Development and Implementation of a Perioperative Blood Glucose Monitoring Protocol for Patients Undergoing Spinal Surgery

Purpose: Stress-induced hyperglycemia during the perioperative period is associated with adverse outcomes after spinal surgery, which increases both patient-related burden and hospital costs. This quality improvement project describes the development and implementation of a perioperative blood glucose monitoring protocol for patients undergoing spinal surgery.

Design: An evidence-based perioperative blood glucose monitoring protocol was developed by a multidisciplinary committee of specialists in endocrinology and anesthesiology with utilization of the American Diabetes Association diabetes screening criteria.

Methods: The protocol was implemented in the perioperative areas of a regional hospital in the Southeastern United States. The project sample included patients with and without a prior diagnosis of diabetes who met protocol inclusion criteria during a 3-month implementation period.

Findings: Preoperative glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) testing identified more than 54% of previously undiagnosed patients with levels consistent with either prediabetes or diabetes according to the American Diabetes Association criteria for diagnosis. Patients with diabetes and those without diabetes experienced a perioperative increase in blood glucose with levels remaining elevated above preoperative baseline through postoperative day 1.

Conclusions: A perioperative blood glucose monitoring protocol enables preoperative identification of patients with undiagnosed prediabetes and diabetes, allowing for optimization before elective surgery and establishment of appropriate postoperative follow-up care. In addition, a blood glucose monitoring protocol increases the detection of perioperative hyperglycemia and may lead to a reduction in postoperative complications after spinal surgery.