Glucose and Insulin Infusion Directly after Cardiac Surgery: Effects on Systemic Glucose Uptake, Catecholamine Excretion, O2 Consumption, and CO 2 Production

Systemic glucose uptake was studied in 31 patients during 4 hr starting 1 hr after open heart surgery, using the hyperinsulinemic “clamp” technique at different plasma insulin levels and at a glucose concentration of 6 or 10 mmol/ liter. Possible metabolic side effects related to the glucose uptake were studied by measurements of urinary catecholamine excretion, O 2 consumption, CO 2 production, and arterial PC02. A peak systemic glucose uptake of 7.0 ± 0.4 mg/kg body weight/ min was found at a plasma insulin concentration of 3192 ± 150 mU/liter and a blood glucose concentration of 10.2 ±0.1 mmol/ liter. No significant difference was found in urinary catecholamine excretion compared to control patients. O 2 consumption was unaltered while a 15% increase in CO 2 production was observed. (Journal of Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition 9 :159–164, 1985)