Restrictive Deferred Hydration Combined with Preemptive Norepinephrine Infusion during Radical Cystectomy Reduces Postoperative Complications and Hospitalization Time

• Published in: Anesthesiology (Philadelphia) Vol. 120; no. 2; pp. 365 - 377
• Main Authors: Wuethrich, Patrick Y., Burkhard, Fiona C., Thalmann, George N., Stueber, Frank, Studer, Urs E.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: 01.02.2014
• ISSN: 0003-3022
• DOI: 10.1097/ALN.0b013e3182a44440

Abstract Background: Anesthetics and neuraxial anesthesia commonly result in vasodilation/hypotension. Norepinephrine counteracts this effect and thus allows for decreased intraoperative hydration. The authors investigated whether this approach could result in reduced postoperative complication rate. Methods: In this single-center, double-blind, randomized, superiority trial, 166 patients undergoing radical cystectomy and urinary diversion were equally allocated to receive 1 ml·kg−1·h−1 of balanced Ringer’s solution until the end of cystectomy and then 3 ml·kg−1·h−1 until the end of surgery combined with preemptive norepinephrine infusion at an initial rate of 2 µg·kg−1·h−1 (low-volume group; n = 83) or 6 ml·kg−1·h−1 of balanced Ringer’s solution throughout surgery (control group; n = 83). Primary outcome was the in-hospital complication rate. Secondary outcomes were hospitalization time, and 90-day mortality. Results: In-hospital complications occurred in 43 of 83 patients (52%) in the low-volume group and in 61 of 83 (73%) in the control group (relative risk, 0.70; 95% CI, 0.55–0.88; P = 0.006). The rates of gastrointestinal and cardiac complications were lower in the low-volume group than in the control group (5 [6%] vs. 31 [37%]; relative risk, 0.16; 95% CI, 0.07–0.39; P < 0.0001 and 17 [20%] vs. 39 [48%], relative risk, 0.43; 95% CI, 0.26–0.60; P = 0.0003, respectively). The median hospitalization time was 15 days [range, 11, 27d] in the low-volume group and 17 days [11, 95d] in the control group (P = 0.02). The 90-day mortality was 0% in the low-volume group and 4.8% in the control group (P = 0.12). Conclusion: A restrictive-deferred hydration combined with preemptive norepinephrine infusion during radical cystectomy and urinary diversion significantly reduced the postoperative complication rate and hospitalization time.