British Journal of Anaesthesia 109 (1): 69–79 (2012) Advance Access publication 1 June 2012 . doi:10.1093/bja/aes171 Intraoperative fluids: how much is too much? M. Doherty1* and D. J. Buggy1,2 1 Department of Anaesthesia, Mater Misericordiae University Hospital, University College Dublin, Ireland 2 Outcomes Research Consortium, Cleveland Clinic, OH, USA * Corresponding author. E-mail:
[email protected] Downloaded from Summary. There is increasing evidence that intraoperative fluid therapy Editor’s key points decisions may influence postoperative outcomes. In the past, patients undergoing major surgery were often administered large volumes of † Both too little and excessive fluid http://bja.oxfordjournals.org/ during the intraoperative period can crystalloid, based on a presumption of preoperative dehydration and adversely affect patient outcome. nebulous intraoperative ‘third space’ fluid loss. However, positive perioperative fluid balance, with postoperative fluid-based weight gain, is associated with † Greater understanding of fluid increased major morbidity. The concept of ‘third space’ fluid loss has been kinetics at the endothelial glycocalyx emphatically refuted, and preoperative dehydration has been almost enhances insight into bodily fluid eliminated by reduced fasting times and use of oral fluids up to 2 h before distribution. operation. A ‘restrictive’ intraoperative fluid regimen, avoiding hypovolaemia † Evidence is mounting that fluid but limiting infusion to the minimum necessary, initially reduced major at Fundação Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento Pessoal NÃvel Superior on September 12, 2012 therapy guided by flow based complications after complex surgery, but inconsistencies in defining restrictive haemodynamic monitors improve vs liberal fluid regimens, the type of fluid infused, and in definitions of perioperative outcome.