Effect of restrictive fluid therapy with hydroxyethyl starch during esophagectomy on postoperative outcomes: a retrospective cohort study

BACKGROUND: To improve prognosis after esophageal surgery, intraoperative fluid optimization is important. Herein, we hypothesized that hydroxyethyl starch administration during esophagectomy reduce the total amount of fluid infused and it could have a positive effect on postoperative complication occurrence and mortality. METHODS: All consecutive adult patients who underwent elective esophageal surgery for cancer were studied. The primary outcome was the development of composite complications including death, cardio-cerebrovascular complications, respiratory complications, renal complications, gastrointestinal complications, sepsis, empyema or abscess, and multi-organ failure. The relationship between perioperative variables and composite complication was evaluated using multivariable logistic regression. RESULTS: Of 892 patients analyzed, composite complications developed in 271 (30.4%). The higher hydroxyethyl starch ratio in total fluid had a negative relationship with the total fluid infusion amount (r = − 0.256, P < 0.001). In multivariable analysis, intraoperatively administered total fluid per weight per hour (odds ratio, 1.248; 95% CI, 1.153–1.351; P < 0.001) and HES-to-crystalloid ratio (odds ratio, 2.125; 95% CI, 1.521–2.969; P < 0.001) were associated with increased risks of postoperative composite outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: Although hydroxyethyl starch administration reduces the total fluid infusion amount during esophageal surgery for cancer, intravenous hydroxyethyl starch infusion is associated with an increasing risk of postoperative composite complications. ELECTRONIC SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIAL: The online version of this article (10.1186/s12893-019-0482-z) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.