Fluid Overload after Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting Surgery Increases the Incidence of Post-Operative Complications

This study is a prospective trial comparing the incidence of post-operative complications to fluid status in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) surgery. One hundred and nine subjects undergoing CABG surgery at the Jewish general hospital were recruited over a 5 months period in the year 2006. All of the patients underwent CABG surgery “on pump”. Post operative fluid overload was measured by weight gain. Using logistic regression with complications (major vs. minor only/none) as an outcome and fluid overload as a covariate, the risk of major complications significantly increases for fluid overload ≥5 kg compared to 1 5 kg (p < 0.001), while the risk for ≤1 kg is not significantly different from 1 5 kg. Also, the risk of major complications significantly (p = 0.012) increases for days with fluid overload ≥5 days in comparison to ≤1 day.