Effects of Intensive Glycemic Control in the Postoperative Period of Neurosurgical Patients on the Incidence of Surgical Site Infection (Brain Sugar)

Surgical site infections (SSIs) are frequent complications in neurosurgical patients, often worsened by perioperative hyperglycemia. This randomized, controlled trial will compare intensive glycemic control (continuous insulin infusion, 140-180 mg/dL) with standard care (subcutaneous insulin, 81-180 mg/dL) in 544 patients. The primary outcome is SSI occurrence within 90 days post-surgery. Results aim to guide optimal glycemic management for SSI prevention in neurosurgery.

Study Overview

• Status: Not yet recruiting
• Conditions: Surgical Site Infection (SSI)
• Intervention / Treatment: Other: Intensive glycemic control; Other: Hypokalemia Prevention Protocol During IV Insulin Therapy; Other: Glucose-Supported Intravenous Insulin Infusion Protocol

Detailed Description

Surgical site infections (SSIs) are common complications, contributing to increased morbidity, prolonged hospital stays, and higher healthcare costs. Neurosurgical patients are at an elevated risk of SSIs, particularly when exposed to perioperative hyperglycemia-a common condition due to the inflammatory response to surgical stress and corticosteroid use. However, there is still limited evidence regarding the effectiveness of intensive glycemic control in preventing these infections.

Objective: To investigate the impact of an intensive glycemic control regimen during the postoperative period, compared to the standard institutional protocol, on the occurrence of surgical site infections in patients undergoing neurosurgery.

Methods: This is a randomized, controlled, parallel clinical trial that will include patients undergoing neurosurgery, allocated into two groups: intensive glycemic control (continuous insulin infusion with a target of 140-180 mg/dL) and standard control (subcutaneous insulin correction with a target glycemic range of 81-180 mg/dL). The study will be conducted in a general SUS hospital, with 272 participants per group, assuming a 25% treatment effect, α = 5%, and 80% power. Randomization will be performed by an independent statistician, using a software-generated table, with 1:1 allocation in opaque, numbered, sealed envelopes. Only the statistician and the adjudication committee will remain blinded to the analyses. The primary outcome will be the occurrence of SSI up to the 90th day after the surgical procedure.

Expected Results: The findings are expected to provide evidence on the most effective interventions for neurosurgical patients regarding glycemic control and SSI prevention.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Estimated): 572
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

• Study Contact: Name: Alessandra Yuri Takehana de Andrade yuri Andrade, Lead Researcher; Phone Number: +5511987594903; Email: alessandra.andrade@einstein.br
• Study Contact Backup: Name: Vanessa de Brito Poveda Poveda, Researcher; Phone Number: 11997876690; Email: vbpoveda@usp.br

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Adult; Older Adult
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Description

Inclusion Criteria

• Adults aged ≥18 years
• Patients undergoing elective cranial neurosurgical procedures classified as clean surgeries

Exclusion Criteria:

• Patients who underwent any surgical or neurosurgical procedure within 30 days prior to enrollment
• Presence of active infection at any site
• Patients undergoing emergency or urgent neurosurgical procedures
• Patients with trauma and exposed brain tissue
• Diagnosis of diabetic ketoacidosis
• Blood glucose levels >600 mg/dL

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Prevention
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: Single

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Intensive Glycemic Control; Intensive glycemic control, with insulin administered via infusion pump to maintain blood glucose between 140 and 180 mg/dL.	Other: Intensive glycemic control; The interventions will be conducted in a structured and supervised manner to ensure safety, traceability, and risk management. Before data collection, the ICU multidisciplinary team-including nurses, technicians, physicians, and physiotherapists-will receive training on the study protocol, operational flows for glucose monitoring, inclusion/exclusion criteria, insulin preparation and administration, aseptic techniques, infection control, and complication management. Nurses will play a key role, monitoring patients, checking labs, and reporting adverse events. The lead researcher will provide continuous oversight, data review, and 24/7 support. Insulin will be administered via continuous IV infusion to maintain blood glucose between 140-180 mg/dL, following validated institutional protocols. Safety measures include hourly glucose checks, potassium monitoring, and interventions for hypo- or hyperglycemia. The protocol will be suspended if medically indicated, for patient transfer, or at; Other: Hypokalemia Prevention Protocol During IV Insulin Therapy; During intravenous insulin infusion, a hypokalemia prevention strategy will be implemented through the administration of a glucose solution combined with potassium chloride (KCl) and sodium chloride (NaCl), according to the current medical prescription. Insulin will only be initiated after confirmation of recent laboratory tests (≤24 hours) and serum potassium >3.5 mEq/L. In cases of hyperkalemia (≥5.0 mEq/L), potassium replacement will be withheld, maintaining insulin infusion with a glucose solution, with serum potassium reassessed after 2 hours. Serum potassium monitoring will be performed at protocol initiation, after 2 hours, and subsequently every 6 hours or as clinically indicated.; Other: Glucose-Supported Intravenous Insulin Infusion Protocol; Continuous intravenous insulin infusion will be initiated concomitantly with caloric support a glucose solution. The glucose concentration and infusion rate will be determined by the attending medical team according to each patient's clinical and metabolic status.
No Intervention: Control; Conventional glycemic control, with insulin administered subcutaneously to maintain blood glucose between 81 and 180 mg/dL.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
primary outcome - surgical site infection	Incidence of surgical site infection (SSI) within 90 days after surgery, defined according to CDC (2024) criteria.	90 days
Primary Outcome	Surgical site infections will be assessed during hospitalization through wound evaluation on alternate days, with photographic documentation. After discharge, follow-up will occur via telephone and outpatient visits. Suspected cases will be investigated with clinical assessment, cultures, and imaging when indicated. Diagnosis will follow CDC (2024) criteria and be reviewed by an adjudication committee.	90 days

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Hypoglycemia	Number of participants with hypoglycemia (<70 mg/dL) within 90 days postoperatively. Assessment: Identified through capillary glucose measurements recorded in electronic medical records.	90 days
Severe Hypoglycemia	Number of participants with severe hypoglycemia (<54 mg/dL) within 90 days postoperatively. Assessment: Recorded via capillary glucose measurements and clinical documentation.	90 days
Hyperglycemia	Number of participants with hyperglycemia (>180 and <250 mg/dL) within 90 days postoperatively. Assessment: Based on capillary glucose measurements documented in medical records.	90 days
Severe Hyperglycemia	Number of participants with severe hyperglycemia (≥250 mg/dL) within 90 days postoperatively. Assessment: Identified through glucose monitoring records.	90 days
ICU Length of Stay	Length of postoperative ICU stay (in days), measured from ICU admission to discharge.	90 days
Hospital Length of Stay	Total hospital length of stay (in days), measured from admission to hospital discharge.	90 days
All-cause Mortality	All-cause mortality within 90 days after the procedure. Assessment: Verified through medical records, death certificates, and telephone follow-up if necessary.	90 days

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: University of Sao Paulo

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Estimated): April 5, 2026
• Primary Completion (Estimated): September 1, 2027
• Study Completion (Estimated): October 1, 2027

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: March 27, 2026
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: April 20, 2026
• First Posted (Actual): April 23, 2026

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): April 23, 2026
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: April 20, 2026
• Last Verified: March 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Surgical Site Infection; Nursing; Neurosurgery; Glycemic Control
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Postoperative Complications; Pathologic Processes; Infections; Wound Infection; Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms; Surgical Wound Infection
• Other Study ID Numbers: 94853126.3.0000.5392

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: YES
• IPD Plan Description: For the assessment of the primary outcome (surgical site infection), photographic records documenting the progression of the surgical wound, together with clinical and laboratory data, will be shared with an independent adjudication committee.
• IPD Sharing Time Frame: Upon the presence of signs of surgical site infection at the surgical site.
• IPD Sharing Access Criteria: Photographic records documenting the progression of the surgical wound, along with clinical and laboratory data, will be made available to an independent adjudication committee composed of experts in infection control and surgical site infections. The data will be securely shared with the committee via Google Drive.
• IPD Sharing Supporting Information Type: STUDY_PROTOCOL

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No