Intraoperative glucose management in children < 1 year or < 10 kg: an observational study

Glycaemic profile of children undergoing anaesthesia (GLYCANA) at Mercy James Centre in Malawi: an observational study

BACKGROUND

Hypoglycaemia and hyperglycaemia may develop during anaesthesia and surgery in children and can lead to severe adverse clinical outcomes. No study, as far as we know, has investigated glucose homeostasis in children undergoing surgery in Malawi. The aim of this study was to assess perioperative glucose levels of the children undergoing anaesthesia at Mercy James Centre (MJC) for Paediatric Surgery, Blantyre, Malawi.

METHODOLOGY

This was an observational cross-sectional study. We looked at 100 children aged 1 day to 15 years anaesthetised at MJC. Data were analysed using SPSS 28. Student t test and Analysis of the variance (ANOVA) were used to compare means. The level of significance was 5%.

RESULTS

Male children represented 68%. The median age was 2.2 years. Sixten percents of patient were underweight. Fasting times were prolonged for 87%. Maintenance IV fluid with 2.5% dextrose was given to 14%. Overall, there was a significant increase of glycaemia from induction of anaesthesia to the end of the procedure. Hypoglycaemia was rare. The mean fasting glycaemia was 99.04 mg/dL ± 1.8, 116.95 mg/dL ± 34.2 at 30 min into the procedure and 127.62 mg/dL ± 46.8 at the end of the procedure. The differences in means were statistically significant (p < 0.001). Prolonged fasting times was associated with lower blood glucose means whereas nutrition status, type of the procedure, addition of dextrose in the fluid, and duration of procedure were associated with higher glycaemia means.

CONCLUSION

Glycaemia increases under anaesthesia and surgery. Recommended fasting times, optimising nutritional status, when possible, no dextrose or lower than 2.5% dextrose in IV maintenance fluid are possible strategies to maintain blood sugar homeostasis during paediatric surgery and anaesthesia.

Risk Factors for Intraoperative Hypoglycemia in Children: A Multicenter Retrospective Cohort Study

BACKGROUND

Intraoperative hypoglycemia can result in devastating neurologic injury if not promptly diagnosed and treated. Few studies have defined risk factors for intraoperative hypoglycemia. The authors sought to characterize children with intraoperative hypoglycemia and determine independent risk factors in a multicenter cohort.

METHODS

This retrospective multicenter study included all patients <18 years undergoing an anesthetic from January 1, 2012, to December 31, 2016, at 12 institutions participating in the Multicenter Perioperative Outcomes Group (MPOG). The primary outcome was blood glucose <60 mg/dL (3.3 mmol/L). Data collected included patient characteristics, comorbidities, and intraoperative factors. A multivariable logistic regression model was used to identify independent predictors of intraoperative hypoglycemia.

RESULTS

Blood glucose was measured in 26,142 of 394,231 (6.6%) cases. Of these, 1017 (3.9%) had a glucose <60 mg/dL (3.3 mmol/L). Independent predictors for intraoperative hypoglycemia identified were age <30 days (estimated adjusted odds ratio [AOR] vs ≥5 years 4.2; 95% confidence interval [CI], 3.4-5.3), age 30 days to <5 years (estimated AOR vs ≥5 years 2.7; 95% CI, 2.3-3.2), weight for age <5th percentile (estimated AOR, 1.6; 95% CI, 1.4-1.9), American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) status ≥III (estimated AOR, 1.3; 95% CI, 1.1-1.6), presence of a gastric or jejunal tube (estimated AOR, 1.3; 95% CI, 1.1-1.6), poor feeding (estimated AOR, 1.5; 95% CI, 1.2-1.7), and abdominal surgery (estimated AOR, 1.4; 95% CI, 1.1-1.7). Eighty percent of hypoglycemia occurred in children <5 years of age and in children <20 kg.

CONCLUSIONS

Young age, weight for age <5th percentile, ASA status ≥III, having a gastric or jejunal tube, poor feeding, and abdominal surgery were risk factors for intraoperative hypoglycemia in children. Monitoring of blood glucose is recommended in these subsets of children.

Risk factors for intraoperative hypoglycemia in children: a retrospective observational cohort study

PURPOSE

Intraoperative hypoglycemia can result in devastating neurologic injury if not promptly diagnosed and treated. Few studies have defined risk factors for intraoperative hypoglycemia. The authors sought to characterize children with intraoperative hypoglycemia and determine independent risk factors.

METHODS

This retrospective observational single-institution study included all patients < 18 yr of age undergoing an anesthetic from January 1 2012 to December 31 2016. The primary outcome was blood glucose < 3.3 mmol·L-1 (60 mg·dl-1). Data collected included patient characteristics, comorbidities, and intraoperative factors. A multivariable logistic regression model was used to identify independent predictors of intraoperative hypoglycemia.

RESULTS

Blood glucose was measured in 7,715 of 73,592 cases with 271 (3.5%) having a glucose < 3.3 mmol·L-1 (60 mg·dl-1). Young age, weight for age < 5th percentile, developmental delay, presence of a gastric or jejunal tube, and abdominal surgery were identified as independent predictors for intraoperative hypoglycemia. Eighty percent of hypoglycemia cases occurred in children < three years of age and in children < 15 kg.

CONCLUSION

Young age, weight for age < 5th percentile, developmental delay, having a gastric or jejunal tube, and abdominal surgery were independent risk factors for intraoperative hypoglycemia in children. Frequent monitoring of blood glucose and judicious isotonic dextrose administration may be warranted in these children.