Early post-operative glucose levels are an independent risk factor for infection after peripheral vascular surgery. A retrospective study.

Objective: To evaluate whether hyperglycaemia in the first 48 h after infrainguinal vascular surgery is a risk factor for post-operative infection, independent from factors associated with insulin resistance and surgical stress.

Design: Retrospective cohort study.

Patients And Methods: Patients who underwent infrainguinal vascular surgery in our hospital between March 1998 and March 2003 were included.