Intravenous fluids in minor gynaecological surgery. Their effect on postoperative morbidity

Postoperative morbidity was assessed in 100 patients who underwent minor gynaecological procedures. Fifty patients received intra-operative crystalloid (1000 ml compound sodium lactate solution) and the remaining fifty none. Identical short-acting intravenous anaesthetic techniques were used in both groups. There was no statistically significant difference between the groups in symptoms of nausea, vomiting, headache and drowsiness within the first 6 hours after operation. Patients who received intra-operative fluids exhibited a decreased incidence of dizziness within the first 6 hours and a decreased incidence of nausea when questioned at 3 days compared with those who did not receive any fluid; the difference was statistically significant.