Relationship between Perme ICU Mobility Score and length of stay in patients after cardiac surgery

Background: Patients undergoing cardiac surgery can experience functional impairment. Objective: Assess the influence of Perme Score on the intensive care unit (ICU) length of stay in patients after cardiac surgery. As a secondary objective, investigate if preoperative variables can predict the patient's mobility status after surgery. Methods: A prospective observational study was conducted in ICU in a university hospital. The mobility status (Perme Score) was collected from the first postoperative day until ICU discharge. The preoperative assessment of respiratory muscle strength, pulmonary function, and handgrip strength were collected. Results: A total of 44 patients, mean age of 62.3 years, 28 men were included in the study. A high Perme Score on the second postoperative day among patients who underwent Coronary artery bypass grafting and the third postoperative day on three types of intervention (Coronary artery bypass grafting, valve replacement, or both simultaneously) was associated with shorter ICU length of stay). The preoperative pulmonary function was one of the main independent predictors of mobility status on the first three days of ICU stay, in addition to left ventricular ejection fraction and cardiopulmonary bypass time on the first day, age, and left ventricular ejection fraction on the second day and maximum expiratory pressure on third day. Conclusion: An increase in mobility status (Perme Score), mainly on the third postoperative day, reduced the ICU stay, mainly influenced by preoperative pulmonary function.