Effects of Intravenous Fluid Restriction on Postoperative Complications: Comparison of Two Perioperative Fluid Regimens

Abstract

The authors investigated whether the weight gain following fluid administration in major surgery increases postoperative complications or results in poor survival. The authors conducted a blinded, randomized, multicenter trial. Elective colorectal surgery patients (N = 141) were placed in either a standard intraoperative and postoperative intravenous fluid regimen or a restricted regimen that aimed at maintaining preoperative body weight. The restrictive intravenous fluid regimen significantly reduced postoperative complications, including cardiopulmonary and tissue-healing complications. Four deaths occurred in the group that received the standard fluid regimen, no patients died in the group that received the restricted regimen. The authors concluded that a fluid regimen that seeks to maintain an unchanged body weight reduces complications after elective colorectal surgery.