Development and Implementation of a Perioperative Blood Glucose Monitoring Protocol for Patients Undergoing Spinal Surgery.

Purpose: Stress-induced hyperglycemia during the perioperative period is associated with adverse outcomes after spinal surgery, which increases both patient-related burden and hospital costs. This quality improvement project describes the development and implementation of a perioperative blood glucose monitoring protocol for patients undergoing spinal surgery.

Design: An evidence-based perioperative blood glucose monitoring protocol was developed by a multidisciplinary committee of specialists in endocrinology and anesthesiology with utilization of the American Diabetes Association diabetes screening criteria.