Breath monitor could make major surgery safer

This study tested a new way to guide treatment during major surgery by measuring a patient's breath. The respiratory quotient (RQ) is a number that shows if the body's tissues are getting enough oxygen. Doctors used RQ readings to decide when to give fluids, blood, or medicine. The goal was to see if this approach reduces organ failure and death within 30 days after surgery. The study included 350 adults having abdominal, orthopedic, or vascular surgery lasting more than 2 hours.