Hyperglycemia in Patients Undergoing Cerebral Aneurysm Surgery: Its Association With Long-term Gross Neurologic and Neuropsychological Function

OBJECTIVE To evaluate whether elevated intraoperative blood glucose concentrations are associated with an increased risk of long-term neurologic dysfunction in patients at risk for ischemic brain injury. PATIENTS AND METHODS Data from 1000 patients were retrieved from the Intraoperative Hypothermia for Aneurysm Surgery Trial database. All patients were recruited between February 2000 and April 2003, and underwent surgery for aneurysm clipping within 14 days of subarachnoid hemorrhage. Gross neurologic and neuropsychological function was evaluated at 3 months after surgery using certified observers and standardized assessment instruments. Intraoperative blood glucose concentrations, measured once when the aneurysm clip was placed, were correlated with neurologic outcome using both univariable and multivariable logistic regression analyses. RESULTS Blood glucose concentrations at the time of aneurysm clipping ranged from 59 to 331 mg/dL. At 3 months after surgery, those with blood glucose concentrations of 129 mg/dL or more (upper 2 quartiles) were more likely to have impaired cognition ( P =.03). Those with glucose concentrations of 152 mg/dL or more (upper quartile) were more likely to experience deficits in gross neurologic function assessed by the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale ( P