Euglycemic Diabetic Ketoacidosis Due to Sodium-Glucose Cotransporter 2 Inhibitor Use in Two Patients Undergoing Pancreatectomy.

Background

Euglycemic diabetic ketoacidosis (euDKA) is a potential side effect associated with inhibitors of the sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT-2). This effect is most often recognized during physiologic stress (i.e., sepsis) or in patients who undergo surgery. Case presentations: Case 1: A 66-year-old woman underwent distal pancreatectomy with en bloc splenectomy after presenting with a biopsy-proven pancreatic adenocarcinoma in the body of the pancreas noted incidentally on a screening magnetic resonance imaging for an ovarian mass. The patient had a history of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and used canagliflozin, which she was instructed to hold 24 h before surgery. Case 2: A 75-year-old man underwent a pylorus-preserving pancreaticoduodenectomy after presenting with obstructive jaundice. This patient also had a history of T2DM and was on dapagliflozin, which he was also instructed to hold 24 h before surgery. Postoperatively, both patients were diagnosed with euDKA, which was suspected primarily because of intraoperative and postoperative polyuria.

Conclusions

SGLT-2 inhibitors are associated with euDKA that can be potentiated in patients who undergo surgery. This medication side effect can be easily unrecognized and potentially lead to significant morbidity.