Does intravenous insulin decrease protein breakdown in infants on extracorporeal membrane oxygenation?
In this pilot study, the anabolic hormone insulin markedly reduced protein breakdown in critically ill infants on ECMO. Because elevated protein breakdown correlates with mortality and morbidity, the administration of intravenous insulin may ultimately have broad applicability to the metabolic management of critically ill infants.
Further study is required to assess the appropriateness of PD as a prevention target for improving child outcomes. These provisional criteria may be useful for evaluating other proposed prevention targets.