Perioperative Fluid Management

With the introduction of enhanced surgical recovery programs there has been a rekindled interest over recent years in the optimal surgical fluid regimen. The historical debate between liberal vs restrictive fluid regimens has been re-evaluated and the idea of individualized goal-directed therapy has been introduced and subjected to a number of randomized controlled trials. While untreated hypovolemia can be detrimental to patients, fluid overload can be just as (if not more) hazardous. By tailoring fluid administration to an individual patient's needs using a treatment algorithm based on closely monitored flow variables, postoperative recovery can be improved with reduced morbidity, less gastrointestinal dysfunction, and reduced hospital stay.