The goal of a study published in KyobuGeka was to evaluate safety and efficacy of preoperative oral rehydration therapy compared to infusion therapy in thoracic surgery.

In this study, 84 patients scheduled for thoracic surgery were assigned to either an oral rehydration group or an infusion group. The amount of urine was measured for all patients and their and blood and urine tests were carried out. Additionally, patients participated in questionnaires concerning preoperative therapies.

The results revealed no significant difference in blood and urine tests in any of the groups. It was noted that patients in the infusion therapy group reported no more difficulties in the preoperative period.

Thus, the findings indicated that preoperative oral rehydration therapy is as safe as the infusion therapy with less difficulties compared to the infusion therapy, in patients undergoing thoracic surgery.

Source: KyobuGeka. 2019 Jun;72(6):407-411.