The art of giving the right amount of intravenous fluids is a very important part of anesthetic management. Intraoperative liberal fluid management during surgery, particularly during major abdominal surgery, has been the golden standard until the beginning of the 21st century. Recent studies and insights have shifted our fluid management towards a more conservative regimen. However, due to conflicting conclusions, heterogeneous studies and the wide range of existing fluids, there is still no consensus about the optimal amount and composition to administrate. This editorial will give a historical overview on fluid therapy in major abdominal surgery and the evidence available in 2018. The daily practice raises of course a number of questions, and the most important of them will be discussed.
Key words: Fluid therapy, abdominal surgery, non-invasive cardiac output, crystalloids, colloids
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