Ultrasound Lung Fluid Responsiveness During Hysterectomy

Overview

Bedside lung ultrasound can detect pulmonary congestion by detecting the appearance of B-lines. Pulmonary edema may occur even without cardiomyopathy or heart failure, especially after excessive fluid administration. B-lines have been acknowledged as sonographic signs of pulmonary interstitial and alveolar edema in critical and emergency care. Limited scientific evidence on optimal intraoperative fluid management has resulted in large variations of administered fluid regimens in daily practice. The restricted perioperative intravenous fluid regimen reduces complications after elective surgeries, however other studies had shown that intraoperative liberal fluid administration improves postoperative organ functions and recovery and shortens hospital stay after elective surgeries.

A review of patients undergoing major abdominal surgery, excluding high-risk patients, compared liberal and restrictive fluid regimens; concluded that it is difficult to define 'liberal' or 'restrictive' protocols in clinical practice. patients undergoing moderate-risk surgery seem to benefit from the more liberal fluid administration, while patients undergoing high-risk or major surgery seem to benefit from restrictive or conservative strategies. Lung ultrasound used for comparison between liberal and restrictive fluid therapy in laparoscopic hysterectomy patients by detecting the B-lines intraoperatively or immediately postoperatively. The aim is to evaluate the lung ultrasound as a guide for intraoperative fluid management, being an index for increased extravascular lung water (ECLW). This operation is a moderately complex procedure that implies the Trendelenburg position. This position - in addition to liberal fluids - will increase venous return and increase the challenge on the cardiac muscle under anesthesia in these patients.