Intraoperative Dosing Of Dexamethasone In Type II Diabetic Patients Undergoing Orthopedic Procedures

Doctoral Candidate Name: Sarah Lynn Walker
Program: Doctor of Nursing Practice
Defense Date and Time: December 8, 2023 – 10:00 AM
Defense Location: CHHS 436
Committee chair’s Name: Dr. Stephanie Woods
Committee Members: Dr. Danielle Brown, Dr. Katie Shue-McGuffin, Dr. Catherine Helms, Dr. Suzanne Boyd
Abstract:

The purpose of this quality improvement (QI) project was to identify trends in the intraoperative dosing of dexamethasone in type II diabetic patients undergoing orthopedic procedures at a community hospital to determine impact of dosage level on postoperative glycemic response compared to preoperative levels and HgbA1C levels.
Dexamethasone is a corticosteroid and despite its many documented benefits when administered perioperatively to surgical patients, it is often withheld in the type II diabetic population out of concern for effects on postoperative glycemic control. For this QI project, charts of type II diabetics receiving dexamethasone undergoing orthopedic procedures were reviewed. Data inclusion criteria were type II diabetics, procedures