Perioperative management of metformin: is there something new?

Metformin is the drug of choice in the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus. Diabetic patients treated with metformin, who are scheduled for surgery, have always been subjects to discussion regarding the perioperative management of metformin because of the risk of developing lactic acidosis. The article presents the basic informations about this adverse event, describes new approach to the metformin treatment in the perioperative period, and summarizes the recommendations of professional societies and expert groups.