Perioperative goal-directed therapy: A systematic review without meta-analysis

Thomas Kaufmann*, Ramon P. Clement, Thomas W. L. Scheeren, Bernd Saugel, Frederik Keus, Iwan C. C. van der Horst

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review

37 Citations (Scopus)
19 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

Background: Perioperative goal-directed therapy aims to optimise haemodynamics by titrating fluids, vasopressors and/or inotropes to predefined haemodynamic targets. Perioperative goal-directed therapy is a complex intervention composed of several independent component interventions. Trials on perioperative goal-directed therapy show conflicting results. We aimed to conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis to investigate the benefits and harms of perioperative goal-directed therapy.

Methods: PubMED, EMBASE, Web of Science and Cochrane Library were searched. Trials were included if they had a perioperative goal-directed therapy protocol. The primary outcome was all-cause mortality. The first secondary outcome was serious adverse events excluding mortality. Risk of bias was assessed, and GRADE was used to evaluate quality of evidence.

Results: One hundred and twelve randomised trials were included of which one trial (1%) had low risk of bias. Included trials varied in patients: types of surgery which was expected due to inclusion criteria; in intervention and comparison: timing of intervention, monitoring devices, haemodynamic variables, target values, use of fluids, vasopressors and/or inotropes as well as combinations of these within protocols; and in outcome: mortality was reported in 87 trials (78%). Due to substantial clinical heterogeneity also within the various types of surgery a meta-analysis of data, including subgroup analyses, as defined in our protocol was considered inappropriate.

Conclusion: Clinical heterogeneity in patients, interventions and outcomes in perioperative goal-directed therapy trials is too large to perform meta-analysis on all trials. Future trials and meta-analyses highly depend on universally agreed definitions on aspects beyond type of surgery of the complex intervention and its evaluation.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1340-1355
Number of pages16
JournalActa Anaesthesiologica Scandinavica
Volume62
Issue number10
Early online date6-Jul-2018
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Nov-2018

Keywords

  • RANDOMIZED-CONTROLLED-TRIAL
  • RISK SURGICAL-PATIENTS
  • MAJOR ABDOMINAL-SURGERY
  • STROKE VOLUME VARIATION
  • INTRAOPERATIVE FLUID MANAGEMENT
  • VENOUS OXYGEN-SATURATION
  • PLETH VARIABILITY INDEX
  • PERIPHERAL VASCULAR-SURGERY
  • DONOR LIVER-TRANSPLANTATION
  • PULMONARY-ARTERY CATHETERS

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