Relationship between Postoperative Complications and Ratio of Amount of Wetting Solution to Ideal Body Weight in Liposuction Procedures.

BACKGROUND

The use of wetting solutions (WSs) during high-volume liposuction is standard; however, the optimal amount of WS and its components and their effect on postoperative complications are unclear. We evaluated the effect of a WS and its components, calculated according to ideal body weight (IBW), on postoperative complications.

METHODS

High-volume liposuction with a WS containing 0.5 g of lidocaine and 0.5 mg of epinephrine in each liter was performed in 192 patients. Patients who received ≤90 mL/kg of WS were designated as group I and those who received >90 mL/kg of WS as group II. Postoperative complications and adverse events that occurred until discharge were recorded.

RESULTS

The mean total amount of epinephrine in the WS was significantly higher for group II (3.5 mg; range, 3.0-4.0 mg) than for group I (2.0 mg; range, 1.8-2.5 mg; p < 0.001), as was the mean total amount of lidocaine (3.5 g [range, 3.5-4.3 g] vs. 2.0 g [range, 1.8-2.5 g], respectively; p < 0.001). No major cardiac or pulmonary complications occurred in either group. Administration of >90 mL/kg of WS increased the median risk of postoperative nausea 5.3-fold (range, 1.8- to 15.6-fold), that of hypertension 4.9-fold (range, 1.1- to 17.7-fold), and that of hypothermia 4.2-fold (range, 1.1- to 18.5-fold). The two groups had similar postoperative pain scores and blood transfusion rates.

CONCLUSIONS

The risks of postoperative nausea, vomiting, hypothermia, and hypertension may increase in patients who receive >90 mL/kg of WS calculated according to IBW during high-volume liposuction.