The Effect of Goal-Directed Crystalloid Versus Colloid Administration on Postoperative Spirometry Parameters: a Substudy of a Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial

Pulmonary function is impaired after major abdominal surgery and might be less impaired by restrictive fluid administration. Under the assumption of a fluid-sparing effect of colloids, we tested the hypothesis that an intraoperative colloid-based goal-directed fluid management strategy impairs postoperative pulmonary function parameters less compared to goal-directed crystalloid administration. We performed a preplanned, single-center substudy within a recently published trial evaluating the effect of goal-directed crystalloids versus colloids on a composite of major complications. Sixty patients undergoing major open abdominal surgery were randomized to Doppler-guided intraoperative fluid replacement therapy with lactated Ringer’s solution (n = 31) or unbalanced 6 ClinicalTrials.gov ( NCT00517127 , registered on August 16, 2007) and EudraCT (2005-004602-86).