Glucose: A reevaluation of its intraoperative use

In certain instances, the adverse effects of glucose may outweigh the potential benefits obtained from glucose administration. Withholding glucose or giving it in moderation so as to keep the blood glucose level below 200 mg · dl^-1 is recommended whenever brain ischemia may occur intraoperatively. One may also wish to decrease the intraoperative glucose dose during labor and delivery. In addition, decreased gastric motility must always be kept in mind when caring for patients exposed to prolonged periods of hyperglycemia. In most patients, not administering glucose presents little risk. In many circumstances, intraoperative glucose administration may be advantageous. However, only with a thorough knowledge of the benefits of glucose and its possible complications can the anesthesiologist rationally administer glucose in the intraoperative setting.