Table 3 The results of the subgroup analyses. RCTs were divided considering the kind of surgery (i.e., major abdominal, orthopedic, vascular, and so on) and on the basis of the strategy adopted (i.e., only fluids or fluids and inotropes)

Fluids

17

(20, 26, 29, 31, 33–35, 37, 41, 45, 47, 51, 53, 56, 57, 62, 63)

472/976

520/961

0.67

(0.47–0.97)

0.04

63%

0.0003

Fluids and inotropes

35

(5, 21–25, 22, 28, 30, 32, 36, 38–40, 42–44, 46, 48–50, 52, 54, 55, 58–61, 64–69)

806/2186

1038/2192

0.56

(0.45–0.70)

< 0.00001

50%

0.0004

Major abdominal surgery

Fluids

13 (20, 26, 29, 31, 33–35, 37, 41, 47, 53, 57, 63)

414/812

432/815

0.87 (0.64–1.119)

0.39

40%

0.07

Fluids and inotropes

18

(5, 27, 32, 36, 39, 43, 48–50, 52, 58–61, 64, 65, 68, 69)

43371281

554/1285

0.63 (0.49–0.79)

< 0.0001

32%

0.09

Orthopedic surgery

Fluids

3 (45, 56, 62)

49/132

60/112

0.43 (0.15–1.122)

0.11

59%

0.09

Fluids and inotropes

4 (22, 28, 38, 54)

11/201

134/205

0.59 (0.37–0.94)

0.03

0%

0.56