[Oral Rehydration Therapy in Thoracic Surgery]

Area of Science:

• Anesthesiology
• Surgical Care
• Patient Hydration Management

Background:

• Optimizing patient hydration preoperatively is crucial for surgical outcomes.
• Traditional intravenous (IV) fluid administration can present challenges.
• Exploring alternative hydration methods like oral rehydration therapy (ORT) is warranted.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare the safety and efficacy of preoperative oral rehydration therapy (ORT) versus intravenous (IV) infusion therapy.
• To assess patient-reported difficulties associated with each preoperative hydration method.
• To evaluate the impact of ORT versus IV infusion on key physiological markers in thoracic surgery patients.

Main Methods:

• Eighty-four thoracic surgery patients were randomized into ORT or IV infusion groups.
• Urine output was monitored, and blood and urine tests were conducted.
• Patient questionnaires assessed preoperative therapy experiences.

Main Results:

• No significant differences in morbidity or physiological markers (blood/urine tests) were observed between groups.
• Patients receiving ORT reported fewer difficulties during the preoperative period compared to the IV infusion group.
• ORT was found to be a safe alternative to IV infusion in this cohort.

Conclusions:

• Preoperative oral rehydration therapy is a safe and effective alternative to intravenous infusion therapy in thoracic surgery.
• ORT offers improved patient comfort and reduced preoperative challenges.
• These findings support the integration of ORT into enhanced recovery pathways for thoracic surgery.