GIK back? Glucose-insulin-potassium mix shows promise in cardiac surgery

 Having recently been shown ineffective in the treatment of MI, the focus on glucose-insulin-potassium (GIK) appears to be shifting to myocardial protection during cardiac surgery, with early results in this indication looking promising [1].

In the latest study, perioperative use of a GIK solution has shown benefits in patients with left ventricular hypertrophy undergoing aortic-valve replacement for critical aortic stenosis.

Senior author, cardiac surgeon Dr Domenico Pagano (University Hospital and University of Birmingham, UK), commented: "The advantage of GIK in this study was so stark that some might say it should be used already in this indication, but we have to conduct a larger study to confirm that it is associated with benefits in clinical outcomes."