BACKGROUND: The objective of this study was to investigate the relationship between different target levels of glucose and the clinical outcomes of patients undergoing cardiac surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass. METHODS: We designed a prospective study in a university hospital where 109 consecutive patients were enrolled during a six-month period. All patients were scheduled for open-heart surgery requiring cardiopulmonary bypass. Patients were randomly allocated into two groups. One group consisted of 55 patients and had a target glucose level of 80-130 mg/dl, while the other contained 54 patients and had a target glucose level of 160-200 mg/dl. These parameters were controlled during surgery and for 36 hours after surgery in the intensive care unit. Primary outcomes were clinical outcomes, including time of mechanical ventilation, length of stay in the intensive care unit, infection, hypoglycemia, renal or neurological dysfunction, blood transfusion and length of stay in the hospital. The secondary outcome was a combined end-point (mortality at 30 days, infection or length of stay in the intensive care unit of more than 3 days). A p-value of <0.05 was considered significant. RESULTS: The anthropometric and clinical characteristics of the patients from each group were similar, except for weight and body mass index. The mean glucose level during the protocol period was 126.69 mg/dl in the treated group and 168.21 mg/dl in the control group (p<0.0016). There were no differences between groups regarding clinical outcomes, including the duration of mechanical ventilation, length of stay in the intensive care unit, blood transfusion, postoperative infection, hypoglycemic event, neurological dysfunction or 30-day mortality (p>0.05). CONCLUSIONS: In 109 patients undergoing cardiac surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass, both protocols of glycemic control in an intraoperative setting and in the intensive care unit were found to be safe, easily achieved and not to differentially affect clinical outcomes.

JUSTIFICATIVA E OBJETIVOS: Desde o primeiro relato de óbito por anestesia, muitas tentativas têm sido feitas para estudar a incidência de fatores de risco, complicações e mortalidades associadas à anestesia e cirurgia. O risco estimado peri-operatório de mortalidade varia de 0,05 a 10 casos para 10.000 anestesias. O objetivo deste estudo foi reportar a incidência de óbitos anestésicos-cirúrgicos nas primeiras 24 horas, ocorridos no Hospital das Clínicas da FMUSP. MÉTODO: Foram revisados os prontuários de pacientes anestesiados nos anos 1998 e 1999, num total de 82.641 cirurgias. Os óbitos foram classificados quanto à causa de óbito pela classificação de Edwards, faixa etária, sexo, estado físico (ASA), especialidade e tipo de anestesia. RESULTADOS: A causa de óbito pela classificação de Edwards demonstrou que 91,04% eram da categoria V; 3,77% da categoria VI; 2,13% da VII; 2,84% da IV e 0,23% da I. A faixa etária acima de 65 anos teve incidência de óbito de 1,48%; a dos adultos de 0,48%; crianças de 1 a 12 anos de 0,11%; crianças de 31 dias a 1 ano de 1,29% e neonatos até 30 dias de 2,88%. A proporção de óbitos em relação ao total é de 59,2% de adultos; 30,2% acima de 65 anos; 2,8% de 1 a 12 anos; 4% de 31 dias a 1 ano e 3,8% de neonatos. Os homens representam 66,3% e as mulheres 33,7% dos óbitos. A distribuição por ASA foi a seguinte: ASA I -11,1%, ASA II- 5,2%, ASA III- 30,9%, ASA IV- 34,4% e ASA V- 18,4%. Cirurgias de emergência contabilizaram 67,2% dos óbitos e as eletivas 32,8%. A incidência geral de óbitos foi de 0,51% (sendo 1,88%, a mais elevada, em cirurgia cardíaca, e 1,87% em vascular). CONCLUSÕES: Os óbitos anestésico-cirúrgicos nos anos 1998 e1999 foram considerados inevitáveis, considerando-se a classificação de Edwards. A incidência mais alta de óbitos ocorreu em neonatos, O predomínio dos óbitos foi do sexo masculino, de pacientes ASA III ou mais, em cirurgias de emergência, cardíacas ou vasculares.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Since the first reported anesthetic death, many attempts have been made to study the incidence of risk factors, complications and mortality associated to anesthesia and surgery. The estimated perioperative mortality risk varies from 0.05 to 10 cases per 10,000 anesthesias. This study aimed at reporting the incidence of anesthetic-surgical death in the first 24 hours, at our hospital. METHODS: Charts had been reviewed from 82,641 surgeries performed in 1998 and 1999. Deaths were analyzed according to Edwards’ classification, and by age, gender, physical status, (ASA), type of surgery and anesthesia. RESULTS: Cause of the deaths according to Edwards classification has shown that 91.04% were class V, 3.77% class VI, 2.13% class VII, 2.84% class IV and 0.23% were class I. Age above 65 years accounted for 1.48% of deaths; adults incidence was 0.48%; the incidence in children aged 1 to 12 years was 0.11%; in children aged 31 days to 1 year it was 1.29% and in neonates up to 30 days of life the incidence was 2.88%. Death ratio as compared to total deaths was 59.2% in adults, 30.2% in patients above 65 years of age, 2.8% at the age 1 to 12, 4% in patients with 31 days of life to 1 year and 3.8% in newborn babies. Males represented 66.3% of deaths and females 33.7%. The distribution by ASA physical status was: ASA I - 11.1%, ASA II - 5.2%, ASA III - 30.9%, ASA IV - 34.4% and ASA V - 18.4%. Emergency surgeries accounted for 67.2% of deaths and elective surgeries for 32.8%. General incidence of the deaths was 0.51% being the highest in cardiac (1.88%) and vascular (1.87%) surgeries. CONCLUSIONS: Anesthetic-surgical deaths in the years 1998 and 1999 were considered inevitable according to Edward’s classification. The highest incidence of deaths was in neonates. Most deaths occurred in males, ASA III or above patients, and emergency vascular or cardiac surgeries.

JUSTIFICATIVA Y OBJETIVOS: Desde el primero relato de fallecimiento por anestesia, muchas tentativas fueron hechas para estudiar la incidencia de factores de riesgo, complicaciones y mortalidades asociadas a la anestesia y a la cirugía. El riesgo estimado perioperatório de mortalidad varia de 0,05 a 10 casos para 10.000 anestesias. El objetivo de este estudio fue reportar la incidencia de fallecimientos anestésicos-cirúrgicos en las primeras 24 horas, ocurridos en el Hospital de las Clínicas de la FMUSP. MÉTODO: Fueron revisados los prontuarios de pacientes anestesiados en los años 1998 y 1999, en un total de 82.641 cirugías. Los fallecimientos fueron clasificados en cuanto a la causa del fallecimiento por la clasificación de Edwards, faja etária, sexo, estado físico (ASA), especialidad y tipo de anestesia. RESULTADOS: La causa del fallecimiento por la clasificación de Edwards demostró que 91,04% eran de la categoría V; 3,77% de la categoría VI; 2,13% de la VII; 2,84% de la IV y 0,23% de la I. La faja etária arriba de 65 años tuvo incidencia de fallecimiento de 1,48%; la de los adultos de 0,48%; niños de 1 a 12 años de 0,11%; niños de 31 días a 1 año de 1,29% y neonatos hasta 30 días de 2,88%. La proporción de fallecimientos con relación al total es de 59,2% de adultos; 30,2% arriba de 65 años; 2,8% de 1 a 12 años; 4% de 31 días a 1 año y 3,8% de neonatos. Los hombres representan 66,3% y las mujeres 33,7% de los fallecimientos. La distribución por ASA fue la siguiente: ASA I -11,1%, ASA II- 5,2%, ASA III- 30,9%, ASA IV- 34,4% y ASA V- 18,4%. Cirugías de emergencia contabilizaron 67,2% de los fallecimientos y las electivas 32,8%. La incidencia general de fallecimientos fue de 0,51% (siendo 1,88%, la más elevada, en cirugía cardíaca, y 1,87% en vascular). CONCLUSIONES: Los fallecimientos anestésico-cirúrgicos en los años 1998 y 1999 fueron considerados inevitables, considerándose la clasificación de Edwards. La incidencia más alta de fallecimientos ocurrió en neonatos, El predominio de los fallecimientos fue del sexo masculino, de pacientes ASA III o más, en cirugías de emergencia, cardíacas o vasculares.