The impact of a normoglycemic management protocol on clinical outcomes in the trauma intensive care unit

Background: The purpose of this study was to determine if protocol-driven normoglycemic management in trauma patients affected glucose control, ventilator-associated pneumonia, surgical-site infection, and inpatient mortality. Methods: A prospective, consecutive-series, historically controlled study design evaluated protocol-driven normoglycemic management among trauma patients at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. Those mechanically ventilated ≥24 hours and ≥15 years of age were included. A glycemic-control protocol required insulin infusion therapy for glucose >110 mg/dL. Control patients included those who met criteria, were admitted the year preceding protocol implementation, and had hyperglycemia treated at the physician's discretion. Results: Eight hundred eighteen patients met study criteria; 383 were managed without protocol; 435 underwent protocol. The protocol group had lower glucose levels 7 of 14 days measured. After admission, both groups had mean daily glucose levels <150 mg/dL. No difference in pneumonia (31.6% vs 34.5%; p = .413), surgical infection (5.0% vs 5.7%; p = .645) or mortality (12.3% vs 13.1%; p = .722) occurred between groups. If one episode of blood glucose level was ≥150 mg/dL (n = 638; 78.0%), outcomes were worse: higher daily glucose levels for 14 days after admission (p < .001), pneumonia rates (35.9% vs 23.3%; p = .002), and mortality (14.6% vs 6.1%; p = .002). One or more days of glucose ≥150 mg/dL had a 2- to 3-fold increase in the odds of death. Protocol use in these patients was not associated with outcome improvement. Conclusions: Protocol-driven management decreased glucose levels 7 of 14 days after admission without outcome change. One or more glucose levels ≥150 mg/dL were associated with worse outcome.