Predictors of prolonged intensive care unit stay in patients undergoing coronary surgery

Background We aimed to investigate the factors affecting the length of intensive care unit (ICU) stay in patients undergoing isolated on-pump coronary artery bypass (CABG). We also aimed to evaluate effective factors on morbidity, mortality, and survival among patients with prolonged ICU stay. Methods Between January 2002 and December 2009, a total of 1,657 patients underwent isolated on-pump CABG in our clinic. Prolonged ICU stay (>2 days) was present in 532 patient (32.1 %). Results Diabetes (OR 1.49, P = 0.006), hypertension (OR 1.37, P = 0.029), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (OR 9.06, P < 0.0001), preoperative ejection fraction (EF) (OR 3.35, P < 0.0001), CPB time (OR 0.049, P < 0.0001), cross-clamp time (OR 2.20, P = 0.023), prolonged inotropic support (OR 40.40, P < 0.0001), prolonged ventilatory support (OR 0.26, P = 0.022), postoperative renal insufficiency (OR 4.50, P = 0.004), postoperative atrial fibrillation (OR 8.00, P < 0.0001), and postoperative blood transfusion (>3 units) (OR 3.23, P = 0.007) were the independent predictive factors of prolonged ICU stay (>2 days). Postoperative mortality rate was 7 % ( n = 37) and 2.3 % ( n = 26) in patients with length of ICU stay >2 days and length of ICU stay ≤2 days ( P < 0.0001). Mean follow-up was 51.00 ± 0.79 and 44.76 ± 1.07 months among patients with length of ICU stay ≤2 days and length of ICU stay >2 days ( P < 0.0001). Conclusions Postoperative mortality was higher in patients with prolonged ICU stay. Mean follow-up was shorter in patients with prolonged ICU stay.