Roberta Teixeira Tallarico, MB, a first-year anesthesiology resident, recently had her T32 Research Fellowship project published in JAMA Surgery on April 30, 2025. Her study, “Postoperative Outcomes Among Sodium-Glucose Cotransporter 2 Inhibitor Users,” explores how a newer type of medication, called sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors (SGLT2i), may influence surgical recovery.
SGLT2i have become increasingly common in recent years for managing chronic conditions like diabetes, heart failure, and chronic kidney disease. While they are known to be helpful for long-term care, very little research has been done to understand how they might impact recovery after surgery.
During their research, Tallarico and her team discovered that patients who were taking SGLT2i before their surgery had a higher risk of developing a condition called euglycemic ketoacidosis (eKA). This is a rare but potentially serious complication where the body produces high levels of acid despite normal blood sugar levels, making it harder to detect and treat quickly. Despite this increased risk for eKA, the study found that SGLT2i did not lead to worse outcomes for kidney function or short-term survival after surgery.
“This large, multicenter study provides comprehensive evidence on how SGLT2 inhibitors can affect surgical patients in both elective and emergency settings,” said Tallarico. “The results emphasize the need for more careful monitoring after surgery, but also give reassurance that these medications don’t have negative effects on important outcomes like kidney health and survival.”
This publication is a significant achievement in Tallarico’s early career and highlights her commitment to improving patient care through research.