Objective: To assess the influence of a protocol of routine daily interruption of sedation on fluctuation of blood glucose level and mortality of critical patients with multiple trauma.
Methods: A prospective study involving 68 critical patients with multiple trauma admitted to intensive care unit (ICU) was performed. Finger blood glucose level was measured after the implementation of daily interruption of sedation, and the results were recorded every 2 hours during the first 24 hours. Mean (MEAN), standard deviation (SD) and coefficient of variability (CV) of blood glucose level, glycemic liability index (GLI), mean amplitude of glycemic excursion (MAGE) and largest amplitude of glycemic excursions (LAGE) were calculated respectively, and 30-day mortality was recorded. The patients under study were divided into four groups according to the median values of MEAN and GLI, group A with patients of low MEAN+low GLI (n=34), group B with patients of low MEAN+high GLI (n=14), group C with patients of high MEAN+low GLI (n=12), and group D with patients of high MEAN+high GLI (n=8). Glucose levels, their range of fluctuation, and the prognosis were compared among groups.
Results: Five of the 68 patients died, with a gross mortality rate of 7.4%. Group analysis demonstrated that the patients in group A had the best prognosis with the 30-day mortality rate of 0 (0/34), while that of the group D was worst with the 30-day mortality rate of 37.5% (3/8). The MEAN levels of glucose were relatively lower in groups A and B (6.7±1.3 mmol/L, 7.6±0.8 mmol/L) and higher in groups C and D (9.3±1.4 mmol/L, 10.7±1.3 mmol/L). Indicators of glucose level fluctuation, including SD, CV, GLI, LAGE, and MAGE, were lower in groups A and C (SD: 1.6±0.4 mmol/L, 1.7±0.6 mmol/L; CV: 0.2±0.1, 0.2±0.1; GLI: 26.5±19.5, 40.1±17.6; LAGE: 4.6±2.3 mmol/L, 6.5±1.9 mmol/L; MAGE: 2.7±0.8 mmol/L, 3.1±0.80 mmol/L), and higher in groups B and D (SD: 2.9±0.7 mmol/L, 3.9±0.8 mmol/L; CV: 0.4±0.1, 0.4±0.1; GLI: 120.5±33.2, 184.6±98.4; LAGE: 9.5±2.0 mmol/L, 12.7±4.0 mmol/L; MAGE: 6.2±1.2 mmol/L, 7.6±1.8 mmol/L). The incidence of hypoglycemia was highest in group D [5.8% (6/104)], followed by that of group B [1.6% (3/182)], while that of groups A and C was lower [0.9% (4/442), 0.1% (2/256)]. The incidence of hyperglycemia were highest in groups C and D [67.3% (105/156), 69.2% (72/104)], and it was followed by that of group B [33.5% (61/182)], and that of group A was the lowest [15.4% (68/442)]. The duration of mechanical ventilation [(3.4±3.3) days], the incidence of multiple organ failure (MOF, 44.1%, 15/34), rate of continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT, 11.8%, 4/34), and day in ICU [(5.1±3.9) days] were shortest and lowest in group A, and highest and longest in group D [(9.4±5.2) days, 87.5% (7/8), 75.0% (4/8), (10.3±7.4) days].
Conclusions: Daily interruption of sedation can reduce fluctuation of blood glucose level in critical patients with multiple trauma, and improve patients' outcome.