who undergo hepatic
resection, and also suggest that the strict control
of postoperative blood glucose levels might reduce
the incidence of SSI in such cases. Artificial
pancreas, STG-22, is a safe and beneficial device
to perform postoperative tight glycaemic control
without hypoglycaemia for patients who underwent
hepatic resection for liver diseases. Prospective
randomised controlled trials are
recommended to further evaluate whether the
postoperative strict control of blood sugar levels
by using artifical pancreas might reduce the incidence
of postoperative infectious complication
after hepatic surgery.