IVF and postop ileus

Q: Liberal use of intravenous fluid during surgery is directly proportional to the postoperative ileus time.

A) True

B) False

Answer: A

Liberal or excessive perioperative fluid administration may lead to an extended time to the first flatus. This may also increase the Length of Stay (LOS), subjecting the patient to hospital-acquired infections (HAIs) and Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVTs).

Excessive perioperative fluid administration leads to edema of gastrointestinal walls and the ileus.

The ideal approach is to adopt perioperative "goal-directed" fluid administration.

#surgical-critical-care

References:

1. Nisanevich V, Felsenstein I, Almogy G, et al. Effect of intraoperative fluid management on outcome after intraabdominal surgery. Anesthesiology 2005; 103:25.

2. Corcoran T, Rhodes JE, Clarke S, et al. Perioperative fluid management strategies in major surgery: a stratified meta-analysis. Anesth Analg 2012; 114:640.