The Effect of a Checklist for Perioperative Hyperglycemia Management on Surgical Site Infections: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Abstract

Purpose: This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of managing perioperative normoglycemia using a structured and standardized normoglycemia checklist on surgical site infection (SSI). Design: The study is a prospective randomized controlled experimental case-control study. Methods: A normoglycemia checklist was applied to the patients selected for the experimental group preoperatively, intraoperatively, and postoperatively (continuous insulin infusion applied to keep the blood glucose level within the range of 80 to 150 mg/dl until 48 hours postoperative) according to their blood glucose levels. The routine practice available in the clinic was applied to the control group. Findings: The rate of SSI development in the control group (27.5%) was significantly higher than in the experimental group (2.5%) (P < .05). The culture was examined only in patients with deep incisional SSI, and E. Coli and Gram (-) Bacillus were the most prolific microorganisms. The risk of re-hospitalization of the control group patients was 2 times higher than the experimental group (P < .05). Conclusions: This study reports the prevalence, diagnosis, and pathophysiology of perioperative hyperglycemia in patients undergoing cholecystectomy and provides a practical method for the management of blood glucose levels in surgery patients diagnosed with diabetes mellitus and developing stress hyperglycemia.