Fluid Overload and Anastomotic Dehiscence: A Study on Animals and Humans

An animal experiment demonstrated that if animals are given an excessive amount of fluid, such as rats developing submucosal edema, those that were fluid overloaded had lower anastomotic breaking strength compared to those who received the appropriate or slightly restricted amount of fluids. Similarly, a study from the United States showed that if patients developed an anastomotic dehiscence, the average fluid intake over the first 72 hours exceeded 10.5 liters. In contrast, patients who received less than 10.5 liters of fluid within the first 72 hours were less likely to experience an anastomotic dehiscence.