Association of postoperative fluid overload with adverse outcomes after congenital heart surgery: a systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis.

The present meta-analysis supports that postoperative fluid overload is significantly linked to elevated risk of prolonged hospital stay, AKI development, and mortality in pediatric patients undergoing cardiac surgery. These findings warrant replication by future prospective studies, which should define the optimal cutoff values and assess the effectiveness of therapeutic strategies to limit fluid overload in the postoperative setting.