JAMA surgery
-
Observational Study
Association Between Preoperative Hemoglobin A1c Levels, Postoperative Hyperglycemia, and Readmissions Following Gastrointestinal Surgery.
Preoperative hyperglycemia is associated with adverse postoperative outcomes among patients who undergo surgery. Whether preoperative hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) or postoperative glucose levels are more useful in predicting adverse events following surgery is uncertain in the current literature. ⋯ Early postoperative hyperglycemia was associated with increased readmission, but elevated preoperative HbA1c was not. A higher preoperative HbA1c was associated with increased postoperative glucose level checks and insulin use, suggesting that heightened postoperative vigilance and a lower threshold to treat hyperglycemia may explain this finding.