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

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.