Hyperinsulinemic euglycemia therapy for stunned myocardium following subarachnoid hemorrhage

J Neurosurg. 2009 Jan;110(1):64-6. doi: 10.3171/2008.4.17507.

Abstract

The authors describe the clinical course of a 50-year-old woman who presented with life-threatening cardiac dysfunction after aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (Fisher Grade 4). The pathophysiology of cardiac injury in this setting is not fully understood, but excess sympathetic activation can lead to neurogenic stressed myocardium. A metabolic intervention using the continuous intravenous infusion of high doses of insulin with euglycemia resulted in a rapid improvement of cardiac contractility. The observed benefit could be due to better myocardial glucose utilization that could not have been achieved by catecholamine administration.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Blood Glucose / metabolism*
  • Cardiac Output
  • Critical Care
  • Electrocardiography
  • Humans
  • Hypoglycemic Agents / administration & dosage
  • Hypoglycemic Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Infusions, Intravenous
  • Insulin / administration & dosage
  • Insulin / therapeutic use*
  • Long QT Syndrome / drug therapy
  • Long QT Syndrome / etiology
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Myocardial Stunning / drug therapy*
  • Myocardial Stunning / etiology*
  • Subarachnoid Hemorrhage / complications*
  • Tachycardia, Sinus / drug therapy
  • Tachycardia, Sinus / etiology
  • Troponin I / blood

Substances

  • Blood Glucose
  • Hypoglycemic Agents
  • Insulin
  • Troponin I