A retrospectively analysis of patients who had long hospital stay after cardiovascular surgery

Objective: Patients have been discharged from the hospital within four to eight days after cardiovascular surgery in recent years. The aim of this study was to determine demographic and clinical features of patients who had long hospital stay after cardiovascular surgery. Material and Methods: The study was conducted as a retrospective cohort study in a private hospital in Turkey. The sampling group was composed of 53 of total 473 patients admitted to the hospital between January and December 2006. Patients were hospitalized for nine days and more, and those over 18 years of age were included into the study. The records of this study group were retrospectively investigated to data of patients including demographic characteristics, history, laboratory values, patient diagnosis and surgery interventions. Data were evaluated using regression and chi-square tests. Results: Mean age rate of the patients was 59.3, 64.2% of them were male, and 90.6% had prior elective operations. Of the patients, 67.9% were obese (BMI > 30kg/m2), 62.3% had coronary artery disease, 56.6% had coronary artery bypass graft surgery, 62.3% had hypertension, and 28.3% had chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. The mean length of hospitalization was 13.53 ± 10.16 days. The mean stay in the intensive care unit was 2.87 ± 2.95 days. The most complications developing postoperatively in patients were atrial fibrillation (47.2%), ventricular insufficiency (32.1%), renal insufficiency (18.9%), ventricular arrhythmia (17%), pneumothorax (9.4%), cardiac tamponade (7.5%) and respiratory problems (5.7%) Conclusion: The results of this study provide detailed information regarding demographic and clinical features of patients who had long hospital stay after cardiovascular surgery. Copyright © 2010 by Türkiye Klinikleri