When is enough enough? Individualized goal-directed fluid therapy for surgery

Excerpt

In the current issue of JCMC, Scheeren et al. [1] support the circulation during surgery according to the so-called individualized goal-directed fluid therapy (GDT) concept. It is self evident that it is not desirable to provide patients with too much volume and, on the other hand, hypovolemic shock should be avoided. Hypovolemic shock is life threading and it is, maybe therefore common to provide the surgical patient with a volume surplus. Yet, it would seem ideal if the volume administered to patients during surgery, as to patients in general, reflects what is in need so that a “normal” blood volume is maintained at all times. The word “normovolemia” should be introduced to represent balance between hypovolemia and hypervolemia. …