diff --git a/arangod/Cluster/ClusterComm.cpp b/arangod/Cluster/ClusterComm.cpp
index fdd5e1d9a3..baf257b16a 100644
--- a/arangod/Cluster/ClusterComm.cpp
+++ b/arangod/Cluster/ClusterComm.cpp
@@ -839,7 +839,7 @@ size_t ClusterComm::performRequests(std::vector<ClusterCommRequest>& requests,
                                     ClusterCommTimeout timeout, size_t& nrDone,
                                     arangodb::LogTopic const& logTopic,
                                     bool retryOnCollNotFound) {
-  if (requests.size() == 0) {
+  if (requests.empty()) {
     nrDone = 0;
     return 0;
   }
diff --git a/arangod/ClusterEngine/ClusterCollection.cpp b/arangod/ClusterEngine/ClusterCollection.cpp
index e758c214ca..745f0e3e06 100644
--- a/arangod/ClusterEngine/ClusterCollection.cpp
+++ b/arangod/ClusterEngine/ClusterCollection.cpp
@@ -43,6 +43,7 @@
 #include "Utils/OperationOptions.h"
 #include "VocBase/LocalDocumentId.h"
 #include "VocBase/LogicalCollection.h"
+#include "VocBase/ManagedDocumentResult.h"
 #include "VocBase/ticks.h"
 #include "VocBase/voc-types.h"
 
diff --git a/arangod/ClusterEngine/ClusterCollection.h b/arangod/ClusterEngine/ClusterCollection.h
index ee25888391..5c83678d6b 100644
--- a/arangod/ClusterEngine/ClusterCollection.h
+++ b/arangod/ClusterEngine/ClusterCollection.h
@@ -30,7 +30,6 @@
 #include "ClusterEngine/Common.h"
 #include "StorageEngine/PhysicalCollection.h"
 #include "VocBase/LogicalCollection.h"
-#include "VocBase/ManagedDocumentResult.h"
 
 namespace rocksdb {
 class Transaction;
diff --git a/arangod/MMFiles/MMFilesCollection.cpp b/arangod/MMFiles/MMFilesCollection.cpp
index 4ffe57dd1e..007d761903 100644
--- a/arangod/MMFiles/MMFilesCollection.cpp
+++ b/arangod/MMFiles/MMFilesCollection.cpp
@@ -65,11 +65,55 @@
 #include "VocBase/KeyGenerator.h"
 #include "VocBase/LocalDocumentId.h"
 #include "VocBase/LogicalCollection.h"
+#include "VocBase/ManagedDocumentResult.h"
 #include "VocBase/ticks.h"
 
 using namespace arangodb;
 using Helper = arangodb::basics::VelocyPackHelper;
 
+/// @brief state during opening of a collection
+namespace arangodb {
+struct OpenIteratorState {
+  LogicalCollection* _collection;
+  arangodb::MMFilesPrimaryIndex* _primaryIndex;
+  TRI_voc_tid_t _tid;
+  TRI_voc_fid_t _fid;
+  std::unordered_map<TRI_voc_fid_t, MMFilesDatafileStatisticsContainer*>
+      _stats;
+  MMFilesDatafileStatisticsContainer* _dfi;
+  transaction::Methods* _trx;
+  ManagedDocumentResult _mdr;
+  IndexLookupContext _context;
+  uint64_t _deletions;
+  uint64_t _documents;
+  int64_t _initialCount;
+
+  OpenIteratorState(LogicalCollection* collection, transaction::Methods* trx)
+      : _collection(collection),
+        _primaryIndex(
+            static_cast<MMFilesCollection*>(collection->getPhysical())
+                ->primaryIndex()),
+        _tid(0),
+        _fid(0),
+        _stats(),
+        _dfi(nullptr),
+        _trx(trx),
+        _context(trx, collection, &_mdr, 1),
+        _deletions(0),
+        _documents(0),
+        _initialCount(-1) {
+    TRI_ASSERT(collection != nullptr);
+    TRI_ASSERT(trx != nullptr);
+  }
+
+  ~OpenIteratorState() {
+    for (auto& it : _stats) {
+      delete it.second;
+    }
+  }
+};
+}
+
 namespace {
 
 /// @brief helper class for filling indexes
@@ -100,7 +144,7 @@ class MMFilesIndexFillerTask : public basics::LocalTask {
 
 /// @brief find a statistics container for a given file id
 static MMFilesDatafileStatisticsContainer* FindDatafileStats(
-    MMFilesCollection::OpenIteratorState* state, TRI_voc_fid_t fid) {
+    OpenIteratorState* state, TRI_voc_fid_t fid) {
   auto it = state->_stats.find(fid);
 
   if (it != state->_stats.end()) {
@@ -216,7 +260,7 @@ PhysicalCollection* MMFilesCollection::clone(LogicalCollection& logical) const {
 /// @brief process a document (or edge) marker when opening a collection
 int MMFilesCollection::OpenIteratorHandleDocumentMarker(
     MMFilesMarker const* marker, MMFilesDatafile* datafile,
-    MMFilesCollection::OpenIteratorState* state) {
+    OpenIteratorState* state) {
   LogicalCollection* collection = state->_collection;
   TRI_ASSERT(collection != nullptr);
   auto physical = static_cast<MMFilesCollection*>(collection->getPhysical());
@@ -265,7 +309,7 @@ int MMFilesCollection::OpenIteratorHandleDocumentMarker(
   // no primary index lock required here because we are the only ones reading
   // from the index ATM
   MMFilesSimpleIndexElement* found =
-      state->_primaryIndex->lookupKeyRef(trx, keySlice, state->_mmdr);
+      state->_primaryIndex->lookupKeyRef(trx, keySlice, state->_mdr);
 
   // it is a new entry
   if (found == nullptr || !found->isSet()) {
@@ -274,7 +318,7 @@ int MMFilesCollection::OpenIteratorHandleDocumentMarker(
     // insert into primary index
     Result res = state->_primaryIndex->insertKey(trx, localDocumentId,
                                                  VPackSlice(vpack),
-                                                 state->_mmdr,
+                                                 state->_mdr,
                                                  Index::OperationMode::normal);
 
     if (res.fail()) {
@@ -336,7 +380,7 @@ int MMFilesCollection::OpenIteratorHandleDocumentMarker(
 /// @brief process a deletion marker when opening a collection
 int MMFilesCollection::OpenIteratorHandleDeletionMarker(
     MMFilesMarker const* marker, MMFilesDatafile* datafile,
-    MMFilesCollection::OpenIteratorState* state) {
+    OpenIteratorState* state) {
   LogicalCollection* collection = state->_collection;
   TRI_ASSERT(collection != nullptr);
   auto physical = static_cast<MMFilesCollection*>(collection->getPhysical());
@@ -371,7 +415,7 @@ int MMFilesCollection::OpenIteratorHandleDeletionMarker(
   // no primary index lock required here because we are the only ones reading
   // from the index ATM
   MMFilesSimpleIndexElement found =
-      state->_primaryIndex->lookupKey(trx, keySlice, state->_mmdr);
+      state->_primaryIndex->lookupKey(trx, keySlice, state->_mdr);
 
   // it is a new entry, so we missed the create
   if (!found) {
@@ -407,7 +451,7 @@ int MMFilesCollection::OpenIteratorHandleDeletionMarker(
     state->_dfi->numberDeletions++;
 
     state->_primaryIndex->removeKey(trx, oldLocalDocumentId, VPackSlice(vpack),
-                                    state->_mmdr, Index::OperationMode::normal);
+                                    state->_mdr, Index::OperationMode::normal);
 
     physical->removeLocalDocumentId(oldLocalDocumentId, true);
   }
@@ -417,7 +461,7 @@ int MMFilesCollection::OpenIteratorHandleDeletionMarker(
 
 /// @brief iterator for open
 bool MMFilesCollection::OpenIterator(MMFilesMarker const* marker,
-                                     MMFilesCollection::OpenIteratorState* data,
+                                     OpenIteratorState* data,
                                      MMFilesDatafile* datafile) {
   TRI_voc_tick_t const tick = marker->getTick();
   MMFilesMarkerType const type = marker->getType();
@@ -434,15 +478,8 @@ bool MMFilesCollection::OpenIterator(MMFilesMarker const* marker,
     if (tick > datafile->_dataMax) {
       datafile->_dataMax = tick;
     }
-
-    if (++data->_operations % 1024 == 0) {
-      data->_mmdr.reset();
-    }
   } else if (type == TRI_DF_MARKER_VPACK_REMOVE) {
     res = OpenIteratorHandleDeletionMarker(marker, datafile, data);
-    if (++data->_operations % 1024 == 0) {
-      data->_mmdr.reset();
-    }
   } else {
     if (type == TRI_DF_MARKER_HEADER) {
       // ensure there is a datafile info entry for each datafile of the
@@ -3290,7 +3327,7 @@ Result MMFilesCollection::update(
 
   if (newSlice.length() <= 1) {
     // no need to do anything
-    result = std::move(previous);
+    result = previous;
 
     if (_logicalCollection.waitForSync()) {
       options.waitForSync = true;
diff --git a/arangod/MMFiles/MMFilesCollection.h b/arangod/MMFiles/MMFilesCollection.h
index 679fe4a874..4b8a6e90ac 100644
--- a/arangod/MMFiles/MMFilesCollection.h
+++ b/arangod/MMFiles/MMFilesCollection.h
@@ -38,19 +38,17 @@
 #include "VocBase/KeyGenerator.h"
 #include "VocBase/LocalDocumentId.h"
 #include "VocBase/LogicalCollection.h"
-#include "VocBase/ManagedDocumentResult.h"
 
 struct MMFilesDatafile;
 struct MMFilesMarker;
 
 namespace arangodb {
-
-
 class LogicalCollection;
 class ManagedDocumentResult;
 struct MMFilesDocumentOperation;
 class MMFilesPrimaryIndex;
 class MMFilesWalMarker;
+struct OpenIteratorState;
 class Result;
 class TransactionState;
 
@@ -72,51 +70,7 @@ class MMFilesCollection final : public PhysicalCollection {
     TRI_ASSERT(phys != nullptr);
     return toMMFilesCollection(phys);
   }
-
-  /// @brief state during opening of a collection
-  struct OpenIteratorState {
-    LogicalCollection* _collection;
-    arangodb::MMFilesPrimaryIndex* _primaryIndex;
-    TRI_voc_tid_t _tid;
-    TRI_voc_fid_t _fid;
-    std::unordered_map<TRI_voc_fid_t, MMFilesDatafileStatisticsContainer*>
-        _stats;
-    MMFilesDatafileStatisticsContainer* _dfi;
-    transaction::Methods* _trx;
-    ManagedDocumentResult _mmdr;
-    IndexLookupContext _context;
-    uint64_t _deletions;
-    uint64_t _documents;
-    uint64_t _operations;
-    int64_t _initialCount;
-
-    OpenIteratorState(LogicalCollection* collection, transaction::Methods* trx)
-        : _collection(collection),
-          _primaryIndex(
-              static_cast<MMFilesCollection*>(collection->getPhysical())
-                  ->primaryIndex()),
-          _tid(0),
-          _fid(0),
-          _stats(),
-          _dfi(nullptr),
-          _trx(trx),
-          _mmdr(),
-          _context(trx, collection, &_mmdr, 1),
-          _deletions(0),
-          _documents(0),
-          _operations(0),
-          _initialCount(-1) {
-      TRI_ASSERT(collection != nullptr);
-      TRI_ASSERT(trx != nullptr);
-    }
-
-    ~OpenIteratorState() {
-      for (auto& it : _stats) {
-        delete it.second;
-      }
-    }
-  };
-
+  
   struct DatafileDescription {
     MMFilesDatafile const* _data;
     TRI_voc_tick_t _dataMin;
diff --git a/arangod/MMFiles/MMFilesCollectionKeys.cpp b/arangod/MMFiles/MMFilesCollectionKeys.cpp
index b0d2020511..814be297e2 100644
--- a/arangod/MMFiles/MMFilesCollectionKeys.cpp
+++ b/arangod/MMFiles/MMFilesCollectionKeys.cpp
@@ -35,6 +35,7 @@
 #include "Utils/SingleCollectionTransaction.h"
 #include "Transaction/StandaloneContext.h"
 #include "VocBase/LogicalCollection.h"
+#include "VocBase/ManagedDocumentResult.h"
 #include "VocBase/vocbase.h"
 
 #include <velocypack/Builder.h>
@@ -110,13 +111,13 @@ void MMFilesCollectionKeys::create(TRI_voc_tick_t maxTick) {
       THROW_ARANGO_EXCEPTION(res);
     }
 
-    ManagedDocumentResult mmdr;
-    MMFilesCollection *mmColl = MMFilesCollection::toMMFilesCollection(_collection);
+    ManagedDocumentResult mdr;
+    MMFilesCollection* mmColl = MMFilesCollection::toMMFilesCollection(_collection);
 
     trx.invokeOnAllElements(
-        _collection->name(), [this, &trx, &maxTick, &mmdr, &mmColl](LocalDocumentId const& token) {
-          if (mmColl->readDocumentConditional(&trx, token, maxTick, mmdr)) {
-            _vpack.emplace_back(mmdr.vpack());
+        _collection->name(), [this, &trx, &maxTick, &mdr, &mmColl](LocalDocumentId const& token) {
+          if (mmColl->readDocumentConditional(&trx, token, maxTick, mdr)) {
+            _vpack.emplace_back(mdr.vpack());
           }
           return true;
         });
diff --git a/arangod/MMFiles/MMFilesEdgeIndex.cpp b/arangod/MMFiles/MMFilesEdgeIndex.cpp
index 107e349c8c..a407f4d942 100644
--- a/arangod/MMFiles/MMFilesEdgeIndex.cpp
+++ b/arangod/MMFiles/MMFilesEdgeIndex.cpp
@@ -40,6 +40,7 @@
 #include "Transaction/Methods.h"
 #include "Utils/CollectionNameResolver.h"
 #include "VocBase/LogicalCollection.h"
+#include "VocBase/ManagedDocumentResult.h"
 
 #include <velocypack/Iterator.h>
 #include <velocypack/velocypack-aliases.h>
@@ -55,12 +56,12 @@ static std::vector<std::vector<arangodb::basics::AttributeName>> const
 
 MMFilesEdgeIndexIterator::MMFilesEdgeIndexIterator(
     LogicalCollection* collection, transaction::Methods* trx,
-    ManagedDocumentResult* mmdr, arangodb::MMFilesEdgeIndex const* index,
+    ManagedDocumentResult* mdr, arangodb::MMFilesEdgeIndex const* index,
     TRI_MMFilesEdgeIndexHash_t const* indexImpl,
     std::unique_ptr<VPackBuilder> keys)
     : IndexIterator(collection, trx),
       _index(indexImpl),
-      _context(trx, collection, mmdr, index->fields().size()),
+      _context(trx, collection, mdr, index->fields().size()),
       _keys(std::move(keys)),
       _iterator(_keys->slice()),
       _posInBuffer(0),
@@ -419,7 +420,7 @@ bool MMFilesEdgeIndex::supportsFilterCondition(
 
 /// @brief creates an IndexIterator for the given Condition
 IndexIterator* MMFilesEdgeIndex::iteratorForCondition(
-    transaction::Methods* trx, ManagedDocumentResult* mmdr,
+    transaction::Methods* trx, ManagedDocumentResult* mdr,
     arangodb::aql::AstNode const* node,
     arangodb::aql::Variable const* reference,
     IndexIteratorOptions const& opts) {
@@ -442,7 +443,7 @@ IndexIterator* MMFilesEdgeIndex::iteratorForCondition(
 
   if (comp->type == aql::NODE_TYPE_OPERATOR_BINARY_EQ) {
     // a.b == value
-    return createEqIterator(trx, mmdr, attrNode, valNode);
+    return createEqIterator(trx, mdr, attrNode, valNode);
   }
 
   if (comp->type == aql::NODE_TYPE_OPERATOR_BINARY_IN) {
@@ -452,7 +453,7 @@ IndexIterator* MMFilesEdgeIndex::iteratorForCondition(
       return new EmptyIndexIterator(&_collection, trx);
     }
 
-    return createInIterator(trx, mmdr, attrNode, valNode);
+    return createInIterator(trx, mdr, attrNode, valNode);
   }
 
   // operator type unsupported
@@ -469,7 +470,7 @@ arangodb::aql::AstNode* MMFilesEdgeIndex::specializeCondition(
 
 /// @brief create the iterator
 IndexIterator* MMFilesEdgeIndex::createEqIterator(
-    transaction::Methods* trx, ManagedDocumentResult* mmdr,
+    transaction::Methods* trx, ManagedDocumentResult* mdr,
     arangodb::aql::AstNode const* attrNode,
     arangodb::aql::AstNode const* valNode) const {
   // lease builder, but immediately pass it to the unique_ptr so we don't leak
@@ -489,7 +490,7 @@ IndexIterator* MMFilesEdgeIndex::createEqIterator(
   return new MMFilesEdgeIndexIterator(
     &_collection,
     trx,
-    mmdr,
+    mdr,
     this,
     isFrom ? _edgesFrom.get() : _edgesTo.get(),
     std::move(keys)
@@ -498,7 +499,7 @@ IndexIterator* MMFilesEdgeIndex::createEqIterator(
 
 /// @brief create the iterator
 IndexIterator* MMFilesEdgeIndex::createInIterator(
-    transaction::Methods* trx, ManagedDocumentResult* mmdr,
+    transaction::Methods* trx, ManagedDocumentResult* mdr,
     arangodb::aql::AstNode const* attrNode,
     arangodb::aql::AstNode const* valNode) const {
   // lease builder, but immediately pass it to the unique_ptr so we don't leak
@@ -525,7 +526,7 @@ IndexIterator* MMFilesEdgeIndex::createInIterator(
   return new MMFilesEdgeIndexIterator(
     &_collection,
     trx,
-    mmdr,
+    mdr,
     this,
     isFrom ? _edgesFrom.get() : _edgesTo.get(),
     std::move(keys)
diff --git a/arangod/MMFiles/MMFilesHashIndex.cpp b/arangod/MMFiles/MMFilesHashIndex.cpp
index 12e69c7480..4a4a681286 100644
--- a/arangod/MMFiles/MMFilesHashIndex.cpp
+++ b/arangod/MMFiles/MMFilesHashIndex.cpp
@@ -38,6 +38,7 @@
 #include "Transaction/Context.h"
 #include "Transaction/Helpers.h"
 #include "VocBase/LogicalCollection.h"
+#include "VocBase/ManagedDocumentResult.h"
 
 #include <velocypack/Iterator.h>
 #include <velocypack/velocypack-aliases.h>
diff --git a/arangod/MMFiles/MMFilesIncrementalSync.h b/arangod/MMFiles/MMFilesIncrementalSync.h
index 027a27378f..dd2dea3127 100644
--- a/arangod/MMFiles/MMFilesIncrementalSync.h
+++ b/arangod/MMFiles/MMFilesIncrementalSync.h
@@ -40,6 +40,7 @@
 #include "Utils/OperationOptions.h"
 #include "VocBase/LocalDocumentId.h"
 #include "VocBase/LogicalCollection.h"
+#include "VocBase/ManagedDocumentResult.h"
 
 #include <velocypack/Builder.h>
 #include <velocypack/Iterator.h>
@@ -179,12 +180,12 @@ Result handleSyncKeysMMFiles(arangodb::DatabaseInitialSyncer& syncer,
     markers.reserve(trx.documentCollection()->numberDocuments(&trx, transaction::CountType::Normal));
 
     uint64_t iterations = 0;
-    ManagedDocumentResult mmdr;
+    ManagedDocumentResult mdr;
     trx.invokeOnAllElements(
-        trx.name(), [&syncer, &trx, &mmdr, &markers,
+        trx.name(), [&syncer, &trx, &mdr, &markers,
                      &iterations](LocalDocumentId const& token) {
-          if (trx.documentCollection()->readDocument(&trx, token, mmdr)) {
-            markers.emplace_back(mmdr.vpack());
+          if (trx.documentCollection()->readDocument(&trx, token, mdr)) {
+            markers.emplace_back(mdr.vpack());
 
             if (++iterations % 10000 == 0) {
               if (syncer.isAborted()) {
@@ -413,7 +414,7 @@ Result handleSyncKeysMMFiles(arangodb::DatabaseInitialSyncer& syncer,
     // The LogicalCollection is protected by trx.
     // Neither it nor it's indexes can be invalidated
 
-    ManagedDocumentResult mmdr;
+    ManagedDocumentResult mdr;
 
     auto physical = static_cast<MMFilesCollection*>(
         trx.documentCollection()->getPhysical());
@@ -620,9 +621,9 @@ Result handleSyncKeysMMFiles(arangodb::DatabaseInitialSyncer& syncer,
             toFetch.emplace_back(i);
           } else {
             TRI_voc_rid_t currentRevisionId = 0;
-            if (physical->readDocument(&trx, element.localDocumentId(), mmdr)) {
+            if (physical->readDocument(&trx, element.localDocumentId(), mdr)) {
               currentRevisionId = transaction::helpers::extractRevFromDocument(
-                  VPackSlice(mmdr.vpack()));
+                  VPackSlice(mdr.vpack()));
             }
 
             if (TRI_RidToString(currentRevisionId) != pair.at(1).copyString()) {
@@ -765,10 +766,10 @@ Result handleSyncKeysMMFiles(arangodb::DatabaseInitialSyncer& syncer,
               LocalDocumentId conflictId =
                   physical->lookupKey(&trx, conflict.slice());
               if (conflictId.isSet()) {
-                ManagedDocumentResult mmdr;
-                bool success = physical->readDocument(&trx, conflictId, mmdr);
+                ManagedDocumentResult mdr;
+                bool success = physical->readDocument(&trx, conflictId, mdr);
                 if (success) {
-                  VPackSlice conflictingKey(mmdr.vpack());
+                  VPackSlice conflictingKey(mdr.vpack());
                   return trx.remove(coll->name(), conflictingKey, options);
                 }
               }
diff --git a/arangod/MMFiles/MMFilesPersistentIndex.cpp b/arangod/MMFiles/MMFilesPersistentIndex.cpp
index 9fa2a9555c..bfc7857b84 100644
--- a/arangod/MMFiles/MMFilesPersistentIndex.cpp
+++ b/arangod/MMFiles/MMFilesPersistentIndex.cpp
@@ -40,6 +40,7 @@
 #include "Transaction/Helpers.h"
 #include "Transaction/Methods.h"
 #include "VocBase/LogicalCollection.h"
+#include "VocBase/ManagedDocumentResult.h"
 
 #include <rocksdb/utilities/optimistic_transaction_db.h>
 #include <rocksdb/utilities/transaction.h>
diff --git a/arangod/MMFiles/MMFilesPrimaryIndex.cpp b/arangod/MMFiles/MMFilesPrimaryIndex.cpp
index 595b50b291..2f9b95c4ba 100644
--- a/arangod/MMFiles/MMFilesPrimaryIndex.cpp
+++ b/arangod/MMFiles/MMFilesPrimaryIndex.cpp
@@ -37,6 +37,7 @@
 #include "Transaction/Helpers.h"
 #include "Transaction/Methods.h"
 #include "VocBase/LogicalCollection.h"
+#include "VocBase/ManagedDocumentResult.h"
 
 #ifdef USE_ENTERPRISE
 #include "Enterprise/VocBase/VirtualCollection.h"
@@ -80,7 +81,7 @@ bool MMFilesPrimaryIndexIterator::next(LocalDocumentIdCallback const& cb, size_t
     return false;
   }
   while (_iterator.valid() && limit > 0) {
-    // TODO: use version that hands in an existing mmdr
+    // TODO: use version that hands in an existing mdr
     MMFilesSimpleIndexElement result =
         _index->lookupKey(_trx, _iterator.value());
     _iterator.next();
@@ -273,8 +274,8 @@ void MMFilesPrimaryIndex::unload() {
 /// @brief looks up an element given a key
 MMFilesSimpleIndexElement MMFilesPrimaryIndex::lookupKey(
     transaction::Methods* trx, VPackSlice const& key) const {
-  ManagedDocumentResult mmdr;
-  IndexLookupContext context(trx, &_collection, &mmdr, 1);
+  ManagedDocumentResult mdr;
+  IndexLookupContext context(trx, &_collection, &mdr, 1);
   TRI_ASSERT(key.isString());
 
   return _primaryIndex->findByKey(&context, key.begin());
@@ -283,8 +284,8 @@ MMFilesSimpleIndexElement MMFilesPrimaryIndex::lookupKey(
 /// @brief looks up an element given a key
 MMFilesSimpleIndexElement MMFilesPrimaryIndex::lookupKey(
     transaction::Methods* trx, VPackSlice const& key,
-    ManagedDocumentResult& mmdr) const {
-  IndexLookupContext context(trx, &_collection, &mmdr, 1);
+    ManagedDocumentResult& mdr) const {
+  IndexLookupContext context(trx, &_collection, &mdr, 1);
   TRI_ASSERT(key.isString());
 
   return _primaryIndex->findByKey(&context, key.begin());
@@ -310,8 +311,8 @@ MMFilesSimpleIndexElement* MMFilesPrimaryIndex::lookupKeyRef(
 /// @brief looks up an element given a key
 MMFilesSimpleIndexElement* MMFilesPrimaryIndex::lookupKeyRef(
     transaction::Methods* trx, VPackSlice const& key,
-    ManagedDocumentResult& mmdr) const {
-  IndexLookupContext context(trx, &_collection, &mmdr, 1);
+    ManagedDocumentResult& mdr) const {
+  IndexLookupContext context(trx, &_collection, &mdr, 1);
   TRI_ASSERT(key.isString());
   MMFilesSimpleIndexElement* element =
       _primaryIndex->findByKeyRef(&context, key.begin());
@@ -373,16 +374,16 @@ Result MMFilesPrimaryIndex::insertKey(transaction::Methods* trx,
                                       LocalDocumentId const& documentId,
                                       VPackSlice const& doc,
                                       OperationMode mode) {
-  ManagedDocumentResult mmdr;
-  return insertKey(trx, documentId, doc, mmdr, mode);
+  ManagedDocumentResult mdr;
+  return insertKey(trx, documentId, doc, mdr, mode);
 }
 
 Result MMFilesPrimaryIndex::insertKey(transaction::Methods* trx,
                                       LocalDocumentId const& documentId,
                                       VPackSlice const& doc,
-                                      ManagedDocumentResult& mmdr,
+                                      ManagedDocumentResult& mdr,
                                       OperationMode mode) {
-  IndexLookupContext context(trx, &_collection, &mmdr, 1);
+  IndexLookupContext context(trx, &_collection, &mdr, 1);
   MMFilesSimpleIndexElement element(buildKeyElement(documentId, doc));
 
 // TODO: we can pass in a special IndexLookupContext which has some more on the information 
@@ -407,16 +408,16 @@ Result MMFilesPrimaryIndex::removeKey(transaction::Methods* trx,
                                       LocalDocumentId const& documentId,
                                       VPackSlice const& doc,
                                       OperationMode mode) {
-  ManagedDocumentResult mmdr;
-  return removeKey(trx, documentId, doc, mmdr, mode);
+  ManagedDocumentResult mdr;
+  return removeKey(trx, documentId, doc, mdr, mode);
 }
 
 Result MMFilesPrimaryIndex::removeKey(transaction::Methods* trx,
                                       LocalDocumentId const&,
                                       VPackSlice const& doc,
-                                      ManagedDocumentResult& mmdr,
+                                      ManagedDocumentResult& mdr,
                                       OperationMode mode) {
-  IndexLookupContext context(trx, &_collection, &mmdr, 1);
+  IndexLookupContext context(trx, &_collection, &mdr, 1);
   VPackSlice keySlice(transaction::helpers::extractKeyFromDocument(doc));
   MMFilesSimpleIndexElement found =
       _primaryIndex->removeByKey(&context, keySlice.begin());
diff --git a/arangod/MMFiles/MMFilesSkiplistIndex.cpp b/arangod/MMFiles/MMFilesSkiplistIndex.cpp
index c112599805..e5edae36e1 100644
--- a/arangod/MMFiles/MMFilesSkiplistIndex.cpp
+++ b/arangod/MMFiles/MMFilesSkiplistIndex.cpp
@@ -502,7 +502,7 @@ void MMFilesSkiplistInLookupBuilder::buildSearchValues() {
 
 MMFilesSkiplistIterator::MMFilesSkiplistIterator(
     LogicalCollection* collection, transaction::Methods* trx,
-    ManagedDocumentResult* mmdr, arangodb::MMFilesSkiplistIndex const* index,
+    ManagedDocumentResult* mdr, arangodb::MMFilesSkiplistIndex const* index,
     TRI_Skiplist const* skiplist, size_t numPaths,
     std::function<int(void*, MMFilesSkiplistIndexElement const*,
                       MMFilesSkiplistIndexElement const*,
@@ -510,7 +510,7 @@ MMFilesSkiplistIterator::MMFilesSkiplistIterator(
     bool reverse, MMFilesBaseSkiplistLookupBuilder* builder)
     : IndexIterator(collection, trx),
       _skiplistIndex(skiplist),
-      _context(trx, collection, mmdr, index->fields().size()),
+      _context(trx, collection, mdr, index->fields().size()),
       _numPaths(numPaths),
       _reverse(reverse),
       _cursor(nullptr),
@@ -1176,7 +1176,7 @@ bool MMFilesSkiplistIndex::findMatchingConditions(
 }
 
 IndexIterator* MMFilesSkiplistIndex::iteratorForCondition(
-    transaction::Methods* trx, ManagedDocumentResult* mmdr,
+    transaction::Methods* trx, ManagedDocumentResult* mdr,
     arangodb::aql::AstNode const* node,
     arangodb::aql::Variable const* reference,
     IndexIteratorOptions const& opts) {
@@ -1207,7 +1207,7 @@ IndexIterator* MMFilesSkiplistIndex::iteratorForCondition(
     return new MMFilesSkiplistIterator(
       &_collection,
       trx,
-      mmdr,
+      mdr,
       this,
       _skiplistIndex,
       numPaths(),
@@ -1223,7 +1223,7 @@ IndexIterator* MMFilesSkiplistIndex::iteratorForCondition(
   return new MMFilesSkiplistIterator(
     &_collection,
     trx,
-    mmdr,
+    mdr,
     this,
     _skiplistIndex,
     numPaths(),
diff --git a/arangod/RocksDBEngine/RocksDBCollection.cpp b/arangod/RocksDBEngine/RocksDBCollection.cpp
index a4ac708960..71810e50f8 100644
--- a/arangod/RocksDBEngine/RocksDBCollection.cpp
+++ b/arangod/RocksDBEngine/RocksDBCollection.cpp
@@ -61,6 +61,7 @@
 #include "VocBase/KeyGenerator.h"
 #include "VocBase/LocalDocumentId.h"
 #include "VocBase/LogicalCollection.h"
+#include "VocBase/ManagedDocumentResult.h"
 #include "VocBase/ticks.h"
 #include "VocBase/voc-types.h"
 
@@ -883,7 +884,7 @@ Result RocksDBCollection::insert(arangodb::transaction::Methods* trx,
   if (res.ok()) {
     trackWaitForSync(trx, options);
     if (options.silent) {
-      mdr.reset();
+      mdr.clear();
     } else { 
       mdr.setManaged(newSlice.begin(), documentId);
       TRI_ASSERT(!mdr.empty());
@@ -950,8 +951,7 @@ Result RocksDBCollection::update(arangodb::transaction::Methods* trx,
 
   if (newSlice.length() <= 1) {
     // shortcut. no need to do anything
-    previous.clone(mdr);
-
+    mdr = previous;
     TRI_ASSERT(!mdr.empty());
 
     trackWaitForSync(trx, options);
@@ -997,7 +997,7 @@ Result RocksDBCollection::update(arangodb::transaction::Methods* trx,
     trackWaitForSync(trx, options);
 
     if (options.silent) {
-      mdr.reset();
+      mdr.clear();
     } else {
       mdr.setManaged(newDoc.begin(), documentId);
       TRI_ASSERT(!mdr.empty());
@@ -1107,7 +1107,7 @@ Result RocksDBCollection::replace(transaction::Methods* trx,
     trackWaitForSync(trx, options);
 
     if (options.silent) {
-      mdr.reset();
+      mdr.clear();
     } else {
       mdr.setManaged(newDoc.begin(), documentId);
       TRI_ASSERT(!mdr.empty());
@@ -1532,7 +1532,7 @@ arangodb::Result RocksDBCollection::lookupDocumentVPack(
     auto f = _cache->find(key->string().data(),
                           static_cast<uint32_t>(key->string().size()));
     if (f.found()) {
-      std::string* value = mdr.prepareStringUsage();
+      std::string* value = mdr.string();
       value->append(reinterpret_cast<char const*>(f.value()->value()),
                     f.value()->valueSize());
       mdr.setManagedAfterStringUsage(documentId);
@@ -1545,7 +1545,7 @@ arangodb::Result RocksDBCollection::lookupDocumentVPack(
   }
 
   RocksDBMethods* mthd = RocksDBTransactionState::toMethods(trx);
-  std::string* value = mdr.prepareStringUsage();
+  std::string* value = mdr.string();
   Result res = mthd->Get(RocksDBColumnFamily::documents(), key.ref(), value);
 
   if (res.ok()) {
@@ -1577,7 +1577,7 @@ arangodb::Result RocksDBCollection::lookupDocumentVPack(
         << "NOT FOUND rev: " << documentId.id() << " trx: " << trx->state()->id()
         << " seq: " << mthd->sequenceNumber()
         << " objectID " << _objectId << " name: " << _logicalCollection.name();
-    mdr.reset();
+    mdr.clear();
   }
 
   return res;
diff --git a/arangod/RocksDBEngine/RocksDBCollection.h b/arangod/RocksDBEngine/RocksDBCollection.h
index 4ecd2be2da..22c9f1518d 100644
--- a/arangod/RocksDBEngine/RocksDBCollection.h
+++ b/arangod/RocksDBEngine/RocksDBCollection.h
@@ -30,7 +30,6 @@
 #include "RocksDBEngine/RocksDBCommon.h"
 #include "StorageEngine/PhysicalCollection.h"
 #include "VocBase/LogicalCollection.h"
-#include "VocBase/ManagedDocumentResult.h"
 
 namespace rocksdb {
 class Transaction;
diff --git a/arangod/RocksDBEngine/RocksDBIncrementalSync.cpp b/arangod/RocksDBEngine/RocksDBIncrementalSync.cpp
index 0d2a474a89..818435e905 100644
--- a/arangod/RocksDBEngine/RocksDBIncrementalSync.cpp
+++ b/arangod/RocksDBEngine/RocksDBIncrementalSync.cpp
@@ -38,6 +38,7 @@
 #include "Utils/OperationOptions.h"
 #include "VocBase/LocalDocumentId.h"
 #include "VocBase/LogicalCollection.h"
+#include "VocBase/ManagedDocumentResult.h"
 
 #include <velocypack/Builder.h>
 #include <velocypack/Iterator.h>
diff --git a/arangod/Transaction/Methods.cpp b/arangod/Transaction/Methods.cpp
index 356a72f069..24fafdb5ae 100644
--- a/arangod/Transaction/Methods.cpp
+++ b/arangod/Transaction/Methods.cpp
@@ -1724,111 +1724,18 @@ OperationResult transaction::Methods::insertLocal(
   }
 
   if (res.ok() && replicationType == ReplicationType::LEADER) {
-    TRI_ASSERT(followers != nullptr);
-
     // Now replicate the same operation on all followers:
+    Result r = replicateOperations(
+        collection, 
+        value, 
+        resultBuilder, 
+        followers, 
+        arangodb::rest::RequestType::POST, 
+        "&" + StaticStrings::OverWrite + "=" + (options.overwrite ? "true" : "false")
+    );
 
-    // In the multi babies case res is always TRI_ERROR_NO_ERROR if we
-    // get here, in the single document case, we do not try to replicate
-    // in case of an error.
-
-    // Now replicate the good operations on all followers:
-    std::string path =
-      "/_db/" + arangodb::basics::StringUtils::urlEncode(vocbase().name()) +
-      "/_api/document/" + arangodb::basics::StringUtils::urlEncode(collection->name()) +
-      "?isRestore=true&isSynchronousReplication=" + ServerState::instance()->getId() +
-      "&" + StaticStrings::SilentString + "=true" + 
-      "&" + StaticStrings::OverWrite + "=" + (options.overwrite ? "true" : "false");
-
-    transaction::BuilderLeaser payload(this);
-
-    auto doOneDoc = [&](VPackSlice const& doc, VPackSlice result) {
-      VPackObjectBuilder guard(payload.get());
-      VPackSlice s = result.get(StaticStrings::KeyString);
-      payload->add(StaticStrings::KeyString, s);
-      s = result.get(StaticStrings::RevString);
-      payload->add(StaticStrings::RevString, s);
-      TRI_SanitizeObject(doc, *payload.get());
-    };
-
-    VPackSlice ourResult = resultBuilder.slice();
-    size_t count = 0;
-    if (value.isArray()) {
-      VPackArrayBuilder guard(payload.get());
-      VPackArrayIterator itValue(value);
-      VPackArrayIterator itResult(ourResult);
-      while (itValue.valid() && itResult.valid()) {
-        TRI_ASSERT((*itResult).isObject());
-        if (!(*itResult).hasKey(StaticStrings::Error)) {
-          doOneDoc(itValue.value(), itResult.value());
-          count++;
-        }
-        itValue.next();
-        itResult.next();
-      }
-    } else {
-      doOneDoc(value, ourResult);
-      count++;
-    }
-    if (count > 0) {
-      auto body = std::make_shared<std::string>();
-      *body = payload->slice().toJson();
-
-      // Now prepare the requests:
-      std::vector<ClusterCommRequest> requests;
-      requests.reserve(followers->size());
-      
-      for (auto const& f : *followers) {
-        requests.emplace_back("server:" + f, arangodb::rest::RequestType::POST,
-            path, body);
-      }
-      auto cc = arangodb::ClusterComm::instance();
-      if (cc != nullptr) {
-        // nullptr only happens on controlled shutdown
-        size_t nrDone = 0;
-        size_t nrGood = cc->performRequests(requests,
-                                            chooseTimeout(count, body->size()*followers->size()),
-                                            nrDone, Logger::REPLICATION, false);
-        if (nrGood < followers->size()) {
-          // If any would-be-follower refused to follow there must be a
-          // new leader in the meantime, in this case we must not allow
-          // this operation to succeed, we simply return with a refusal
-          // error (note that we use the follower version, since we have
-          // lost leadership):
-          if (findRefusal(requests)) {
-            return OperationResult(TRI_ERROR_CLUSTER_SHARD_LEADER_RESIGNED, options);
-          }
-
-          // Otherwise we drop all followers that were not successful:
-          for (size_t i = 0; i < followers->size(); ++i) {
-            bool replicationWorked =
-              requests[i].done &&
-              requests[i].result.status == CL_COMM_RECEIVED &&
-              (requests[i].result.answer_code ==
-                rest::ResponseCode::ACCEPTED ||
-                requests[i].result.answer_code == rest::ResponseCode::CREATED);
-            if (replicationWorked) {
-              bool found;
-              requests[i].result.answer->header(StaticStrings::ErrorCodes,
-                  found);
-              replicationWorked = !found;
-            }
-            if (!replicationWorked) {
-              auto const& followerInfo = collection->followers();
-              if (followerInfo->remove((*followers)[i])) {
-                LOG_TOPIC(WARN, Logger::REPLICATION)
-                  << "insertLocal: dropping follower " << (*followers)[i]
-                  << " for shard " << collectionName;
-              } else {
-                LOG_TOPIC(ERR, Logger::REPLICATION)
-                  << "insertLocal: could not drop follower "
-                  << (*followers)[i] << " for shard " << collectionName;
-                THROW_ARANGO_EXCEPTION(TRI_ERROR_CLUSTER_COULD_NOT_DROP_FOLLOWER);
-              }
-            }
-          }
-        }
-      }
+    if (r.fail()) {
+      return OperationResult(r);
     }
   }
   
@@ -2095,118 +2002,19 @@ OperationResult transaction::Methods::modifyLocal(
     res = workForOneDocument(newValue, false);
   }
 
-  // Now see whether or not we have to do synchronous replication:
   if (res.ok() && replicationType == ReplicationType::LEADER) {
-    TRI_ASSERT(followers != nullptr);
-
     // Now replicate the same operation on all followers:
-      
-    // In the multi babies case res is always TRI_ERROR_NO_ERROR if we
-    // get here, in the single document case, we do not try to replicate
-    // in case of an error.
+    Result r = replicateOperations(
+        collection, 
+        newValue, 
+        resultBuilder, 
+        followers, 
+        (operation == TRI_VOC_DOCUMENT_OPERATION_REPLACE ? arangodb::rest::RequestType::PUT : arangodb::rest::RequestType::PATCH),
+        ""
+    );
 
-    // Now replicate the good operations on all followers:
-    auto cc = arangodb::ClusterComm::instance();
-    if (cc != nullptr) {
-      // nullptr only happens on controlled shutdown
-      std::string path =
-        "/_db/" +
-        arangodb::basics::StringUtils::urlEncode(vocbase().name()) +
-        "/_api/document/" +
-        arangodb::basics::StringUtils::urlEncode(collection->name()) +
-        "?isRestore=true&isSynchronousReplication=" +
-        ServerState::instance()->getId() + "&" + StaticStrings::SilentString + "=true";
-
-      transaction::BuilderLeaser payload(this);
-
-      auto doOneDoc = [&](VPackSlice const& doc, VPackSlice result) {
-        VPackObjectBuilder guard(payload.get());
-        VPackSlice s = result.get(StaticStrings::KeyString);
-        payload->add(StaticStrings::KeyString, s);
-        s = result.get(StaticStrings::RevString);
-        payload->add(StaticStrings::RevString, s);
-        TRI_SanitizeObject(doc, *payload.get());
-      };
-
-      VPackSlice ourResult = resultBuilder.slice();
-      size_t count = 0;
-      if (multiCase) {
-        VPackArrayBuilder guard(payload.get());
-        VPackArrayIterator itValue(newValue);
-        VPackArrayIterator itResult(ourResult);
-        while (itValue.valid() && itResult.valid()) {
-          TRI_ASSERT((*itResult).isObject());
-          if (!(*itResult).hasKey(StaticStrings::Error)) {
-            doOneDoc(itValue.value(), itResult.value());
-            count++;
-          }
-          itValue.next();
-          itResult.next();
-        }
-      } else {
-        VPackArrayBuilder guard(payload.get());
-        doOneDoc(newValue, ourResult);
-        count++;
-      }
-      if (count > 0) {
-        auto body = std::make_shared<std::string>();
-        *body = payload->slice().toJson();
-
-        // Now prepare the requests:
-        std::vector<ClusterCommRequest> requests;
-        requests.reserve(followers->size());
-
-        for (auto const& f : *followers) {
-          requests.emplace_back("server:" + f,
-              operation == TRI_VOC_DOCUMENT_OPERATION_REPLACE
-              ? arangodb::rest::RequestType::PUT
-              : arangodb::rest::RequestType::PATCH,
-              path, body);
-        }
-        size_t nrDone = 0;
-        size_t nrGood = cc->performRequests(requests,
-                                            chooseTimeout(count, body->size()*followers->size()),
-                                            nrDone, Logger::REPLICATION, false);
-        if (nrGood < followers->size()) {
-          // If any would-be-follower refused to follow there must be a
-          // new leader in the meantime, in this case we must not allow
-          // this operation to succeed, we simply return with a refusal
-          // error (note that we use the follower version, since we have
-          // lost leadership):
-          if (findRefusal(requests)) {
-            return OperationResult(TRI_ERROR_CLUSTER_SHARD_LEADER_RESIGNED);
-          }
-
-          // Otherwise we drop all followers that were not successful:
-          for (size_t i = 0; i < followers->size(); ++i) {
-            bool replicationWorked =
-              requests[i].done &&
-              requests[i].result.status == CL_COMM_RECEIVED &&
-              (requests[i].result.answer_code ==
-                rest::ResponseCode::ACCEPTED ||
-                requests[i].result.answer_code == rest::ResponseCode::OK);
-            if (replicationWorked) {
-              bool found;
-              requests[i].result.answer->header(StaticStrings::ErrorCodes,
-                  found);
-              replicationWorked = !found;
-            }
-            if (!replicationWorked) {
-              auto const& followerInfo = collection->followers();
-              if (followerInfo->remove((*followers)[i])) {
-                LOG_TOPIC(WARN, Logger::REPLICATION)
-                  << "modifyLocal: dropping follower " << (*followers)[i]
-                  << " for shard " << collectionName;
-              } else {
-                LOG_TOPIC(ERR, Logger::REPLICATION)
-                  << "modifyLocal: could not drop follower "
-                  << (*followers)[i] << " for shard " << collectionName;
-                THROW_ARANGO_EXCEPTION(TRI_ERROR_CLUSTER_COULD_NOT_DROP_FOLLOWER);
-              }
-            }
-          }
-        }
-      }
+    if (r.fail()) {
+      return OperationResult(r);
     }
   }
   
@@ -2392,116 +2200,19 @@ OperationResult transaction::Methods::removeLocal(
     res = workForOneDocument(value, false);
   }
 
-  // Now see whether or not we have to do synchronous replication:
   if (res.ok() && replicationType == ReplicationType::LEADER) {
-    TRI_ASSERT(followers != nullptr);
-
     // Now replicate the same operation on all followers:
+    Result r = replicateOperations(
+        collection, 
+        value, 
+        resultBuilder, 
+        followers, 
+        arangodb::rest::RequestType::DELETE_REQ,
+        ""
+    );
 
-    // In the multi babies case res is always TRI_ERROR_NO_ERROR if we
-    // get here, in the single document case, we do not try to replicate
-    // in case of an error.
-
-    // Now replicate the good operations on all followers:
-    auto cc = arangodb::ClusterComm::instance();
-    if (cc != nullptr) {
-      // nullptr only happens on controled shutdown
-
-      std::string path =
-        "/_db/" +
-        arangodb::basics::StringUtils::urlEncode(vocbase().name()) +
-        "/_api/document/" +
-        arangodb::basics::StringUtils::urlEncode(collection->name()) +
-        "?isRestore=true&isSynchronousReplication=" +
-        ServerState::instance()->getId() + "&" + StaticStrings::SilentString + "=true";
-
-      transaction::BuilderLeaser payload(this);
-
-      auto doOneDoc = [&](VPackSlice const& doc, VPackSlice result) {
-        VPackObjectBuilder guard(payload.get());
-        VPackSlice s = result.get(StaticStrings::KeyString);
-        payload->add(StaticStrings::KeyString, s);
-        s = result.get(StaticStrings::RevString);
-        payload->add(StaticStrings::RevString, s);
-      };
-
-      VPackSlice ourResult = resultBuilder.slice();
-      size_t count = 0;
-      if (value.isArray()) {
-        VPackArrayBuilder guard(payload.get());
-        VPackArrayIterator itValue(value);
-        VPackArrayIterator itResult(ourResult);
-        while (itValue.valid() && itResult.valid()) {
-          TRI_ASSERT((*itResult).isObject());
-          if (!(*itResult).hasKey(StaticStrings::Error)) {
-            doOneDoc(itValue.value(), itResult.value());
-            count++;
-          }
-          itValue.next();
-          itResult.next();
-        }
-      } else {
-        VPackArrayBuilder guard(payload.get());
-        doOneDoc(value, ourResult);
-        count++;
-      }
-      if (count > 0) {
-        auto body = std::make_shared<std::string>();
-        *body = payload->slice().toJson();
-
-        // Now prepare the requests:
-        std::vector<ClusterCommRequest> requests;
-        requests.reserve(followers->size());
-
-        for (auto const& f : *followers) {
-          requests.emplace_back("server:" + f,
-              arangodb::rest::RequestType::DELETE_REQ, path,
-              body);
-        }
-        size_t nrDone = 0;
-        size_t nrGood = cc->performRequests(requests,
-                                            chooseTimeout(count, body->size()*followers->size()),
-                                            nrDone, Logger::REPLICATION, false);
-        if (nrGood < followers->size()) {
-          // If any would-be-follower refused to follow there must be a
-          // new leader in the meantime, in this case we must not allow
-          // this operation to succeed, we simply return with a refusal
-          // error (note that we use the follower version, since we have
-          // lost leadership):
-          if (findRefusal(requests)) {
-            return OperationResult(TRI_ERROR_CLUSTER_SHARD_LEADER_RESIGNED);
-          }
-
-          // we drop all followers that were not successful:
-          for (size_t i = 0; i < followers->size(); ++i) {
-            bool replicationWorked =
-              requests[i].done &&
-              requests[i].result.status == CL_COMM_RECEIVED &&
-              (requests[i].result.answer_code ==
-                rest::ResponseCode::ACCEPTED ||
-                requests[i].result.answer_code == rest::ResponseCode::OK);
-            if (replicationWorked) {
-              bool found;
-              requests[i].result.answer->header(StaticStrings::ErrorCodes,
-                  found);
-              replicationWorked = !found;
-            }
-            if (!replicationWorked) {
-              auto const& followerInfo = collection->followers();
-              if (followerInfo->remove((*followers)[i])) {
-                LOG_TOPIC(WARN, Logger::REPLICATION)
-                  << "removeLocal: dropping follower " << (*followers)[i]
-                  << " for shard " << collectionName;
-              } else {
-                LOG_TOPIC(ERR, Logger::REPLICATION)
-                  << "removeLocal: could not drop follower "
-                  << (*followers)[i] << " for shard " << collectionName;
-                THROW_ARANGO_EXCEPTION(TRI_ERROR_CLUSTER_COULD_NOT_DROP_FOLLOWER);
-              }
-            }
-          }
-        }
-      }
+    if (r.fail()) {
+      return OperationResult(r);
     }
   }
   
@@ -3473,3 +3184,133 @@ Result transaction::Methods::resolveId(char const* handle, size_t length,
 
   return TRI_ERROR_NO_ERROR;
 }
+
+Result Methods::replicateOperations(LogicalCollection* collection,
+                                    VPackSlice const& inputValue,
+                                    VPackBuilder const& resultBuilder,
+                                    std::shared_ptr<std::vector<std::string> const>& followers,
+                                    arangodb::rest::RequestType requestType,
+                                    std::string const& pathAppendix) {
+  TRI_ASSERT(collection != nullptr);
+  TRI_ASSERT(followers != nullptr);
+  
+  // Now replicate the good operations on all followers:
+  auto cc = arangodb::ClusterComm::instance();
+  
+  if (cc == nullptr) {
+    // nullptr happens only on controlled shutdown
+    return Result();
+  }
+  
+  transaction::BuilderLeaser payload(this);
+
+  auto doOneDoc = [&](VPackSlice const& doc, VPackSlice result) {
+    VPackObjectBuilder guard(payload.get());
+    VPackSlice s = result.get(StaticStrings::KeyString);
+    payload->add(StaticStrings::KeyString, s);
+    s = result.get(StaticStrings::RevString);
+    payload->add(StaticStrings::RevString, s);
+
+    if (requestType != arangodb::rest::RequestType::DELETE_REQ) {
+      // no need to add document data for remove operations
+      TRI_SanitizeObject(doc, *payload.get());
+    }
+  };
+
+  VPackSlice ourResult = resultBuilder.slice();
+  size_t count = 0;
+  if (inputValue.isArray()) {
+    VPackArrayBuilder guard(payload.get());
+    VPackArrayIterator itValue(inputValue);
+    VPackArrayIterator itResult(ourResult);
+    while (itValue.valid() && itResult.valid()) {
+      TRI_ASSERT((*itResult).isObject());
+      if (!(*itResult).hasKey(StaticStrings::Error)) {
+        doOneDoc(itValue.value(), itResult.value());
+        count++;
+      }
+      itValue.next();
+      itResult.next();
+    }
+  } else {
+    if (requestType == arangodb::rest::RequestType::POST) {
+      doOneDoc(inputValue, ourResult);
+    } else {
+      VPackArrayBuilder guard(payload.get());
+      doOneDoc(inputValue, ourResult);
+    }
+    count++;
+  }
+    
+  if (count == 0) {
+    // nothing to do
+    return Result();
+  }
+
+  std::string path =
+        "/_db/" + arangodb::basics::StringUtils::urlEncode(collection->vocbase().name()) +
+        "/_api/document/" + arangodb::basics::StringUtils::urlEncode(collection->name()) +
+        "?isRestore=true&isSynchronousReplication=" + ServerState::instance()->getId() +
+        "&" + StaticStrings::SilentString + "=true" + pathAppendix;
+
+  auto body = std::make_shared<std::string>();
+  *body = payload->slice().toJson();
+
+  // Now prepare the requests:
+  std::vector<ClusterCommRequest> requests;
+  requests.reserve(followers->size());
+      
+  for (auto const& f : *followers) {
+    requests.emplace_back("server:" + f, requestType, path, body);
+  }
+      
+  double const timeout = chooseTimeout(count, body->size() * followers->size());
+
+  size_t nrDone = 0;
+  size_t nrGood = cc->performRequests(requests, timeout, nrDone, Logger::REPLICATION, false);
+
+  if (nrGood == followers->size()) {
+    return Result();
+  }
+
+  // If any would-be-follower refused to follow there must be a
+  // new leader in the meantime, in this case we must not allow
+  // this operation to succeed, we simply return with a refusal
+  // error (note that we use the follower version, since we have
+  // lost leadership):
+  if (findRefusal(requests)) {
+    return Result(TRI_ERROR_CLUSTER_SHARD_LEADER_RESIGNED);
+  }
+          
+  // Otherwise we drop all followers that were not successful:
+  for (size_t i = 0; i < followers->size(); ++i) {
+    bool replicationWorked =
+      requests[i].done &&
+      requests[i].result.status == CL_COMM_RECEIVED &&
+      (requests[i].result.answer_code == rest::ResponseCode::ACCEPTED ||
+       requests[i].result.answer_code == rest::ResponseCode::CREATED ||
+       requests[i].result.answer_code == rest::ResponseCode::OK);
+    if (replicationWorked) {
+      bool found;
+      requests[i].result.answer->header(StaticStrings::ErrorCodes, found);
+      replicationWorked = !found;
+    }
+    if (!replicationWorked) {
+      auto const& followerInfo = collection->followers();
+      if (followerInfo->remove((*followers)[i])) {
+        LOG_TOPIC(WARN, Logger::REPLICATION)
+          << "synchronous replication: dropping follower " << (*followers)[i]
+          << " for shard " << collection->name();
+      } else {
+        LOG_TOPIC(ERR, Logger::REPLICATION)
+          << "synchronous replication: could not drop follower "
+          << (*followers)[i] << " for shard " << collection->name();
+        THROW_ARANGO_EXCEPTION(TRI_ERROR_CLUSTER_COULD_NOT_DROP_FOLLOWER);
+      }
+    }
+  }
+
+  // we return "ok" here still.
+  return Result();
+}
+                               
diff --git a/arangod/Transaction/Methods.h b/arangod/Transaction/Methods.h
index 4d73e6e1d3..42e8aaead0 100644
--- a/arangod/Transaction/Methods.h
+++ b/arangod/Transaction/Methods.h
@@ -28,11 +28,12 @@
 #include "Basics/Exceptions.h"
 #include "Basics/StringRef.h"
 #include "Basics/Result.h"
-#include "Utils/OperationResult.h"
+#include "Rest/CommonDefines.h"
 #include "Transaction/CountCache.h"
 #include "Transaction/Hints.h"
 #include "Transaction/Options.h"
 #include "Transaction/Status.h"
+#include "Utils/OperationResult.h"
 #include "VocBase/AccessMode.h"
 #include "VocBase/vocbase.h"
 #include "VocBase/voc-types.h"
@@ -551,8 +552,15 @@ class Methods {
   ENTERPRISE_VIRT Result unlockRecursive(TRI_voc_cid_t, AccessMode::Type);
 
  private:
+  /// @brief replicates operations from leader to follower(s)
+  Result replicateOperations(LogicalCollection* collection,
+                             arangodb::velocypack::Slice const& inputValue,
+                             arangodb::velocypack::Builder const& resultBuilder,
+                             std::shared_ptr<std::vector<std::string> const>& followers,
+                             arangodb::rest::RequestType requestType,
+                             std::string const& pathAppendix);
 
-/// @brief Helper create a Cluster Communication document
+  /// @brief Helper create a Cluster Communication document
   OperationResult clusterResultDocument(
       rest::ResponseCode const& responseCode,
       std::shared_ptr<arangodb::velocypack::Builder> const& resultBody,
diff --git a/arangod/VocBase/LocalDocumentId.h b/arangod/VocBase/LocalDocumentId.h
index 70183a2329..d78ee12951 100644
--- a/arangod/VocBase/LocalDocumentId.h
+++ b/arangod/VocBase/LocalDocumentId.h
@@ -73,16 +73,12 @@ class LocalDocumentId {
   void clear() { _id = 0; }
   
   /// @brief create a not-set document id 
-  // clang does not like:
-  // static constexpr LocalDocumentId none() { return LocalDocumentId(0); }
   static LocalDocumentId none() { return LocalDocumentId(0); }
 
   /// @brief create a new document id
   static LocalDocumentId create() { return LocalDocumentId(TRI_HybridLogicalClock()); }
   
   /// @brief create a document id from an existing id
-  // clang does not like:
-  // static constexpr LocalDocumentId create(BaseType id) { return LocalDocumentId(id); }
   static LocalDocumentId create(BaseType id) { return LocalDocumentId(id); }
 
  private:
diff --git a/arangod/VocBase/ManagedDocumentResult.cpp b/arangod/VocBase/ManagedDocumentResult.cpp
index c02b762e5d..2110cf1cc6 100644
--- a/arangod/VocBase/ManagedDocumentResult.cpp
+++ b/arangod/VocBase/ManagedDocumentResult.cpp
@@ -29,83 +29,36 @@
 #include <velocypack/velocypack-aliases.h>
 
 using namespace arangodb;
-using namespace arangodb::aql;
 
-void ManagedDocumentResult::clone(ManagedDocumentResult& cloned) const {
-  cloned.reset();
-  if (_useString) {
-    cloned._useString = true;
-    cloned._string = _string;
-    cloned._localDocumentId = _localDocumentId;
-    cloned._vpack = reinterpret_cast<uint8_t*>(const_cast<char*>(cloned._string.data()));
-  } else if (_managed) {
-    cloned.setManaged(_vpack, _localDocumentId);
-  } else {
-    cloned.setUnmanaged(_vpack, _localDocumentId);
-  }
-}
-
-//add unmanaged vpack 
 void ManagedDocumentResult::setUnmanaged(uint8_t const* vpack, LocalDocumentId const& documentId) {
-  if(_managed || _useString) {
-    reset();
-  }
-  TRI_ASSERT(_length == 0);
+  _string.clear();
   _vpack = const_cast<uint8_t*>(vpack);
   _localDocumentId = documentId;
+  _managed = false;
 }
 
 void ManagedDocumentResult::setManaged(uint8_t const* vpack, LocalDocumentId const& documentId) {
-  VPackSlice slice(vpack);
-  auto newLen = slice.byteSize();
-  if (_length >= newLen && _managed){
-    std::memcpy(_vpack, vpack, newLen);
-  } else {
-    reset();
-    _vpack = new uint8_t[newLen];
-    std::memcpy(_vpack, vpack, newLen);
-    _length=newLen;
-  }
+  _string.assign(reinterpret_cast<char const*>(vpack), VPackSlice(vpack).byteSize());
+  _vpack = nullptr;
   _localDocumentId = documentId;
   _managed = true;
 }
 
 void ManagedDocumentResult::setManagedAfterStringUsage(LocalDocumentId const& documentId) {
-  TRI_ASSERT(!_string.empty());
-  TRI_ASSERT(_useString);
-  
-  _vpack = reinterpret_cast<uint8_t*>(const_cast<char*>(_string.data()));
-  _localDocumentId = documentId;
-  _useString = true;
-}
-
-void ManagedDocumentResult::setManaged(std::string&& str, LocalDocumentId const& documentId) {
-  reset();
-  _string = std::move(str);
-  _vpack = reinterpret_cast<uint8_t*>(const_cast<char*>(_string.data()));
-  _localDocumentId = documentId;
-  _useString = true;
-}
-
-void ManagedDocumentResult::reset() noexcept {
-  if (_managed) {
-    delete[] _vpack;
-  }
-  _managed = false;
-  _length = 0;
-
-  if (_useString) {
-    _string.clear();
-    _useString = false;
-  }
-
-  _localDocumentId.clear();
   _vpack = nullptr;
+  _localDocumentId = documentId;
+  _managed = true;
 }
 
 void ManagedDocumentResult::addToBuilder(velocypack::Builder& builder, bool allowExternals) const {
-  TRI_ASSERT(!empty());
-  auto slice = velocypack::Slice(_vpack);
+  uint8_t const* vpack;
+  if (_managed) {
+    vpack = reinterpret_cast<uint8_t const*>(_string.data());
+  } else {
+    vpack = _vpack;
+  }
+  TRI_ASSERT(vpack != nullptr);
+  auto slice = velocypack::Slice(vpack);
   TRI_ASSERT(!slice.isExternal());
   if (allowExternals && canUseInExternal()) {
     builder.addExternal(slice.begin());
diff --git a/arangod/VocBase/ManagedDocumentResult.h b/arangod/VocBase/ManagedDocumentResult.h
index 3ca07b1fc6..415e8a4fb5 100644
--- a/arangod/VocBase/ManagedDocumentResult.h
+++ b/arangod/VocBase/ManagedDocumentResult.h
@@ -33,83 +33,75 @@ namespace velocypack {
 class Builder;
 }
 
-namespace aql {
-struct AqlValue;
-}
-
 class ManagedDocumentResult {
  public:
   ManagedDocumentResult() :
-    _length(0),
-    _localDocumentId(),
     _vpack(nullptr),
-    _managed(false),
-    _useString(false) {}
-  ~ManagedDocumentResult() { reset(); }
-  ManagedDocumentResult(ManagedDocumentResult const& other) = delete;
-  ManagedDocumentResult& operator=(ManagedDocumentResult const& other) = delete;
+    _managed(false) {}
+  
+  ManagedDocumentResult(ManagedDocumentResult const& other) = default;
+  ManagedDocumentResult& operator=(ManagedDocumentResult const& other) = default;
 
-  ManagedDocumentResult& operator=(ManagedDocumentResult&& other) {
-    if (other._useString) {
-      setManaged(std::move(other._string), other._localDocumentId);
-      other._managed = false;
-      other.reset();
-    } else if (other._managed) {
-      reset();
-      _vpack = other._vpack;
-      _length = other._length;
-      _localDocumentId = other._localDocumentId;
-      _managed = true;
-      other._managed = false;
-      other.reset();
-    } else {
-      setUnmanaged(other._vpack, other._localDocumentId);
-    }
+  ManagedDocumentResult& operator=(ManagedDocumentResult&& other) noexcept {
+    _string = std::move(other._string);
+    _vpack = other._vpack;
+    _localDocumentId = other._localDocumentId;
+    _managed = other._managed;
+
+    other.clear();
     return *this;
   }
 
-  ManagedDocumentResult(ManagedDocumentResult&& other) = delete;
+  ManagedDocumentResult(ManagedDocumentResult&& other) noexcept 
+    : _string(std::move(other._string)),
+      _vpack(other._vpack),
+      _localDocumentId(other._localDocumentId),
+      _managed(other._managed) {
+    other.clear();
+  }
 
-  void clone(ManagedDocumentResult& cloned) const;
-
-  //add unmanaged vpack 
   void setUnmanaged(uint8_t const* vpack, LocalDocumentId const& documentId);
 
   void setManaged(uint8_t const* vpack, LocalDocumentId const& documentId);
-  void setManaged(std::string&& str, LocalDocumentId const& documentId);
+  
+  void setManagedAfterStringUsage(LocalDocumentId const& documentId);
 
   inline LocalDocumentId localDocumentId() const { return _localDocumentId; }
   
-  void reset() noexcept;
-
-  std::string* prepareStringUsage() { 
-    reset();
-    _useString = true;
+  void clear() noexcept {
+    _string.clear();
+    _vpack = nullptr;
+    _localDocumentId.clear();
+    _managed = false;
+  }
+  
+  std::string* string() {
     return &_string; 
   }
   
-  void setManagedAfterStringUsage(LocalDocumentId const& documentId);
-  
   inline uint8_t const* vpack() const {
+    if (_managed) {
+      return reinterpret_cast<uint8_t const*>(_string.data());
+    }
     TRI_ASSERT(_vpack != nullptr);
     return _vpack;
   }
-  
-  inline bool empty() const { return _vpack == nullptr; }
 
+  inline bool empty() const {
+    return (!_managed && _vpack == nullptr);
+  }
+   
   inline bool canUseInExternal() const {
-    return (!_managed && !_useString);
+    return !_managed;
   }
   
   void addToBuilder(velocypack::Builder& builder, bool allowExternals) const;
 
  private:
-  uint64_t _length;
-  LocalDocumentId _localDocumentId;
-  uint8_t* _vpack;
   std::string _string;
+  uint8_t* _vpack;
+  LocalDocumentId _localDocumentId;
   bool _managed;
-  bool _useString;
 };
 
 }