Paper
Thursday, July 12, 2007
This presentation is part of : Evidence-Based Strategies in Acute Care
Tight Glucose Control of the Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass Patient Decreases Post-Operative Infection Rates
Susanlee Wisotzkey, BSN, CCRN, PhD, Surgical Service Line, Wellspan Health, York, PA, USA
Learning Objective #1: Understand the meaning of tight glucose control.
Learning Objective #2: Understand the importance of tight glucose control and the implications in the post-operative Roux-en-y Gastric bypass patient.

Abstract

Tight glucose control in the Roux-en-Y post-operative gastric bypass patient decreases the potential for infection.  Bacteria breeds in a warm, moist, dark, sugary environment.  By eliminating one element in the sequence, the ability of bacteria to grow is subsequently decreased. 

Decreasing infections leads to shorter hospitalization and savings of health care dollars.  Health care costs are of extreme concern in today’s health care market.  Evidence based practice is the driving force of health care decision-making.  Tight glucose control is evidence based in the intensive care setting and is showing improved outcomes in the cardiothoracic and orthopedic patient populations.  The post-operative bariatric patients with their higher co-morbidities are the optimal choice for tight glucose control as a standard of care.