GlucoVITAL

• Research type

  Research Study

• Full title

  GlucoVITAL - Observational mechanistic sub-study of the Volatile vs Total intravenous Anaesthesia for major non-cardiac surgery (VITAL) trial

• IRAS ID

  324653

• Contact name

  Gareth Ackland

• Contact email

  g.ackland@qmul.ac.uk

• Sponsor organisation

  Queen Mary University of London

• ISRCTN Number

  ISRCTN46862025

• Duration of Study in the UK

  2 years, 0 months, 1 days

• Research summary

  Aims of the study are to provide detailed data describing the below questions:
  1. Measuring intraoperative glucose levels
  2. Examine whether total intravenous anaesthesia (TIVA) reduces postoperative complications (myocardial injury and/or infectious complications) by limiting hyperglycaemia after major noncardiac surgery.
  3. Detecting the individual’s risk of developing injurious perioperative hyperglycaemia

  Lay summary of study results: This study looked at how blood sugar levels change during and after major surgery, and whether these changes are linked to complications. Researchers used continuous glucose monitors, which measure glucose throughout the day and night, in 450 adults undergoing major non-heart surgery at 13 UK hospitals.
  Patients received one of two commonly used types of general anaesthesia. Blood sugar levels during surgery were slightly higher with inhaled anaesthesia than with intravenous anaesthesia, but overall glucose levels after surgery were similar between the two groups.
  Around one in three patients developed a significant complication after surgery, and around one in seven showed signs of injury to the heart. Continuous monitoring showed that blood sugar patterns began to differ within three hours of surgery in patients who later developed complications. Patients who had higher blood sugar levels for longer, particularly levels above 10 mmol/L, were more likely to experience complications or heart injury.
  These findings suggest that continuous glucose monitoring can detect early changes in blood sugar associated with poorer recovery after surgery. Further research is needed to determine whether identifying and treating these changes early could reduce complications and improve outcomes.
  

• REC name

  London - Fulham Research Ethics Committee

• REC reference

  23/PR/0677

• Date of REC Opinion

  17 Aug 2023

• REC opinion

  Further Information Favourable Opinion