Anaesthesia and intensive care
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Anaesth Intensive Care · Mar 2018
Case ReportsPostoperative euglycaemic diabetic ketoacidosis associated with sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors (gliflozins): a report of two cases and review of the literature.
Sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitor (SGLT2i)-associated euglycaemic diabetic ketoacidosis (euDKA) is a serious and increasingly recognised complication of treatment with this class of oral hypoglycaemic agents and can present a diagnostic challenge, resulting in delayed recognition, inappropriate treatment and potentially life-threatening acidosis. We present two cases of patients developing SGLT2i-associated euDKA in the early postoperative period. We support ceasing SGLT2i for 72 hours preoperatively and would suggest continuing to withhold the medication until oral intake is restored, and recommend a wider awareness of SGLT2i-associated diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) amongst patients and their healthcare providers with an emphasis on checking ketone levels irrespective of blood glucose levels in the postoperative setting.