Why is glucose monitored and treated during surgery?

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Monitoring and treating glucose levels during surgery is crucial primarily because high and low glucose levels can significantly influence neurological outcomes. When glucose levels are too high, it can lead to hyperglycemia, which is associated with increased inflammatory responses and oxidative stress, potentially worsening outcomes in patients who are already experiencing neurological risks during surgical procedures. Conversely, hypoglycemia can lead to cerebral energy depletion, resulting in neurological injury as well. Maintaining glucose within an optimal range helps mitigate these risks, thereby promoting better neurological outcomes during and after surgery.

Other factors, such as healing and preventing fatigue, are indeed important post-operative considerations, but they do not directly address the immediate risks that fluctuations in glucose levels pose to neurological performance during surgery. Similarly, the impact of glucose levels on anesthesia is not as directly established as its effect on neurological health. Hence, the focus on glucose monitoring during surgery is primarily to avoid exacerbating neurological injury through imbalanced glucose levels.

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