ABSTRACT
We prospectively compared, the glucose-insulin-potassium (GIK) solution 1,000 mL 10% glucose, 20 units of fast acting insulin and 60 mEq of potassium chloride, against a GIK solution with 1,000 mL of glucose, 40 units of fast acting insulin an 120 mEq of chloride, in the hyperglycemic control of non-diabetic patient subjected to cardiac surgery. We divided 40 patients in four groups ten patients each. Group A was the control they received 1,000 mL of 10% glucose in water, 20 units of fast acting insulin and 60 mEq of potassium chloride in a drops/ hour dose without an infusion pump. Group B received the same solution in a 50 mL/hour dose. Group C received 1,000 mL of 10% glucose in water, 40 units of fast acting insulin plus, 120 mEq of potassium chloride at the same infusion rate as Group A. Group D 2 1,000 mL of 10% of glucose in water, 40 units of fast acting insulin in the same rate as Group B. The GIK solution was started after anesthesia induction and maintained all along the extracorporeal circulation, the study continued until the patient was transferred to the intensive care unit. We measured blood glucose, circulating insulin and seric levels of potassium three times; basal before the anesthetic induction, during the extracorporeal circulation and at the intensive care unit arrival. The data were analyzed with measure of central tendency, dispersion and multivariate analysis. RESULTS: Among the four groups no statistically significant differences existed in demographic data. In Group A, glucose and potassium levels were higher as compared with the rest of the groups (p <0.05) in all measurements; Group D was less hyperglycaemic as compared with Groups A, B, and C. CONCLUSION: The solution with low insulin dose does useful plasmatic insulin levels in the hyperglycemia in non diabetic patients subjected to cardiac surgery.