Peri-operative fluid administration in patients undergoing elective colorectal segmental resection

Excess fluid and salt load can have many adverse effects, resulting in delays in post-operative recovery. Patients who gain at least 2.5–3 kg in weight, as a result of salt and water overload, in the post-operative period have a worse outcome than those maintained in a state of zero fluid balance1. There is a trend in guidelines to suggest aiming for a reduction in fluid and salt load, in order to achieve a closer to zero fluid balance.