Background: Our aim was to determine whether substitution of goal-directed fluid therapy (GDT) (perioperative fluid administration) for traditional therapy to manage elderly patients with coronary heart disease scheduled for gastrointestinal (GI) surgery was advantageous. We determined if it would reduce cardiac complications and shorten time to recovery and discharge.
Methods: Altogether, 60 of these elderly patients were randomized into GDT (n = 30) and control (n = 30) groups. In the GDT group, fluid management was carried out under guidance of hemodynamic status indicators. Types and quantities of fluids administered, blood loss, intraoperative urine output, time of extubation, intensive care unit (ICU) stay, hospital stay, postoperative adverse cardiac events, and GI complications were recorded.
Results: Total fluids infused were 2,910 ± 645 ml (GDT group) and 3,640 ± 771 ml (control group) (p < 0.05). Numbers of adverse cardiac events in the two groups were not significantly different (p = 0.121). Return of GI function was significantly faster in the GDT group (p < 0.001). Median ICU stay was 32.5 h in the GDT group and 47.5 h in the control group (p < 0.001). Median hospital stay was 18 days in the GDT group and 22 days in the control group (p < 0.001).
Conclusions: GDT was associated with shorter ICU stay and time to discharge and faster return of GI function compared to traditional fluid therapy. The number of adverse cardiac events was similar in the two groups.