Journal
CURRENT OPINION IN CLINICAL NUTRITION AND METABOLIC CARE
Volume 11, Issue 2, Pages 134-139Publisher
LIPPINCOTT WILLIAMS & WILKINS
DOI: 10.1097/MCO.0b013e3282f37b43
Keywords
brain-injured patients; glucose; insulin; outcome
Categories
Ask authors/readers for more resources
Purpose of review A substantial body of evidence supports the use of intensive insulin therapy in general critical care practice, particularly in surgical intensive care unit patients. The impact of intensive insulin therapy on the outcome of critically ill neurological patients, however, is still controversial. While avoidance of hyperglycemia is recommended in neurointensive care, no recommendations exist regarding the optimal target for systemic glucose control after severe brain injury. Recent findings An increase in brain metabolic demand leading to a deficiency in cerebral extracellular glucose has been observed in critically ill neurological patients and correlates with poor outcome. In this setting, a reduction of systemic glucose below 6 mmol/l with exogenous insulin has been found to exacerbate brain metabolic distress. Recent studies have confirmed these findings while showing intensive insulin therapy to have no substantial benefit on the outcome of critically ill neurological patients. Summary Questions persist regarding the optimal target for glucose control after severe brain injury. Further studies are needed to analyze the impact of intensive insulin therapy on brain glucose metabolism and outcome of critically ill neurological patients. According to the available evidence, a less restrictive target for systemic glucose control (6-10 mmol/l) may be more appropriate.
Authors
I am an author on this paper
Click your name to claim this paper and add it to your profile.
Reviews
Recommended
No Data Available