Goal-directed intraoperative therapy based on autocalibrated arterial pressure waveform analysis reduces hospital stay in high-risk surgical patients: a randomized, controlled trial.
BACKGROUND
Several studies have shown that goal-directed hemodynamic and fluid optimization may result in improved outcome. However, the methods used were either invasive or had other limitations. The aim of this study was to perform intraoperative goal-directed therapy with a minimally invasive, easy to use device (FloTrac/Vigileo), and to evaluate possible improvements in patient outcome determined by the duration of hospital stay and the incidence of complications compared to a standard management protocol.


METHODS
In this randomized, controlled trial 60 high-risk patients scheduled for major abdominal surgery were included. Patients were allocated into either an enhanced hemodynamic monitoring group using a cardiac index based intraoperative optimization protocol (FloTrac/Vigileo device, GDT-group, n = 30) or a standard management group (Control-group, n = 30), based on standard monitoring data.


RESULTS
The median duration of hospital stay was significantly reduced in the GDT-group with 15 (12 - 17.75) days versus 19 (14 - 23.5) days (P = 0.006) and fewer patients developed complications than in the Control-group [6 patients (20%) versus 15 patients (50%), P = 0.03]. The total number of complications was reduced in the GDT-group (17 versus 49 complications, P = 0.001).


CONCLUSIONS
In high-risk patients undergoing major abdominal surgery, implementation of an intraoperative goal-directed hemodynamic optimization protocol using the FloTrac/Vigileo device was associated with a reduced length of hospital stay and a lower incidence of complications compared to a standard management protocol.


BACKGROUND



BACKGROUND
Unique identifier: NCT00549419.
Mayer
Jochen
J
Department of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine, Klinikum Ludwigshafen, Bremserstrasse, 79, 67063 Ludwigshafen, Germany. j-mayer@gmx.de
Boldt
Joachim
J
Mengistu
Andinet M
AM
Röhm
Kerstin D
KD
Suttner
Stefan
S
D000368:Aged; D001794:Blood Pressure; D002138:Calibration; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007432:Intraoperative Period; D007902:Length of Stay; D008297:Male; D008991:Monitoring, Physiologic / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D012307:Risk Factors; D013514:Surgical Procedures, Operative