What is a common postoperative complication that results from inadequate fluid management?

Inadequate fluid management postoperatively can lead to dehydration, which is a common complication observed in surgical patients. During and after surgery, patients can lose significant amounts of fluids due to factors such as blood loss, insensible losses, or inadequate fluid replacement. When the body's fluid levels drop below normal, it can lead to decreased blood volume, which affects circulation, electrolyte balance, and organ function. Dehydration can result in symptoms such as decreased urine output, dry mucous membranes, and fatigue, and it can also complicate recovery by prolonging hospital stay and delaying healing.

The other options, while they can be of concern in a postoperative setting, are not directly linked to inadequate fluid management to the same extent. For instance, hypertension is typically related to several factors including pain or stress responses rather than specifically to fluid levels. Anemia usually arises from blood loss or issues with red blood cell production and is not primarily caused by fluid management alone. Hypoglycemia, on the other hand, relates to blood sugar levels and can occur for various reasons such as inadequate dietary intake or medication management, but it is not directly associated with fluid handling. Thus, dehydration stands out as the complication closely tied to fluid management in the surgical context.