Principles of pre-operative fluid therapy and resuscitation

The pre-operative preparation of a patient for elective surgery requires correction of all major electrolyte abnormalities, osmolality and body fluid compartment excesses of deficits. For the emergency surgical procedure however, only stability of the cardiovascular system is required before the induction of anaesthesia. To facilitate rapid correction of the abnormal haemodynamic state a set of physiological principles are described which aim to simplify therapy.