Cardiothoracic & vascular anesthesia
Association of Postoperative Cumulative Fluid Balance and Outcomes Following Elective Cardiac Surgery
Authors' conclusion
A negative or positive cumulative fluid balance on the day of ICU discharge was associated with ~3 to 4 times greater odds of adverse postoperative outcomes, respectively, which was further elevated when fluid imbalance exceeded ~1.5 L.
Study context
- Population
- Elective coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) and/or valve surgery patients, academic medical center, 2015–2020
- Participants
- 2,557 patients
- Exposure
- Negative or positive vs neutral cumulative fluid balance at intensive care unit (ICU) discharge
- Outcome
- Composite of:
- 30-day mortality
- ICU readmission
- Postoperative hospital LOS ≥30 days
Methodological detailssingle academic medical center, multivariable-adjusted
- Single academic medical center
- Multivariable-adjusted
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
Each group vs neutralOdds ratio (95% CI)P value
Negative
2.76(1.62–4.70)
P < 0.01Positive
3.53(2.09–5.96)
P < 0.01Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
Cumulative fluid balance as continuous variable
- U-shaped relationship with primary outcome; significantly elevated risk threshold at negative fluid balance (mL)
- 1380
- Significantly elevated risk threshold at positive fluid balance (mL)
- 1700
- Multivariable-adjusted
Original publication
Association of Postoperative Cumulative Fluid Balance and Outcomes Following Elective Cardiac Surgery. Anesth Analg. Published 7 November 2025. doi:10.
Composed by AI from the published abstract and checked against it. How Briefs are made →