Abstract
BackgroundPast studies have demonstrated that goal-directed fluid therapy (GDFT) may be more marginal than previously believed. However, beneficial effects of alpha-1 adrenergic agonists combined with appropriate fluid administration is getting more and more attention. This study aimed to systematically review the effects of goal-directed fluid therapy (GDFT) combined with the application of alpha-1 adrenergic agonists on postoperative outcomes following noncardiac surgery.MethodsThis meta-analysis included randomized controlled trials (RCTs) on GDFT combined with the application of alpha-1 adrenergic agonists in patients undergoing noncardiac surgery. The primary outcomes included the postoperative mortality rate and length of hospital stay (LOS). The secondary outcome indexes were the incidence of postoperative complications and recovery of postoperative gastrointestinal (GI) function. The traditional pairwise meta-analysis was conducted to compare the effect of fluid therapy. The quality of included RCTs was evaluated according to the Cochrane Collaboration’s risk-of-bias tool. Also, the publication bias was detected using funnel plots, Egger’s regression test, and Begg’s adjusted rank correlation test. The meta-analysis was conducted using the RevMan 5.3 and Stata 14.0 software.ResultsThirty-two eligible RCTs were included in this meta-analysis. Perioperative GDFT combined with the application of alpha-1 adrenergic agonists was associated with a significant reduction in LOS (P = 0.002; I2 = 69%), and overall complication rates (P = 0.04; I2 = 41%). It facilitated gastrointestinal function recovery, as demonstrated by shortening the time to first flatus by 6.30 h (P < 0.00001; I2 = 91%) and the time to toleration of solid food by 1.69 days (P < 0.00001; I2 = 0%). Additionally, there was no significant reduction in short-term mortality in the GDFT combined with alpha-1 adrenergic agonists group (P = 0.05; I2 = 0%).ConclusionThis systematic review of available evidence suggested that the use of perioperative GDFT combined with alpha-1 adrenergic agonists might facilitate recovery in patients undergoing noncardiac surgery.
Highlights
Past studies have demonstrated that goal-directed fluid therapy (GDFT) may be more marginal than previously believed
Perioperative GDFT which is an individualized fluid administration strategy based on different techniques, such as pulse contour analysis technique, thermodilution technique and esophageal Doppler, is related to accelerated recovery of gastrointestinal (GI) function, reduced length of hospital stay (LOS), and reduced postoperative complication rates following surgery [4]
Several systematic reviews and meta-analyses investigated that GDFT might decrease postoperative mortality and morbidity in surgical patients [5,6,7], but others suggested that the advantage might be more marginal than previously believed [8,9,10]
Summary
Past studies have demonstrated that goal-directed fluid therapy (GDFT) may be more marginal than previously believed. This study aimed to systematically review the effects of goaldirected fluid therapy (GDFT) combined with the application of alpha-1 adrenergic agonists on postoperative outcomes following noncardiac surgery. Perioperative GDFT which is an individualized fluid administration strategy based on different techniques, such as pulse contour analysis technique, thermodilution technique and esophageal Doppler, is related to accelerated recovery of gastrointestinal (GI) function, reduced length of hospital stay (LOS), and reduced postoperative complication rates following surgery [4]. Several systematic reviews and meta-analyses investigated that GDFT might decrease postoperative mortality and morbidity in surgical patients [5,6,7], but others suggested that the advantage might be more marginal than previously believed [8,9,10]
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