Factors affecting duration of stay in the intensive care unit after coronary artery bypass surgery and its impact on in-hospital mortality: a retrospective study

BACKGROUND

Different risk factors affect the intensive care unit (ICU) stay after cardiac surgery. This study aimed to evaluate these risk factors.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

A retrospective analysis was conducted on clinical, operative, and outcome data from 1070 patients (mean age: 59 ± 9.8 years) who underwent isolated coronary bypass grafting CABG surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass. The outcome variable was prolonged length of stay LOS in the CICU stay (> 3 nights after CABG).

RESULTS

Univariate predictors of prolonged ICU stays included a left atrial diameter of > 4 cm (P < 0.001),chronic obstructive airway disease COPD (P = 0.005), hypertension (P = 0.006), diabetes mellitus (P = 0.009), having coronary stents (P = 0.006), B-blockers use before surgery (either because the surgery was done on urgent or emergency basis or the patients have contraindication to B-blockers use) (P = 0.005), receiving blood transfusion during surgery (P = 0.001), post-operative acute kidney injury (AKI) (P < 0.001), prolonged inotropic support of > 12 h (P < 0.001), and ventilation support of > 12 h (P < 0.001), post-operative sepsis or pneumonia (P < 0.001), post-operative stroke/TIA (P = 0.001), sternal wound infection (P = 0.002), and postoperative atrial fibrillation POAF (P < 0.001). Multivariate regression revealed that patients with anleft atrial LA diameter of > 4 cm (AOR 2.531, P = 0.003), patients who did not take B-blockers before surgery (AOR 1.1 P = 0.011), patients on ventilation support > 12 h (AOR 3.931, P =  < 0.001), patients who developed pneumonia (AOR 20.363, P =  < 0.001), and patients who developed post-operative atrial fibrillation (AOR 30.683, P =  < 0.001) were more likely to stay in the ICU for > 3 nights after CABG.

CONCLUSION

Our results showed that LA diameter > 4 cm, patients who did not take beta-blockers before surgery, on ventilation support > 12 h, developed pneumonia post-operatively, and developed POAF were more likely to have stays lasting > 3 nights. Efforts should be directed toward reducing these postoperative complications to shorten the duration of CICU stay, thereby reducing costs and improving bed availability.

Respiratory support in patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome: an expert opinion

Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is a common condition in intensive care unit patients and remains a major concern, with mortality rates of around 30–45% and considerable long-term morbidity. Respiratory support in these patients must be optimized to ensure adequate gas exchange while minimizing the risks of ventilator-induced lung injury. The aim of this expert opinion document is to review the available clinical evidence related to ventilator support and adjuvant therapies in order to provide evidence-based and experience-based clinical recommendations for the management of patients with ARDS.

Resuscitation of extremely preterm infants - controversies and current evidence

Despite significant advances in perinatal medicine, the management of extremely preterm infants in the delivery room remains a challenge. There is an increasing evidence for improved outcomes regarding the resuscitation and stabilisation of extremely preterm infants but there is a lack of evidence in the periviable (gestational age 23-25 wk) preterm subgroup. Presence of an experienced team during the delivery of extremely preterm infant to improve outcome is reviewed. Adaptation from foetal to neonatal cardiorespiratory haemodynamics is dependent on establishing an optimal functional residual capacity in the extremely preterm infants, thus enabling adequate gas exchange. There is sufficient evidence for a gentle approach to stabilisation of these fragile infants in the delivery room. Evidence for antenatal steroids especially in the periviable infants, delayed cord clamping, strategies to establish optimal functional residual capacity, importance of temperature control and oxygenation in delivery room in extremely premature infants is reviewed in this article.