Background. Increased blood glucose levels are frequently observed in critically ill patients. Recent studies have shown that the normalization of glycemia by intensive insulin therapy decreases mortality, length of the hospitalization and number of complications. Methods and Results. The aim of this pilot study was to compare blood glucose control by an automated model predictive control algorithm with variable sampling rate (eMPC) with routine glucose management protocol (RP) in peri- and postoperative period in cardiac surgery patients. 20 patients were included into this study (14 men and 6 women, mean age 68±10 let, BMI 28.3±5.0 kg/m2). 10 patients were randomized for treatment using eMPC algorithm and 10 patients for routine protocol. All patients underwent elective cardiac surgery and were treated with continuous insulin infusion to maintain glycemia in target range 4.4–6.1 mmol/l. The study duration was 24 hours. Mean blood glucose was significantly lower in eMPC vs. RP group (5.80±0.45 vs. 7.23±0.84 mmol/l, p<0.05). Percentage of time in target range was significantly higher in eMPC vs. RP group (67.6±8.7 % vs. 27.6±15.8 %, p<0.05). Percentage of time above the target range was higher in RP vs. eMPC group. Average insulin infusion rate was higher in eMPC vs. RP group (4.18±1.19 vs. 3.24±1.43 IU/hour, p<0.05). Average sampling interval was significantly shorter in eMPC vs. RP group (1.51±0.24 vs. 2.03±0.16 hour, p<0.05). No severe hypoglycaemia in either group occurred during the study. Conclusions. The results of our pilot study suggest that eMPC algorithm is more effective in maintaining euglycemia in peri- and post-operative period in patients after cardiac surgery and comparably safe as compared to RP.

        Key words: insulin resistance, hyperglycemia, critical illness.