Glucose–insulin–potassium therapy in adult patients undergoing cardiac surgery: a meta-analysis

Glucose-insulin-potassium (GIK) has long been used as adjuvant treatment for patients with serious cardiovascular disease. Although many studies have reported their results based on GIK therapy in the setting of heart surgery, the outcomes remain controversial and inconclusive. The aim of this meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) was to determine the clinical effects of GIK in adult cardiac surgery patients. Electronic databases and manual bibliographical searches were conducted. A meta-analysis of all RCTs comparing GIK with control in heart surgery was performed. Data for all-causes mortality (within 2 months after surgery), perioperative myocardial infarction, postoperative inotropic support, atrial fibrillation, cardiac index, durations of intensive unit care stay and total hospital stay were extracted, and we summarized the combined results of the data of the RCTs as relative risk (RR), with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). A total of 33 RCTs including 2113 patients were assessed in this study. GIK infusion was associated with significantly fewer perioperative myocardial infarctions (RR = 0.63, 95% CI 0.42-0.95), less inotropic support requirement (RR = 0.66, 95% CI 0.45-0.96), better postoperative cardiac index (weighted mean difference (WMD) = 0.43, 95% CI 0.31-0.55), and reduced length of stay in the intensive care unit (WMD = -7.96, 95% CI -13.36 to -2.55). Further analysis showed that diabetic patients were benefited from GIK with glycemic control, but not GIK infusion without glucose control. GIK significantly reduced myocardial injury and improved hemodynamic performance in patients undergoing cardiac surgery. Glycemic control with GIK might be required for cardiac surgery patients with diabetes.