Fluid management in thoracic surgery.

Better understanding of the pathophysiology of acute lung injury (ALI) and the hazards inherent to extremes in volume status has led efforts toward goal-directed, individualized therapies designed to achieve optimal hemodynamic status. The role for colloids both as a volume expander and potential protective agent against ALI is receiving revived interest. The evidence for the impact of fluid therapy is encouraging and supports the undertaking of properly designed perioperative fluid trials in thoracic surgeries. Such work offers hope that optimal fluid strategies can be defined and reduce the adverse events that have affected patients having lung resection.