Artificial endocrine pancreas with a closed-loop system effectively suppresses the accelerated hyperglycemic status after reperfusion during aortic surgery

Objectives To control intraoperative hyperglycemia in patients who underwent aortic surgery using STG-55 ® artificial endocrine pancreas and clarify the effectiveness of this device. Methods Blood glucose control using the STG-55 ® was performed in 18 patients (15 men and 3 women; age, 66 ± 10 years) who required hypothermic circulatory arrest (STG-55 ® group). Seventeen patients (10 men and 7 women; age, 71 ± 8 years) whose blood glucose was controlled using the conventional method were included in the control group. Glucose concentration was controlled with the aim of maintaining it at 150 mg/dl. Results In both groups, the blood glucose concentrations did not significantly change during the interruption of systemic perfusion; however, a sharp increase was noted immediately after reperfusion. Although the hyperglycemic status persisted after reperfusion in the control group, it was effectively suppressed in the STG-55 ® group (STG ® vs. control group at 50 min after reperfusion: 180 ± 35 vs. 212 ± 47 mg/dl, p = 0.026) and blood glucose concentration reached the target value of 150 mg/dl at 100 min after reperfusion (STG ® vs. control group: 153 ± 29 vs. 215 ± 43 mg/dl, p = 0.0008). The total administered insulin dose was 175 ± 81 U and 5 ± 3 U in the STG ® and control groups, respectively ( p