Volume optimization in surgical patients: wet or dry?

Perioperative fluid therapy remains the subject of active controversy. Indeed, clinical trials investigating the effects of fluid administration on outcome in surgical patients report controversial results. Critical review of these trials reveals that current standard fluid therapy is not at all evidence-based. Although it is evident that fluid overload should be avoided, replacement of fluid lost clearly improves outcome. The debate "Wet or Dry" is not a real one. Fluids should be administered in the perioperative period through a goal-directed approach taking into account patients characteristics and surgical-related events, and not through a "recipe book" approach. The type of fluid to be administered should depend on the specific space that needs to be restored (intracellular, extracellular or intravascular) and on the pharmacokinetic properties of the different solutions.