Goal directed fluid therapy decreases postoperative morbidity but not mortality in major non-cardiac surgery: a meta-analysis and trial sequential analysis of randomized controlled trials

Optimum perioperative fluid administration may improve postoperative outcome after major surgery. This meta-analysis and systematic review has been aimed to determine the effect of dynamic goal directed fluid therapy (GDFT) on postoperative morbidity and mortality in non-cardiac surgical patients. Meta-analysis of published prospective randomized controlled trials where GDFT based on non-invasive flow based hemodynamic measurement has been compared with a standard care. Data from 41 prospective randomized trials have been included in this study. Use of GDFT in major surgical patients does not decrease postoperative hospital/30-day mortality (OR 0.70, 95 % CI 0.46–1.08, p = 0.11) length of post-operative hospital stay (SMD −0.14; 95 % CI −0.28, 0.00; p = 0.05) and length of ICU stay (SMD −0.12; 95 % CI −0.28, 0.04; p = 0.14). However, number of patients having at least one postoperative complication is significantly lower with use of GDFT (OR 0.57; 95 % CI 0.43, 0.75; p < 0.0001). Abdominal complications (p = 0.008), wound infection (p = 0.002) and postoperative hypotension (p = 0.04) are also decreased with used of GDFT as opposed to a standard care. Though patients who received GDFT were infused more colloid (p < 0.0001), there is no increased risk of heart failure or pulmonary edema and renal failure. GDFT in major non- cardiac surgical patients has questionable benefit over a standard care in terms of postoperative mortality, length of hospital stay and length of ICU stay. However, incidence of all complications including wound infection, abdominal complications and postoperative hypotension is reduced.