The Effect of Perioperative Cardiac Output-guided GDT on Oxygen Delivery, Consumption, and Microcirculatory Perfusion

Perioperative cardiac output-guided goal-directed therapy (GDT) triggers fluid, vasopressor, and inotrope administration assuming that optimizing cardiac output (i.e., global blood flow) ensures adequate oxygen delivery and microcirculatory perfusion - that are usually not directly monitored during goal-directed therapy. There is increasing evidence that perioperative cardiac output-guided goal-directed therapy may reduce postoperative complications compared to routine hemodynamic management in high-risk patients having major surgery. The effect of cardiac output-guided goal-directed therapy algorithms on perioperative oxygen delivery and consumption as well as microcirculatory perfusion, however, is unknown. The investigators aim to investigate the effect of using different cardiac output-guided goal-directed therapy algorithms on perioperative oxygen delivery and consumption as well as sublingual microcirculatory perfusion compared to routine perioperative hemodynamic management in patients having major abdominal surgery with general anesthesia.