[Postoperative therapy by means of acute parenteral alimentation (APA) with high doses of insulin and glucose after open heart surgery (author's transl)].

Immediately after open heart operations (extracorporeal circulation) 22 patients were investigated in 2 groups at the intensive care unit. Whereas the control group received Ringer lactate as postoperative infusion (RL-group), the 2nd group was given 50% glucose (0.5 g/kg/h) and insulin (250 U/1,000 cc) (GI-group). In case of need (blood glucose level) additional insulin up to 200 U/h, maximum 800 U/10 h, was supplied. On the 1st postoperative day 500 ml 10% crystalline amino acid solution was added. Before the start of postoperative infusion therapy postoperative serum insulin levels were low in spite of considerably elevated blood glucose levels (glucose utilisation disorder, insulin suppression). In contrast with the RL-group there was in the GI-group a significant decrease of FFA-serum level and cAMP serum level which developed during the infusion. Urine output and urinary glucose excretion was nearly equal in both groups. Urinary potassium excretion in the GI-group remained significantly one third lower than that of the RL-group, in spite of the potassium supply to the GI-group being nearly twice and serum potassium level approximately equal. Urinary sodium excretion of GI-group on the other hand was approximately 15% higher than that of RL-group. In relation to preoperative values postoperative urinary N-excretion of the GI-group was unchanged, whereas in RL-group the postoperative N-excretion was significantly 30% increased; in postoperative alpha-amino-N-excretion there was only a small difference between the groups, which indicates an insulin-modifiable increase in protein breakdown rather than a decreased protein synthesis. According to the obviously improved situation in energetic considerations, cell membrane potential restoration and N-balance resp. protein synthesis in the insulin treated group, the question is discussed whether this therapy (APA) which shifts metabolism to an anabolic state, is of a certain value as a therapeutic measure in the postshock phase.