Usefulness of Glycemic Control Using an Artificial Pancreas Apparatus for Cardiovascular Surgery

Toward Automation: The Road Traveled and Road Ahead for Integrating Automated Insulin Delivery into Inpatient Care

The introduction of automated insulin delivery (AID) systems represents a significant advancement in diabetes care, offering substantial benefits in outpatient settings. Although clinical studies suggest that these systems can also help improve glycemic control in acutely ill patients, several barriers remain for the actual implementation and use of these technologies in clinical practice. Three main contexts for inpatient use are addressed, including: (a) continuation of personal AID systems, (b) initiation of AID during hospitalization, and (c) initiation of AID systems at discharge. A research road map with immediate to long-term actions is presented. Initially, it calls for clinical studies assessing in-hospital efficacy, safety, and utility, addressing specific patient needs and health care operational impacts. Midterm, it focuses on practical integration, simplifying AID use, ensuring electronic health record compatibility, clarifying regulatory uncertainties, and supporting health care professionals and patients. Long-term goals include system optimizations and policy advocacy for in-hospital AID use.

Closed-loop artificial endocrine pancreas from Japan

The development of a closed-loop artificial pancreas (AP) in the Western countries and Japan is different. In Western countries, wearable AP with a closed-loop glycemic control system has been developed as a treatment for patients with type 1 and type 2 diabetes. On the contrary, in Japan, bedside closed-loop AP explored by a Japanese company (Nikkiso, Tokyo, Japan) has developed as perioperative glycemic control device in surgical patients and acute care patients with emergency. In this article, we reviewed the scientific evidence in the past and present and future prospects of perioperative glycemic control using bedside AP with a closed-loop system in Japan. Conventional perioperative strict glycemic controls have three major problems: hyperglycemia, hypoglycemia, and variability in blood glucose concentrations. In Japan, perioperative strict glycemic control using the current bedside AP STG-55 (Nikkiso, Tokyo, Japan) has been developed since 2010. This novel glycemic control method achieved not only stable glycemic control without hyperglycemia, hypoglycemia, and less variability of blood glucose concentrations but also reduced postoperative infectious complications in patients undergoing major surgeries. Among the rapidly increasing number of surgical or emergency patients with diabetes, frailty, and sarcopenia of intrinsic glucose intolerance, more sophisticated and smaller AP available easily in operating rooms and intensive care units will be warranted to promote improved therapeutic outcomes in such critically ill patients.

Artificial endocrine pancreas with a closed-loop system effectively suppresses the accelerated hyperglycemic status after reperfusion during aortic surgery

OBJECTIVES

To control intraoperative hyperglycemia in patients who underwent aortic surgery using STG-55^® artificial endocrine pancreas and clarify the effectiveness of this device.

METHODS

Blood glucose control using the STG-55^® was performed in 18 patients (15 men and 3 women; age, 66 ± 10 years) who required hypothermic circulatory arrest (STG-55^® group). Seventeen patients (10 men and 7 women; age, 71 ± 8 years) whose blood glucose was controlled using the conventional method were included in the control group. Glucose concentration was controlled with the aim of maintaining it at 150 mg/dl.

RESULTS

In both groups, the blood glucose concentrations did not significantly change during the interruption of systemic perfusion; however, a sharp increase was noted immediately after reperfusion. Although the hyperglycemic status persisted after reperfusion in the control group, it was effectively suppressed in the STG-55^® group (STG^® vs. control group at 50 min after reperfusion: 180 ± 35 vs. 212 ± 47 mg/dl, p = 0.026) and blood glucose concentration reached the target value of 150 mg/dl at 100 min after reperfusion (STG^® vs. control group: 153 ± 29 vs. 215 ± 43 mg/dl, p = 0.0008). The total administered insulin dose was 175 ± 81 U and 5 ± 3 U in the STG^® and control groups, respectively (p < 0.0001).

CONCLUSIONS

To treat the accelerated hyperglycemic status in aortic surgery requiring circulatory arrest, strict glycemic control using an artificial endocrine pancreas might be beneficial.