Description
Critical review of:Van de Berghe G, Wouters P, Weekers F, et al; Intensive Insulin Therapy in Critically Ill Patients. New England Journal of Medicine. 2001; 345(19): 1359-1367.
Introduction
Critically ill patients are often hyperglycaemic and show resistance to insulin. This is due in part to growth hormone resistance and reductions in insulin growth factors. Although tight glycaemic control is associated with fewer complications in the chronic management of diabetic patients, there is little good quality information from controlled trials regarding the effects of hyperglycaemia in acutely ill patients. A quarter of anaesthetists in one region of the UK accept perioperative blood glucose levels of 10mmol.l-1 or above.
