Effect of glucose-insulin-potassium on lactate levels at the end of surgery in patients undergoing cytoreductive surgery combined with hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial.

Introduction: Cytoreductive surgery combined with hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (CRS/HIPEC) has been established as an effective treatment for peritoneal cancer (PC). However, this kind of combination therapy is associated with a high lactate level. Moreover, studies have suggested that the rate of complications early after surgery directly increased with elevated lactate levels. Glucose-insulin-potassium (GIP), a potent cardioprotective intervention, has been demonstrated to adjust blood glucose (BG) levels and reduce lactate levels. However, the insulin-glucose ratio should be adjusted according to the surgery performed. Here, we aimed to evaluate the advantages of using modified GIP during CRS/HIPEC to reduce the lactate level at the end of surgery and further reduce the incidence of early postoperative complications.

Methods and analysis: The modified GIP versus conventional management during surgery study is a single-center, randomized, single-blinded outcome assessment clinical trial of 80 patients with PC who are between 18 and 64 years old and undergoing CRS/HIPEC. Participants will be randomly allocated to receive modified GIP or conventional treatment (1:1). The primary outcome will be the plasma lactate level at the end of surgery. The secondary outcomes will include the highest levels and fluctuation ranges of lactate and BG during surgery, extubation time, APACHE-II score 24 h after surgery, postoperative defecation and exhaust time, postoperative lactate clearance time, postoperative liver and kidney function, incidence of complications within 7 days after surgery, length of intensive care unit stay (LIS), length of hospital stay (LHS), and total cost of hospitalization.

Ethics and dissemination: The trial protocol was approved by the Scientific Research Ethics Committee of Beijing Shijitan Hospital Affiliated with Capital Medical University, approval number sjtky11-1x-2022(118). The results will be published in international peer-reviewed journals.

Trial registration: ChiCTR2200057258. Registered on March 5, 2022.